Conductor Larry Strachan joins Classic 107 Music Director Chris Wolf at 2PM on Saturday! 

The death of an unarmed Black man, George Floyd, in police custody sparked global outrage and calls for change. In solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, thousands of Winnipeggers gathered at the "Justice 4 Black Lives" rally on June 5 to protest police brutality and systemic racism. 

The classical music tradition is one rooted in Western society and culture; within it, important voices have been oppressed and silenced. Black composers are just one example of an under-represented group in the canon of musical literature. 

After a featured work hour on The Morning Blend - Honouring Black Voices (click to read more) - we received a note from conductor Larry Strachan, which read in part: "I hope your station continues with this as there are SO many composers born in the last century up to the current day that deserve our attention." He concluded with a quote from by American composer, conductor, orchestrator and educator T.J. Anderson: "We are invisible"

Larry Strachan leads the orchestral group Chamber Orchestra Musaic, a non-profit organization promoting the cultural mosaic of Winnipeg through orchestral music. He is also the founder of Chamber Orchestra Without Borders Inc. and has introduced music of Black composers to audiences across Canada. 

Join maestro Larry Strachan as he co-hosts an hour of The Wide World of Classical Music with Classic 107 Music Director Chris Wolf. 2PM Saturday, June 27th on 107.1 FM in Winnipeg, or streaming online at www.classic107.com 

Missed it? Find the audio below! 

 

 

Larry's Playlist: 

The song 'The Negro Speaks of Rivers' by Margaret Bonds (poetry of Langston Hughes)

Lyric for Strings by George Walker

4th mvt. ('Race') from the chamber ballet Horseplay by Errollyn Wallen

1st mvt. of Symphony no. 3 by Adolphus Hailstork

Interlude and last mvt. ('If we must die) from the chamber song cycle Of Visions and Truth by Olly Wilson

 Final mvt. of the Sinfonietta for Strings by Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson