Lilac Time
Donald Macleod explores the life and music of George Walker, in conversation with his son Gregory. Today, recognition at last, as Walker wins the coveted Pulitzer Prize for Music.
Donald Macleod explores the life and music of George Walker, in conversation with his son Gregory. Today, recognition at last, as Walker wins the coveted Pulitzer Prize for Music.
When Walker got the phone call informing him of his epic win, the shock rendered him monosyllabic; in his autobiography, Reminiscences of an American Composer and Pianist, he recalls saying 鈥淲ow!鈥� a lot. News soon got around 鈥� a Pulitzer was big news 鈥� and before long, there was a queue of journalists snaking down the driveway of the composer鈥檚 house in Montclair, New Jersey, eager to extract a few bon mots from the great man. A Pulitzer Prize is a career-defining moment, which makes what happened next in Walker鈥檚 career all the more surprising. 鈥淚 got probably more publicity nationwide than perhaps any other Pulitzer Prize-winner,鈥� he recalled in 2015. 鈥淏ut not a single orchestra approached me about doing the piece or any piece. It materialized in nothing.鈥� The piece that won the prize was Lilacs, Walker鈥檚 setting of verses from Walt Whitman鈥檚 elegy on the death of Abraham Lincoln, 鈥榃hen Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom鈥檇鈥�. The Pulitzer Music Jury praised the 鈥渂eautiful and evocative lyrical quality鈥� of 鈥渢his passionate, and very American, musical composition鈥�.
Hey Nonny No (anon)
Phyllis Bryn-Julson, soprano
George Walker, piano
Po猫me for violin and orchestra
Gregory Walker, violin
Cleveland Chamber Symphony
Edwin London, conductor
In Time of Silver Rain
Mother Goose (Circa 2054)
Patricia Green, mezzo-soprano
George Walker, piano
Lilacs
Albert Lee, tenor
Sinfonia da Camera
Ian Hobson, conductor
Modus
Cygnus Ensemble
Produced by Chris Barstow for 成人快手 Wales
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Music Played
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George Walker
Hey Nonny No
Performer: George Walker. Singer: Phyllis Bryn鈥怞ulson.- NEW WORLD CR719.
- NEW WORLD.
- 12.
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George Walker
Poeme
Performer: Gregory Walker. Orchestra: Cleveland Chamber Symphony. Conductor: Edwin London.- ALBANY TROY270.
- ALBANY.
- 5.
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George Walker
In Time of Silver Rain
Performer: George Walker. Singer: Patricia Green.- ALBANY TROY697.
- ALBANY.
- 1.
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George Walker
Mother Goose
Performer: George Walker. Singer: Patricia Green.- ALBANY TROY697.
- ALBANY.
- 3.
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George Walker
Lilacs
Singer: Albert Lee. Orchestra: Sinfonia da Camera. Conductor: Ian Hobson.- ALBANY TROY1430.
- ALBANY.
- 3.
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George Walker
Modus
Ensemble: Cygnus Ensemble.- NAXOS 8.559659.
- NAXOS.
- 5.
Broadcasts
- Thu 9 Jan 2020 12:00成人快手 Radio 3
- Thu 28 Oct 2021 12:00成人快手 Radio 3
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