David Harrison, organist
Master's Degree Recital
December 9, 2014
Listening to all of William Bolcom's Gospel Preludes the other day, they're such wonderful pieces that I'm going to post them, too. They are some of the most significant religious music composed in the last two centuries.
William Bolcom is the only white composer I know of who has, with total conviction, total respect and such great mastery learned from the black gospel tradition to this extent. That tradition, from the experience of people subjected to oppression and discrimination, disrespect and hatred, the same forces that informed just about the entire prophetic literature of the Bible, is so much of the life of Christianity today, That William Bolcom would seem to have known that going on thirty years ago might be show that heightened perception and thinking as well as an ability to make audacious choices with no fear are important components in what makes the difference between a great and a merely talented composer.
Update: I specified with total conviction, total respect and such great mastery, all of those you mention are disqualified on one of more of those criteria.
Update 2: The likes of you telling me I'm an idiot will go to my head if you don't stop it.
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