Reflections in Music: Blue-Tinged Classics

Throughout history, classical music has continually revitalized itself by embracing fresh ideas and exploring diverse influences. Blue-Tinged Classics celebrates this tradition, highlighting how the soulful, emotive qualities of the blues have inspired classical compositions, creating music that is both innovative and deeply rooted in tradition.

Beginning with George Gershwin’s pioneering fusion of blues and jazz into classical forms, this influence traveled to Paris with composers like Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy incorporating the blues into some of their music, then it reflected back stateside to America in the work of composers like Aaron Copland. It continues to resonate today with composers like Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, who infuses blues into his violin music.

This program also features two world premieres: a new work by renowned film composer Carter Burwell, and Blue Mantra, the latest composition by Reflections’ artistic director Bruce Wolosoff, inspired by a painting by Margaret Garrett.