PROVOCATIVE THOUGHTS:
The late Patric Standford may have written these short pieces deliberately to provoke our feedback. If so, his success is reflected in the rich range of readers' comments appearing at the foot of most of the pages.
THREE CHOIRS FESTIVAL: Roderic Dunnett previews the 2024 edition of the UK's oldest music festival, 27 July until 4 August.
VIDEO PODCAST: James Ross and Eric Fraad discuss Streaming, Downloads and CDs with Maria Nockin, Mary Mogil, David Arditti, Gerald Fenech, John Daleiden, John Dante Prevedini, Lucas Ball and Stephen Francis Vasta.
American composer and teacher Adolphus Hailstork was born in Rochester, New York, on 17 April 1941. He grew up in Albany, where he studied piano, organ, violin and voice. He studied with H Owen Reed, Mark Fax, Vittorio Giannini, David Diamond and Nadia Boulanger, receiving a master's degree from the Manhattan School of Music and a doctorate in composition from Michigan State University.
He is professor of music and composer in residence at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, USA, and has previously taught at Youngstown State University, Ohio, and Norfolk State University, Virginia. He was awarded a Fulbright fellowship in 1987 and named a Cultural Laureate of the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1992.
Hailstork's music blends ideas from his African American ancestry with mainstream European classical music. Two of his symphonies have been recorded on Naxos by David Lockington and the Grand Rapids Symphony.
His music is published by Theodore Presser.
CD Spotlight. Meditative yet Impassioned - Music for solo cor anglais, heard by Geoff Pearce. 'The playing in this collection of small pieces is exemplary and inspiring ...'
CD Spotlight. Quite Splendid - American vocal and symphonic music, heard by Bill Newman. '... much enjoyment and interest ...'
CD Spotlight. Wonderfully Colourful - Symphonies by Adolphus Hailstork, reviewed by Paul Sarcich. '... right on the ball, clean and clear ...'