Take 5 was generated during the Pandemic as part of Art of the Piano's effort to stay connected with listeners. It ended up being a bit of a semi-autobiographical podcast, studded with social, literary and musical insights.
Awadagin Pratt, narrator/performer
Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, mvts. I & III:
St. Lawrence String Quartet
Demarre McGill, flute
In the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, Awadagin realized that most of his audience members, and colleagues didn't know of his personal story of negative interactions with police officers. Here he tells that his story, comments a bit on how it is to be Black in America, with a bit of music along the way. This podcast eventually became a concert/lecture, and inspired the making of a documentary on Awadagin.
Awadagin Pratt, narrator/performer
Brahms Intermezzi Op. 117 Nos. 2 & 3
Words and Music
Here, we hear Awadagin speak about the relationship between words and music, enlivened by him telling us about some of his childhood. Also he plays and narrates us through a very simple exploration of Brahms Intermezzo Op. 117, No. 3, and connects it all together with the poetic writing of Norman MacLean from his novel,Young Men and Fire.