All Classical Radio announced last Saturday, April 27, the release date of "ELEVATE," the second volume from its award-winning Recording Inclusivity Initiative (RII), Grammy-winning Navona Records, and PARMA Recordings.
"ELEVATE" will arrive digitally on all major streaming platforms on May 10, with physical CDs being available later in the year.
About 'ELEVATE: All Classical Radio's Vol. 2'
The new volume of the Portland radio station's RII is a testament to the power of composers and musicians uplifting one another, as the recording brings to life acclaimed sonatas of Japanese composers Yuko Uébayashi and Nobu Kōda, alongside a string quartet by Damien Geter.
The album features performances by leading classical instrumentalists: pianist María García, All Classical Radio's 2022-2023 Artist in Residence; pianist Yoko Greeney; violist Jennifer Anrold; flutist Martha Long; cellist Nancy Ives; and violinists Emily Cole, Inés Voglar Belgique, and Ruby Chen.
All of the tracks from "ELEVATE" were recorded in Portland, Oregon, similar to its predecessor and inaugural project from the RII: "AMPLIFY," which was released in 2022 to address inequities in the classical music recording industry through its inclusive representation of global soundscapes.
For more information on the compilation, click here or watch the sample track right below.
About the Featured Composers and Their Compositions
Uébayashi is a composer whose work is typically described as impressionistic and reminiscent of Japanese film music. Perhaps this is the by-product of her unique creation process, which starts from channeling the image of someone specific in mind.
Because of this, she would only accept commissions from those she feels a distinct connection, which is true for her composition: "Sonata for Flute and Piano," in four movements, as it was dedicated to flutist Jean Ferrandis and pianist Emile Naoumoff.
Kōda, on the other hand, is historically significant for being the first Japanese composer to be publicly recognized for her adoption of the Western style. She was also the first student to receive a government grant to study abroad, first in Boston and then in Vienna.
Her "Sonata in E-Flat Major," in three movements, in particular, was written during her tenure back in Japan after
she came back home in 1895. Her single-movement "Sonata in D Minor" (1897) for violin and piano would also be made during this time.
Finally, Geter is a composer, actor, and bass-baritone, whose compositions are soaked in themes of social justice. He focuses his efforts on masterfully infusing the classical canon with styles from the Black diaspora, like jazz, gospel, and R&B.
This was also the case for his composition: "String Quartet No. 1, Neo-Soul," which was commissioned by All Classical Radio back in 2020 as part of its mission to build a more inclusive classical soundscape in America.
The piece consists of three movements: I. "Bop"; II. "Feelin' Some Type of Wayz"; and III. "Please Don't Kill My Vibe."
