By Christine S. Escobar
Sound Off: Music for Bail presents a recorded concert Saturday January 16 at 7 p.m. ET in collaboration with Bass Players for Black Composers, a performing and commissioning organization that “encourages the expansion of solo repertoire for bass and the normalization of works by Black composers through commissioning diverse artists in all stages of their careers, disseminating works, facilitating performances, and producing educational programs.” Bassists Kebra-Seyoun Charles, Byron Crenshaw, and Maggie Cox will perform three works for the instrument written for BPBC’s commissioning program: “[WRECK]oning” by Mason Bynes, “yung perseverent spirit” by Byron Crenshaw, and “everythingfeelsthesame” by Sarian Sankoh.
The three pieces will be juxtaposed with two works by composers Florence Price (“Andante moderato” from her String Quartet in G Major) and Akua Dixon (“Efua”), and performed by violinists Fanny Fheodoroff and Jay Julio, violist Tess Krope, and cellist Daniel Hass. During intermission, a guest speaker will ruminate on the experiences of imprisonment, particularly upon their family. Sound Off organizers say it is their hope “that through the uplifting of community voices and artists’ reflections, this new year will see deep and systemic change.”
Program:
[WRECK]oning – Mason Bynes
Efua – Akua Dixon
yung perseverent spirit – Byron Crenshaw
everythingfeelsthesame – Sarian Sankoh
Andante moderato from String Quartet in G Major – Florence Price
Sound Off: Music for Bail combines classical music performances with presentations by individuals versed in the American criminal justice system and formerly incarcerated individuals in order to educate audiences and build inclusive communities. Sound Off: Music for Bail is a dynamic collective of musicians, activists, and thinkers dedicated to raising money for bail funds across the country, rethinking notions of public safety as they relate to real-life communities, and “playing great music”.
-photo credit: Bass Players for Black Composers