Masterpieces by women
Program features works of female composers
The classical repertoire isn’t bursting with many female composers, but don’t think for minute this means the talent and inspiration to compose masterworks aren’t there.
Tonight’s recital by accomplished pianist Dr. Linda Holzer will offer proof there’s plenty of both with “Masterpieces by American Women Composers” at 7 p.m. in the Regional Arts Center’s Cabe Hall downtown. This free concert is presented by the Texarkana College Music Department, AR-TX Music Connection and the Allegro Club.
The repertoire includes contemporary composer Gwyneth Walker’s “Shady Grove,” longtime jazz pianist Marian McPartland’s “Twilight World,” mid-20th century composer Margaret Bonds’ “Troubled Water” and Arkansas native Florence Price with a suite for piano titled “In the Land O’ Cotton” and her “Sonata in E minor.”
Holzer is a noted chamber musician and active soloist who’s performed internationally and taught at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock since 1995. Two of the composers are African-American, so this programming serves as something of a bridge from Black History Month to Women’s History Month in March.
TC music professor Mary Scott Goode says there’s the Arkansas connection, too,
with Price and also with Walker, a New England native who was commissioned by both the Arkansas Symphony’s Quapaw Quartet and Arkansas Chamber Singers.
“We’re kind of straddling, kind of hitting both of those qualities now, by booking this program,” Goode said, noting Holzer has previously performed at TC. “She’s a real go-getter. She’s very well thought of professionally in music and piano circles. She’s running a great program up there at UALR.”
In addition to the evening concert, Holzer will present a 10:30 a.m. workshop today to piano teachers and anyone interested in the subject.
“She’s going to talk about technology and playing from an iPad,” Goode said, “which is kind of the latest thing. She’s cutting edge.” The iPad? Instead of sheets of music, the iPad shows you the music you’re playing.
“Having the music on a screen instead of actual printed music,” Goode said.
For this TC event, the Regional Arts Center is a different venue than the music hall or over in the student union building. Why the switch? “The short answer is we’re having UIL here,” Goode said of TC and going to a beautiful venue like the RAC for this collaborative concert.
“It gives us all a chance to get out into the community,” Goode said. The RAC will be open before the concert, too, so attendees can see the exhibits on display before the music.
About Price and her piece
“Land O’ Cotton,” Vicki Carr of the AR-TX Music Connection said she sees an influence from spirituals. She recommends music lovers also check out a similar piece, the suite “Mississippi River.”
“Which is worth a listen. It’s beautiful, really lyrical and beautiful,” Carr said, noting people likely heard McPartland on NPR with her program “Piano Jazz” over the years.
The world of composers has largely been a man’s world, said Goode. But here in tonight’s concert we have composers who are women and hail from the 20th century, the century when their music finally found a voice. Perhaps hearing these composers tonight can be an inspiration.
“It’s just been in the 20th century that women composers have been actually been heard and that’s a viable thing for them to do,” Goode said.
Three groups came together to present the workshop and concert, the music professor noting it’s a good thing they’re working together to bring an event like this. If you don’t recognize the Allegro Club, that’s only because the name has changed from the Texarkana Music Teachers Association.