A Quiet Celebration

It is February in the states, which means it is officially Black History Month! And while for quite a number of reasons this aspect of February will be celebrated a bit more quietly than usual, celebrations are happening nonetheless. For those who would like to contribute to Black composers and musicians championing such music, please consider giving to an organization I co-founded in 2013: Castle of our Skins! To learn more and support them, please visit www.castleskins.org 

When I was growing up in the late 80s and early 90s in Providence, RI, I would love to check out CDs at my local library. One of the CDs I remember enjoying was called "Black Diamonds", a solo piano album featuring the fantastic pianist Althea Waites. This album contains works by Florence Price, Margaret Bonds, William Grant Still, and Ed Bland. While I love all the pieces on this album, I remember being particularly drawn to the Bland. 

Ms. Waites recorded Bland's clever, novel work "Sketches Set #7". In five movements, this piece works with one long melody that is exposed at the start of the piece in a baritone register. This long melody is then broken up to form a couple of different themes. This thematic material is then further developed in myriad genius ways. The piece is almost serial, but Bland's self-labelled "Urban Classical Funk" style always kept him from adhering to strict rules, to the benefit of the world. 

I unfortunately never got the chance to meet Ed Bland, who passed away in 2013. However, I have interacted with his wife, I've programmed his music on concerts I've curated for Castle of our Skins, and I have started to perform "Sketches Set #7" in whole and in part for various solo and group performances. It gives me such pleasure to be part of perpetuating his legacy, and for all those reading this, please check out his music this month (in particular) as well as any and every month to come!

-Anthony R. Green, Active Creator in Residence