Good morning.
Today we’re listening to George Walker, an American pianist and composer from Washington, D.C. Born in 1922, he started playing piano at age five, and studied at the Curtis Institute of Music.1 He went on to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1996 for his composition Lilacs for orchestra and solo soprano, which was inspired by Walt Whitman’s 1865 poem eulogizing President Lincoln.2 Lilacs was commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and its premiere was conducted by Seiji Ozawa. First, though, we’re playing George Walker in Recital, a collection of solo piano performances of original works as well as pieces by Beethoven, Chopin, Scarlatti, and more. Walker passed away in 2018 at the age of 96.3
George Walker in Recital - George Walker (70m, no vocals)
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Lilacs - George Walker et al. (60m, soprano vocals on tracks 2-5)
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Have a great Wednesday.
