#ClassicsaDay Revisits #NAFTAclassics – Week 1
By Ralph Graves
The Classics a Day team is made up of American and Canadians. The month of July has important national holidays for both countries. And so the theme for July is the music of North America. (Mexico doesn’t have a major holiday in July, but we decided to be inclusive).
In my posts for #ClassicsaDay I alternated between the three countries. Of course, July 1 featured a Canadian composer, and July 4 an American. Here are my posts for the first week of #NAFTAclassics.
7/1/19 Jocelyn Morlock (Canadian) – Hullabaloo
Morlock’s “Hullabaloo” was commissioned for the Canadian Sesquicentennial. She’s the composer-in-residence for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, who premiered the work.
7/2/19 Michael Torke (American) – Unconquered: I. Summon
Torke’s “Unconquered” tone poem commemorates the 1777 Battle of Saratoga. He writes, “Neither battlefield nor bloodshed is depicted… only the expression of moods conjured by these images.”
7/3/19 Manuel María Ponce (Mexican) – Sonata Clasica for Guitar
Ponce incorporated native folk music into his work, reimagining it in a classical idiom.
7/4/19 Joan Tower (American) – Made in America
Tower’s 2004 work was a commission from the League of American Orchestras and premiered by 65 ensembles in 50 states.
7/5/19 Carlos Chávez (Mexican) – Concerto for piano and orchestra
The concerto was the result of a Guggenheim grant. Chavez conducted the Mexican premiere in 1843 with Claudio Arrau and, the Orquesta Sinfónica de México.
