Raymond Jackson at Bethesda's Strathmore on February 10

If you're in the Washington, D.C. area in early February, you might want to take the drive out to Bethesda, Maryland on the evening of February 10 to hear an innovative program given by pianist and Howard University faculty member Raymond Jackson at Strathmore. Entitled From Beethoven to Eubie Blake: Discoveries and Connections, this lecture recital juxtaposes the music of European composers with composers of African descent.

The recital will take place at 7:30pm on February 10 in The Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD 20852. Tickets are $25.

Here's the program:

"From Beethoven to Eubie Blake: Discoveries and Connections"
A Lecture Recital
Featuring Works for the Keyboard by
Composers of European and African* Descent

PROGRAM

I

(Themes and Variations)

Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Opus 111 (Finale).........................Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Arietta: Adagio molto semplice e cantabile
Ballade No. 2...........................................................................................Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

II

(Descriptive Music)

Scenes from Childhood, Opus 15 (Abridged).................................Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
1. About Strange Lands and People 2. Curious Story 3. Blindman’s Buff
4. Pleading Child 5. Perfectly Contented 6. Important Event 7. Traumerei (Reverie)
Scenes of Youth: Fantasia for Piano, Opus 3 (Abridged)............*Frederick Eliot Lewis (1846- ? )
Introduction: Allegro con brio - Meditation - Allegramente - Tempo di Marcia (Pomposo)

III

(Song Transcriptions)

Widmung (Dedication/Schumann)................................................................. Franz Liszt
Deep River (Negro Spiritual), Opus 59, No. 1....*Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912)

IV

(The Dance)

Polonaise in A-flat, Opus 59 ("Heroic")..........................................Frederic Chopin
Polonaise: Chopin in Harlem (1938)....................................................*Hall Johnson (1888-1970)
The Charleston Rag (1899)..........................................*James Hubert "Eubie" Blake (1883-1983)

I really like the way that Jackson juxtaposes these styles alongside each other, and in my experience audiences have responded highly favorably to this type of programming. Best of luck to Raymond for what looks to be a fascinating recital.

(Thanks, Angela!)