FAREWELL TO…
Pharoah Sanders Born 1940 Saxophonist
Emerging professionally in the mid-1960s, Sanders (real name Farrell), found himself working closely with the great and good of New York’s jazz scene, perhaps most notably John Coltrane. Together they blazed a trail of ‘Spiritual Jazz’, which the saxophonist made his own after Coltrane’s death in 1967. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Sanders adopted his new moniker after joining Sun Ra’s Arkestra. The man and his music would go on to enjoy a committed, almost cult following in what was a long career; indeed, he continued to make musical waves right into his 80th year.
Colin Touchin Born 1953 Conductor/composer
Born in the UK, Touchin enjoyed a rich musical life that saw him working with musicians across the globe. Education was a big part of his work, which found him serving as head of composition at Chetham’s School, followed by many years as director of music at Warwick University. He worked with, and founded, a number of ensembles in the area, including the Spire Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus. Touchin also worked regularly in Hong Kong, conducting the city’s Chamber Orchestra and its Grace Notes and Male Voice Choirs; in Europe he was chief conductor of the Lufthansa Orchestra.
Jörg Faerber Born 1929 Conductor
Though he later enjoyed an international career, Faerber was a German conductor through and through. Born in Stuttgart, he trained at the city’s music school and cut his teeth working in theatres there and in Heilbronn – as conductor, accompanist and arranger. In 1960, he founded the Heilbronn Chamber Orchestra, which would soon become better known as the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn. He worked with his ensemble for four decades, moulding them into one of Germany’s most accomplished orchestras, making hundreds of recordings and enjoying close working relationships with soloists such as James Galway, Anne-sophie Mutter and Martha Argerich.
Also remembered…
British composer Alastair Putt (born 1983), who was an equally talented singer and guitarist, studied at New College, Oxford and went on to enjoy notable commissions from the London Symphony Orchestra and the Exaudi choir, among others.
Jorja Fleezanis (born 1952), the American violinist, chamber musician and teacher, will be best remembered for her two decades as concertmaster of the Minnesota Orchestra from 1989-2009.