The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra will be presenting a live performance titled, “Harmony in Black,” in collaboration with Composer in Residence Dr. William Banfield and jazz, pop, and R&B fusion composer Patrice Rushen tonight at the Overture Center in the Capitol Theater and is set to begin at 7:30 pm.
“Harmony in Black” will also be recorded in its live performance as a piece of a multi-year Musical Landscapes in Color project, with this recording being set for release next year. The project also brings in Dr. Banfield who helped facilitate the connection between Albany Records and WCO Music Director Andrew Sewell.
“Once we were involved in the residency, it became apparent that this would be an extension. Why not record the work that we’re doing? Then the idea just continued, and the project came to being with Albany Records,” Sewell told Madison365, discussing their prolonged collaboration.
“We’re recording ‘Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory’ by Patrice Rushen, and the ‘Symphony No. 8’ and ‘Testimony of Tone, Tune and Time’ by Bill Banfield. What ties them together is the fact that each piece is representative of one of three historical figures: Martin Luther King, Jr, Paul Robeson, and Frederick Douglass. It’s a fantastic project.”
Patrice Rushen’s piece was originally commissioned in Detroit in the early 2000s, as was Banfield’s composition honoring Paul Robeson, “Symphony No. 8.” Sewell recalled Reverend Alex Gee challenging him in finding a work to perform that represented a historical Black figure, and discussion with Banfield soon came to see that need filled twice over.
“The conversation I had with Bill began that process,” said Sewell. “The result was not only a commission, but then Bill told me about his ‘Symphony No. 8,’ which had not yet received a premiere, on Paul Robeson. We agreed that we would do a both/and. We would perform his ‘Symphony No. 8,’ as well as commission him, and then commission another work for ‘Symphony No. 14’ which is coming up in March to wrap it up as a composer and residency project.”
Sewell was happy and excited to be performing contemporary works by living composers and looks forward to the future of exploring more collaborations and implementation of contemporary works. A book exploring Black composers throughout history “Musical Landscapes in Color” by Banfield will also be a guiding piece for WCO and Sewell as he remarked on exploring the works of composers in the book, as well.
“The collaboration with Bill is already ongoing, and by extension, we hope to increase and expand the contemporary voices that are being recorded over the next five years,” Sewell said. “This is the first step to that. We’re excited about and in anticipation for the performance, but also for the recording itself, which will go into post-production, and be released in spring. Then looking forward to where the narrative goes from here and what will be next.”
To check out more information on the upcoming performance and purchase tickets, visit this link to the Overture Center site.
