Lara Downes

Iconoclastic pianist and cultural visionary Lara Downes presents This Land, celebrating the spirit of resilience and imagination that grows at the crossroads of the American journey. The program reflects a wide diversity of voices, both new and familiar, illustrating the beauty that resides in the broad landscape of American music, from Scott Joplin to Angelica Negrón, Florence Price and George Gershwin.

PROGRAM

SCOTT JOPLIN: Prelude from Treemonisha; Peacherine Rag; Bethena Waltz; Maple Leaf Rag 

ARTURO O’FARRILL: Kaleidoscope 

FLORENCE PRICE: Piano Sonata in E Minor 

KIAN RAVAEI: Variations on “This Land is Your Land” 

ANGELICA NEGRÓN: Sueño Recurrente 

TRADITIONAL: Shenandoah 

WILLIAM GRANT STILL: Summerland 

DUKE ELLINGTON: Come Sunday 

SHAWN OKBEPHOLO: Amazing Grace 

JAKE HEGGIE: Looking Back, Facing Forward 

SAMORA PINDERHUGHES: Transformation 

MARGARET BONDS: Spiritual Suite 

GEORGE GERSHWIN: I Loves You Porgy (arr. Nina Simone) 

GEORGE GERSHWIN: Rhapsody in Blue

Piano Series generously underwritten by Sven & Melinda Bitners and by Sally Schaake Kincaid