Roy Eaton, Piano
Quantum of Preludes
Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 8:00 p.m.
Sondheim Center of the Performing Arts
200 N Main, Fairfield, Iowa
PROGRAM NOTES
Technically, a Prelude is something that comes before something else. But over the years, the Prelude has increasingly become a form that stands alone. Bach initiated a pattern in commemorating the invention of tempered tuning for keyboard instruments with his 24 Preludes and Fugues in all of the Major and minor keys that inspired many subsequent composers. Chopin's series of 24 Preludes is probably the most well known. Each is unique and distinct in its use of melody, harmony and rhythm. Some are as short as 30 seconds.
Gershwin was clearly inspired by Chopin's example. Carl Van Vechten mentioned in the March 1925 issue of Vanity Fair Magazine, that George had confided to him that he was working on a collection of 24 preludes titled "The Melting Pot." Unfortunately he did not live to complete this project, but fortunately, recent research by Alicia Zizzo has uncovered four new preludes to add to the three that had already been published. All seven are included on tonight's program and have been recorded in the album "24/7+7 The Complete Preludes of Chopin, Gershwin, and Still” by Roy Eaton on the Summit label.
African-American composers of Classical music have had a difficult time getting their works published or performed. Beginning with Scott Joplin, who studied and mastered the European classical traditions first with a German immigrant teacher, Juilius Weiss in Texas, then at the Smith College of Music in Sedalia, Missouri, they have frequently found it necessary to follow a more commercial route to express their creative ideas. Joplin wrote three operas! But in his lifetime he could not get one of them performed. Only recently since the Joplin revival inspired by the movie "The Sting" has "Treemonisha," his operatic masterwork been produced in Dallas, New York, and other cities.
William Grant Still is best known for his work on Television dramatic series like "Gunsmoke," "Ironside" and "Perry Mason." Initially self-taught, he later studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris, and Edgar Varese in the United States. Paul Whiteman frequently used him and Gershwin to compose and arrange the type of "classical" Jazz that his ensemble liked to perform in the 20's and 30's. His preludes, as well as much of his classical music reveal his decidedly spiritual inspiration for his music.
Roy Eaton first performed in Carnegie Hall on Thursday, June 17,1937 as a Gold Medalist in a competition sponsored by the Music Education League of New York. Winner of the first Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Award in June 1950, he made his American debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performing Chopin's F minor Concerto under George Schick in 1951. He was re-engaged to perform Beethoven's 4th concerto, and also made his New York Town Hall debut in 1952. His career was "temporarily" interrupted by two years in the U.S.Army, then approximately thirty years in advertising at Young & Rubicam, Benton & Bowles, and Roy Eaton Music. Roy Eaton’s life story is one of spiritual and creative triumph - overcoming significant difficulties and adversity. One of his missions has been to restore Scott Joplin's works to the domain that it was Joplin's intention that they live--as classical works in the tradition of the great European masters. He is on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music and performs in concert throughout the world. December 9, 2002 marked his return to Carnegie Hall as soloist with the N. Y. Pops Orchestra led by Skitch Henderson. His current featured recordings are Joplin: Piano Rags, Sony; The Complete Preludes Of Chopin, Gershwin, Still, Summit Records, Keyboard Classics For Children, Summit Records, and The Meditative Chopin, Rhahm Records.
PROGRAM
Quantum of Preludes
Bach*
Prelude and Fugue in C major
(Well Tempered Clavier)
Chopin
Prelude in C Major, Opus 28#1
Still
Prelude #1
Gershwin
Prelude in g minor
Gershwin
Prelude in BbMajor (old #1)
Gershwin
Prelude (Melody #17) in Ab Major
Chopin
Prelude in Ab Major Opus 28 #17
Gershwin
Prelude in G Major
Chopin
Prelude in G Major Opus 28 #3
Still
Prelude #2
Chopin
Prelude in Db Major Opus 28#15 (Raindrop )
Chopin
Prelude in a minor Opus 28#2
Gershwin
Prelude in C# minor (old #2)
Gershwin
Prelude in Eb Major (Novelette in Fourths)
Gershwin
Prelude in Eb Minor (old #3) (Spanish)
INTERMISSION
Scott Joplin Classics:
The Entertainer, 1902
Easy Winners, 1901
Chrysanthemum (An Afro-American Intermezzo), 1904
Maple Leaf Rag, 1899
Solace
*J.S.Bach (1685-1750)
Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)
William Grant Still (1895-1978)
George Gershwin (1898-1937)
Scott Joplin (1868-1917)
Listen to Chopin:
Fantaisie Impromptu
MUSIC
POETRY
2010
PRESS
NARRATION
ABOUT US
COMEDY
There are occasions when this world gives us magic moments of inspiration, when our reason and our soul live a special life, which is unfettered by mundane earthly laws. It was exactly this kind of moment which an American pianist, Roy Eaton, gave to Moscovites who managed to get to his concerts" — Moscow Courier
Tickets $15 general. $12 students, seniors 65 yrs,
IA Course participants, children (under 12 yrs free).
Call the Sondheim Center box office at 641-472-2787.
Design and copyright 2009 Freddy Niagara Fonseca
Fairfield Creates
