Monthly Archives: December 2021

Tufts Composers: Memory Leaves – Pages Present and Past

From Tufts Music Events page:

A Concert Honoring Lois Anderson and TJ Anderson, Jr., Austin Fletcher Professor of Music, Emeritus took place on Friday, December 3, 2021 evening.

Tom Adams has sensed and appreciated Lois and TJ Anderson through the generous gesture of a donation to the Tufts Music Department directed toward supporting the new work of Tufts Composers. Memory Leaves celebrates Tom’s gift by featuring TJ’s newest works alongside music by young artists who are inspired by Anderson’s achievements. Tom understands that by mentoring and celebrating the achievements of aspiring artists/composers as part of this unique concert program, he is tapping into the lifeblood that nourishes Lois and TJ.

The Memory Leaves concert, inspired initially by the August publication of Memory Book, a collection of short TJ Anderson pieces sponsored by American Composers Alliance in honor of TJ’s 93rd birthday, will thus contain the premieres of Anderson’s 2021 pieces Serenade (solo cello; celebrating Lois Anderson’s 91st birthday with music for her favorite instrument); In Memoriam Randy Wilson (solo double bass, remembering this Canterbury Court Retirement Community friend), and Weightless (solo flute). Other related Anderson works to be performed will be In Memoriam Peter Gomes (solo viola), In Memoriam Lerone Bennett, Jr. (solo violin), and two renditions of the 1979 solo piano piece Play Me Something. Threaded through these performances will be substantial pieces by Tufts composers Jackson Carter and Alan Mackwell and Tufts alumnus Trevor Weston and Jeannette Chechile. Current students Matthew Diamond, Hunter Harville-Moxley, Katianna Nardone, and Phillip Wright will infiltrate the proceedings in solo appearances and in an “intermission manifestation” where they will be played simultaneously as an ensemble occurrence.

The celebration features faculty and student performers Emmanuel Feldman, cello; Anna Griffis, viola; Annie D. Kim, violin; Hunter Harville-Moxley, double bass; John McDonald, piano; Thomas Stumpf, piano; Samantha Tripp, flute; and Phillip Wright, clarinet.

This concert has been made possible by a gift to Tufts from Tom and Anita Adams