Brooklyn Phil Announces BED-STUY Series, 5/9-6/9

Following the Brighton Beach and Downtown Brooklyn series, the Brooklyn Phil concludes its 2011-12 relaunch season with three free concerts in the heart of BED-STUY, in partnership with Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation and Brooklyn Public Library.

 

1.

CHAMBER CONCERT: SPIRITUALS, RAGS & STRINGS

Wednesday, May 9, 7:00 PM

Dweck Center of the Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Library

10 Grand Army Plaza

Free

 

Featuring:

Tyehimba Jess, poet

Paul Neubauer, viola soloist

 

Deborah Buck, violin

Deborah Wong, violin

Sarah Adams, viola

Chris Finckel, cello

Lanny Paykin, cello

Ken Bowen, piano

 

Daniel Nesta Curtis, Artistic Advisor

 

Program:

African-American spiritual: Deep River; Arr. Jascha Heifetz

Daniel Bernard Roumain (b. 1971): String Quartet No. 5 (“Parks”); Mvmt. I: “I made up my mind not to move.” 

Antonín Dvo?ák (1841-1904): String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96, (“American”); Mvmt. IV: Finale: Vivace ma non troppo

Daniel Bernard Roumain (b. 1971): String Quartet No. 5 (“Parks”); Mvmt. III: Isorhythmiclationistic   

Scott Joplin (1867-1917): Bethena   

Derek Bermel (b. 1967): Soul Garden for Solo Viola and String Quartet

African-American spiritual: Deep River; Arr. Harry T. Burleigh

Daniel Bernard Roumain (b. 1971): String Quartet No. 5 (“Parks”); Mvmt. II: Klap Ur Hand. 

In 1892, H.T. Burleigh became one of the first African-American students admitted into the National Conservatory of Music in New York City. The spirituals he sang inspired the Conservatory’s visiting director, Antonín Dvo?ák, to write several masterpieces based on American themes, and to envision a rich and unique future for American music.

Now, the Brooklyn Phil Chamber Players join poet Tyehimba Jess in a concert that features Paul Neubauer on solo viola and imagines these artists’ lives and stories, spinning out the legacy of this first link between African-American music and the symphonic tradition. 

Harry T. Burleigh (1866-1949) was a composer, arranger, ethnomusicologist, and baritone. He was the first to arrange Negro spirituals in an easily accessible form for concert audiences. Burleigh learned composition while teaching Antonín Dvo?ák about Negro spirituals he learned from his grandfather, Hamilton Waters. These songs influenced the Czech composer’s New World Symphony.

Detroit native Tyehimba Jess’ first book of poetry, leadbelly, was a winner of the 2004 National Poetry Series. The Library Journal and Black Issues Book Review both named it one of the “Best Poetry Books of 2005.” 

Paul Neubauer has distinguished himself as one of this generation's quintessential artists. Appointed principal violist of the New York Philharmonic at age 21, he is the chamber music director of the OK Mozart Festival in Oklahoma and artistic director of the “Chamber Music Extravaganza” in Curaçao. A two-time Grammy nominee, Neubauer has appeared with over 100 orchestras around the globe. 

The Brooklyn Philharmonic is honored to partner with the Brooklyn Public Library to present these performances.

 

 

2.

FAMILY WORKSHOP: EMCEE ME

Saturday, June 2, 10:00AM

Restoration Plaza Community Room, 1368 Fulton Street, Brooklyn

Free

 

The Brooklyn Phil Chamber Players and Readnex Poetry Squad team up for a workshop that introduces a new generation to the social power and cultural legacy of hip-hop and spoken word poetry. Participants will learn how to express themselves through this rich medium, and discover its extraordinary impact. 

Readnex Poetry Squad, a group comprised of four spoken word emcees and one DJ, continues its acclaimed youth programming that started in 2004 and has since toured across the United States and internationally to Brazil. Moved by the innocence and fearlessness of youth, the group created the program to give youth leverage and build confidence through an in-depth understanding of poetry and hip-hop as a positive medium for self–expression and public outreach.

 

Appropriate for ages 12 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older. For more information, contact Gary Padmore at(718) 488-7016 or by email at gpadmore@bphil.org.

 

 

3.

ORCHESTRA CONCERT:

YASIIN BEY (Mos Def), Lena Horne, AND THE BED-STUY TRADITION

Presented by the Brooklyn Phil and Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation

Saturday, June 9, 8:00PM

Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton Street

Free

 

Featuring:

Alan Pierson, conductor & artistic director

Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), hip-hop artist

Leslie Uggams, voice

Linda Twine, conductor

Christopher Rountree, assistant conductor

Student string players from the Noel Pointer Foundation, under the direction of Jesse Henkensiefken

Nate Smith, drummer

Carlos Homs, keyboard

Darryl Small, a.k.a. DJ Eddie Marz, DJ

Andrew Norman, composer & orchestrator

Derek Bermel, composer & orchestrator

 

Program:

Beethoven: Symphony no. 3, Finale; Remix by DJ Eddie Marz, Arr. Andrew Norman

 

Lena Horne tribute
Linda Twine and Leslie Uggams, arr. Gordon Goodwin:

Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane: Love

Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein: Can’t Help Lovin Than Man

Fats Waller and Andy Razaf: Honeysuckle Rose

Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler: Stormy Weather

 

Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def), Arr. Derek Bermel

     Yasiin Bey: Life in Marvelous Times

Yasiin Bey: Revelations

Tony Williams: Something Spiritual

Yasiin Bey: Climb

Derek Bermel: Migration Series, "Landscapes"

Beethoven: Symphony no. 7, 2nd mvmt. (Allegretto) 

Yasiin Bey: Casa Bey     

A profound and authentic lover of language, renowned Bed-Stuy native Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) is one of the most influential hip-hop stars of all time. He joins Artistic Director Alan Pierson and the Brooklyn Philharmonic in bringing together the energy and charged lyrics of American hip-hop, the classic ballads of legendary Bed-Stuy singer and activist Lena Horne, and the revolutionary music of Beethoven, remixed anew by Beethoven Remix Project winner, DJ Eddie Marz.

Grammy-nominated composer and clarinetist Derek Bermel has arranged Yasiin Bey’s original songs, including his 2008 single “Life In Marvelous Times.” Bey returns to the stage as 2011-12 Artist in Residence with the Brooklyn Phil, following this season’s preview concert in October, which New York Times writer Zachary Woolfe noted took place “in front of the most diverse crowd I’ve ever seen at a ‘classical music’ concert.” Watch the videos here and here. 

Conductor Linda Twine and vocalist Leslie Uggams honor the influential Lena Horne, who passed away in 2010, presenting songs by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein, Fats Waller, and Harold Arlen.

The concert will also feature the winning remix from the Brooklyn Philharmonic’s community-based Beethoven Remix Project. DJ EddieMarz’s selection was chosen from five finalists who were asked to remix the finale of Beethoven’s Third Symphony (the Eroica), following an open application process with Brooklyn-based artists. Marz’s remix has been adapted by acclaimed contemporary composer (and 2012 Pulitzer Prize finalist) Andrew Norman. WNET’s MetroFocus posted this report on the Remix Project.