The Grand Rapids Symphony, featured on this recording, made its celebrated Carnegie Hall debut in New York City on May 21, 2005, as part of its 75th Anniversary Season.
Performer Biography
David Lockington, the conductor on this album, has been Music Director of the Grand Rapids Symphony since January 1999 and led them to their Carnegie Hall debut in 2005.
Composition History
Adolphus Hailstork's Symphony No. 3 was commissioned by the Grand Rapids Symphony and is dedicated to its conductor, David Lockington, and the orchestra members.
Compositional Technique
Adolphus Hailstork aimed for a lighter approach in his Symphony No. 3, using a 'snappy little trumpet tune' with an asymmetrical rhythm and a pentatonic scale as its starting point.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Adolphus Hailstork's Symphony No. 2 was originally intended as pure symphonic music, but a trip to Ghana in 1996 inspired him to incorporate themes of slavery and the struggle of African Americans.
Composition History
Adolphus Hailstork began working on his Symphony No. 2 in 1995 after a chance remark from conductor Leslie Dunner, before the Detroit Symphony officially commissioned it.
Composer Biography
Adolphus Hailstork, the composer, studied with notable figures such as Vittorio Giannini, David Diamond, and Nadia Boulanger.
