Lament, for Viola and Piano; Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson (Lauren Keiser Music)

Lament for viola and piano; Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson

Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson (1932-2004), named for the black Romantic-era composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, had wide-ranging musical interests. He composed classical works, but also worked as a jazz pianist and wrote film scores as well as pop arrangements for the likes of Marvin Gaye and Harry Belafonte. His classical concert music fuses Baroque counterpoint and Romantic era expression with elements of the blues, jazz, and spirituals in a strikingly contemporary sound.

Perkinson's ''Lament'' for viola and piano is a previously unpublished gem from his early works. It is an expressive and lyrical showcase for viola and piano, suitable for intermediate-advanced players.