J. Willard Roosevelt (1918-2008), grandson of Theodore Roosevelt, was quite an esteemed composer, a student of Nadia Boulanger and married to poet E.E. Cummings's daughter. He was the creator of an opera and many songs and chamber works, scores and recordings of which are preserved in the American Composers Alliance Archives. Little of his music has been performed since his death at age 90 ten years ago.
A long-in-planning labor of love led by Leonard J. Lehrman will bring this music to the public in three free concerts, each containing different repertoire, mostly of the music of Willard Roosevelt. Reservations are recommended.
Support has come from NYSCA Decentralization Regrant program, the family of Willard Roosevelt, the Theodore Roosevelt Association, the Long Island Composers Alliance (of which he was a member), and Friends of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Public Library, which will be presenting its first classical concert in 18 years, devoted primarily to his music.
FRI. APR. 20 7:00 PM at Sagamore Hill, Oyster Bay, NY
[alternate venue in case of inclement weather: Oyster Bay High School] Music by J. Willard Roosevelt, including premiere of Stephen Walker's arrangement of "Fanfare for Sagamore Hill" for full brass ensemble Sagamore Hill Band, Stephen Walker, cond.; Andrew Bolotowsky, flutes; Terry Keevil, oboe; Daniel Hyman, violin/viola; Stephen Gorgone, viola; Kurt Behnke, cello; Betsy Palmedo, soprano co-sponsored by Simon Roosevelt and The Theodore Roosevelt Association
SAT. APR. 21 4:00 PM at Poquatuck Hall, Orient, NY
Music by J. Willard Roosevelt and two pieces by Leonard Lehrman, including premiere of his "Sonnetina #6" on sonnet by E.E. Cummings, Elizabeth Palmedo, sop.; Michael Niemann, bar.; Barbara Novick, fl.; Hilary Sperber, cl.; Leonard Lehrman, pno, co-sponsored by the Roosevelt Family.
*SUN. APR. 22 at 2:30 PM at Oyster Bay-East Norwich Public Library
89 E. Main St., Oyster Bay, NY
Helene Williams, soprano
and The Dakule Trio (Dan Hyman, Kurt Behnke, Leonard Lehrman)
also featuring music by Harold Gilmore, Leonard Lehrman, Adele Berk, Albert Tepper, and world premieres by Joel Mandelbaum and Jennifer Tibbetts; co-sponsored by Friends of The Library and The Long Island Composers Alliance
[alternate venue in case of inclement weather: Oyster Bay High School] Music by J. Willard Roosevelt, including premiere of Stephen Walker's arrangement of "Fanfare for Sagamore Hill" for full brass ensemble Sagamore Hill Band, Stephen Walker, cond.; Andrew Bolotowsky, flutes; Terry Keevil, oboe; Daniel Hyman, violin/viola; Stephen Gorgone, viola; Kurt Behnke, cello; Betsy Palmedo, soprano co-sponsored by Simon Roosevelt and The Theodore Roosevelt Association
SAT. APR. 21 4:00 PM at Poquatuck Hall, Orient, NY
Music by J. Willard Roosevelt and two pieces by Leonard Lehrman, including premiere of his "Sonnetina #6" on sonnet by E.E. Cummings, Elizabeth Palmedo, sop.; Michael Niemann, bar.; Barbara Novick, fl.; Hilary Sperber, cl.; Leonard Lehrman, pno, co-sponsored by the Roosevelt Family.
*SUN. APR. 22 at 2:30 PM at Oyster Bay-East Norwich Public Library
89 E. Main St., Oyster Bay, NY
Helene Williams, soprano
and The Dakule Trio (Dan Hyman, Kurt Behnke, Leonard Lehrman)
also featuring music by Harold Gilmore, Leonard Lehrman, Adele Berk, Albert Tepper, and world premieres by Joel Mandelbaum and Jennifer Tibbetts; co-sponsored by Friends of The Library and The Long Island Composers Alliance
Please feel free to address any questions to Dr. Leonard Lehrman, friend and colleague to this composer.
Congratulations to everyone involved in putting these programs together.