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WALKER
Lyric for Strings

GEORGE WALKER
Born January 27, 1922, in Washington, D.C.;
now living in Montclair, New Jersey

Lyric for Strings

Now retired, George Walker has served with distinction on the faculties of the New School for Social Research, the Dalcroze School of Music, Smith College, the University of Colorado, Rutgers University, and Baltimore's Peabody Conservatory of Music. His impressive credentials include a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, studying piano with the late Rudolph Serkin and composition with Rosario Scalero and Gian-Carlo Menotti at the Curtis Institute of Music, advanced studies with the legendary Nadia Boulanger at the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau, France, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music. He has the distinction of being the first African American to be graduated from the Curtis Institute.

Although an established keyboard performer from almost the very onset of his career, it was not until the 1970's the Dr. Walker began to submit his compositions for publication. His compositional style is distinctively individual ("I'm not interested in repeating the successes of others," he has stated on more than one occasion) but difficult to categorize. Each successive work evidences a new approach to creativity and marks another step in his evolution as a composer. Commissions have come from, among others, pianist Natalie Hinderas, the Morgan State University Choir, the Atlanta Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic.

Dr. Walker composed his Lyric for Strinqs in 1946. Essentially, the work is a transcription for string orchestra of the second movement of his String Quartet No.1 and is dedicated to the memory of the composer's grandmother.Dr. Walker has provided the following descriptive analysis of the piece: "After a brief introduction, the principal theme that permeates the entire work is introduced by the first violins. A static interlude is followed by successive imitations of the theme that lead to an intense climax. The final section of the work presents a somewhat more animated restatement of the same thematic material. The coda recalls the quiet interlude that appeared earlier."

In his program notes for a performance of the Lyric for Strinqs by the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, William D. West made the following observation: "The poignancy inherent in Walker's thematic material, and the way he builds it to a searing climax halfway through, may also suggest a profound grief, and in this case, of course, we know the connection with the passing of his grandmother. Appropriately, since this is a very personal memorial, the music in this string orchestra version remains intimate throughout--the equivalent of a personal letter which takes us briefly and succinctly into the private and confidential world of the sender."

-Kenneth C. Viant

WALKER
Lyric for Strings

GEORGE WALKER
Born January 27, 1922, in Washington, D.C.;
now living in Montclair, New Jersey

Lyric for Strings

Now retired, George Walker has served with distinction on the faculties of the New School for Social Research, the Dalcroze School of Music, Smith College, the University of Colorado, Rutgers University, and Baltimore's Peabody Conservatory of Music. His impressive credentials include a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College, studying piano with the late Rudolph Serkin and composition with Rosario Scalero and Gian-Carlo Menotti at the Curtis Institute of Music, advanced studies with the legendary Nadia Boulanger at the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau, France, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music. He has the distinction of being the first African American to be graduated from the Curtis Institute.

Although an established keyboard performer from almost the very onset of his career, it was not until the 1970's the Dr. Walker began to submit his compositions for publication. His compositional style is distinctively individual ("I'm not interested in repeating the successes of others," he has stated on more than one occasion) but difficult to categorize. Each successive work evidences a new approach to creativity and marks another step in his evolution as a composer. Commissions have come from, among others, pianist Natalie Hinderas, the Morgan State University Choir, the Atlanta Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic.

Dr. Walker composed his Lyric for Strinqs in 1946. Essentially, the work is a transcription for string orchestra of the second movement of his String Quartet No.1 and is dedicated to the memory of the composer's grandmother.Dr. Walker has provided the following descriptive analysis of the piece: "After a brief introduction, the principal theme that permeates the entire work is introduced by the first violins. A static interlude is followed by successive imitations of the theme that lead to an intense climax. The final section of the work presents a somewhat more animated restatement of the same thematic material. The coda recalls the quiet interlude that appeared earlier."

In his program notes for a performance of the Lyric for Strinqs by the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, William D. West made the following observation: "The poignancy inherent in Walker's thematic material, and the way he builds it to a searing climax halfway through, may also suggest a profound grief, and in this case, of course, we know the connection with the passing of his grandmother. Appropriately, since this is a very personal memorial, the music in this string orchestra version remains intimate throughout--the equivalent of a personal letter which takes us briefly and succinctly into the private and confidential world of the sender."

-Kenneth C. Viant