Described by The Washington Post as a pianist with "power, precision, and romantic abandon," Clipper Erickson was our guest on MLK Jr. Day, Monday, January 21, and played works by R. Nathaniel Dett (1882-1943), an African-Canadian/American composer whose music may be new to you. WRTI's Kevin Gordon was host.
Watch the performance recorded live on WRTI's Facebook page.
A champion of music that is not always well-known to the general public, Clipper Erickson's album, My Cup Runneth Over, The Complete Piano Music of R. Nathaniel Dett was recognized by Gramophone UK as Editor's Choice for January 2016.
Read about R. Nathaniel Dett in this article on the Libray of Congress website
Clipper Erickson's new release is Tableau, Tempest, and Tango.
Program for broadcast: Dance of Desire and Beyond the Dream from Dett’s 1922 “Enchantment Suite," Juba Dance from Dett's 1913 "In The Bottoms" Suite, and contemporary Philadelphia composer Donald Dumpson’s arrangement of "The Lord’s Prayer."
Clipper says an important part of his mission is to encourage the love of music through commitment to education, performances in schools, and master classes. He teaches at Westminster Conservatory in Princeton, and at Temple University's Boyer College of Music and Dance.
A member of Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour and the Xerox Pianist Program of Affiliate Artists, Clipper has performed for all types of community groups, offering illuminating commentary on his program selections.
