Commentary: George Walker is the black composer you should know but don't. Why that may change
Richard Valitutto offered an impressive Piano Spheres program at the Colburn School's Zipper Hall last week in downtown Los Angeles. He covered the transgressive keyboard waterfront, exploring the idiosyncratic ways of banging and sounding and resounding that occupy composers of today, young and old. Crafty sonic sensuality and even, with a surprisingly and deliciously sentimental six-minute Poulenc closer, sonic bisexuality gloriously prevailed.
The recital on Jan. 14, however, began surprisingly with George Walker's Piano Sonata No. 5. It also was around six minutes, but it was in a declamatory style that might have seemed to have nothing to do with anything else on the program.
Walker, who died in 2018 at age 96, was one of
