Philadelphia Music Roundup - November 2020

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Though the traditional concert hall experience is on hold for the time being, Philadelphia’s cultural community is finding ways to keep bringing music to audiences. This list is by no means comprehensive, but should certainly keep a listener with a curious ear busy for the month.

Did we miss something? Events coming up in December? Let us know at calendar@acfphiladelphia.org.

November 2020 events

PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA

First on November 5, the orchestra will present Lyric for Strings composed by the first African American graduate from the Curtis Institute of Music, George Walker. Towards the end of November the orchestra will perform the first complete Philadelphia performance of Florence Price’s Symphony No. 1.  In the mid-1930s, Florence Price became the first African American woman to have a symphonic work performed by a major American orchestra.

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OPERA PHILADELPHIA

Opera Philadelphia presents Cycles of My Being, a song cycle that centers on what it means to be a Black man living in America today. The work had its world premiere on February 20, 2018 in Philadelphia with tenor Lawrence Brownlee and conducted by the composer, Tyshawn Sorey, who was recently appointed to the music faculty at the University of Pennsylvania. The performance will be available to rent for seven days starting Friday, November 20 at 8:00 p.m.

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PHILADELPHIA CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY

The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society will present two programs featuring living female composers. The first, on November 12, includes Bolts of Living Thunder a solo piano work by Missy Mazzoli. Then on November 22, the Jasper Quartet with pianist Amy Yang will perform a program of contemporary works by female composers. 

MORE STREAMING CONCERTS

  • From October 24th until November 3rd the Crossing is presenting Pre-Election Film Releases, three new films by Ayanna Woods, Robert Maggio, and Nicholas Cline. 

  • On November 14, Network for New Music will continue their Extraordinary Measures series with a work for two violins by Gregory Walker performed by Hirono Oka and Julia Li, and Emma O’Halloran’s work for tenor saxophone and electronics performed by Matthew Levy.

  • Beginning November 14, Lyric Fest will be streaming #SayTheirNames a film which features the premiere of a commissioned work by Jasmine Barnes, “Taking Names”, a setting of a new poem by Shana Oshiro, and will also feature the art of Lavette Ballard. On November 22, there will be a talk back online with the artists, composer, and poet to discuss the film.

ONLINE TALKS AND WORKSHOPS

  • On November 14, the Philadelphia Clef Club will present a master class with pianist and composer Sumi Tonooka titled “A Work in Progress: My Composer Journey.” Sumi Tonooka is the first artist to be presented in the Jazz Cultural Voices lineup, a new educational project by the Philadelphia Clef Club.

  • Relâche is in the midst of a “rebirth” and as part of that process will present An Evening with Kyle Gann on November 21. The online event will feature the composer and longtime music writer for The Village Voice in a one-on-one interview with Lloyd Shorter, and selected movements with film of his Relâche commission, The Planets.

  • Towards the end of the month Singing City will present Composing for Choirs with Carol Barnett, Melissa Dunphy, Jay Fluellen, and Kile Smith. This is the next installment in the continuing series by Singing City of in-depth interviews with choral conductors, composers, and other artists.

ON EXHIBIT

Ars Nova Workshop presents Milford Graves A Mind-Body Deal an ongoing exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia. The exhibition explores the many-layered and multi-faceted works of free jazz pioneer and polymath Milford Graves. The exhibition runs through January 24, 2021. The ICA requires a reserved timed ticket to enter the exhibition, check their website for more details.

NOVEMBER 2020 at a glance

CHRONOLOGICAL LISTING

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