Ives plays Hailstork

Tonight's livestream will feature a piece that is new to me, my first ever performance of Theme and Variations on "Draw the Sacred Circle Closer" by Adolphus Hailstork. Dr. Hailstork is Professor of Music and Eminent Scholar at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. He has a long and storied career, but don't be fooled; he is still writing important works for orchestras (and more) across the country. I was familiar with his name, but not really with his music. I think that is at least partly due to the fact that for many years I was immersed in the "Uptown" modernist styles of composition. Dr. Hailstork has his own distinctive compositional voice, and it inhabits a stylistic range that is comfortable with traditional tonality. He has been ahead of his time in that way.

I found on this piece by happy accident, after stumbling onto a YouTube video by cellist Timothy Holley. Thank you to him for the introduction and to Dr. Hailstork for writing this delightful piece!

I urge you to learn more about this important American composer: https://www.adolphushailstork.com/bio of Music and Eminent Scholar at Old Dominion University in Norfolk.