Adolphus Hailstork’s Symphony No. 2

Adolphus Hailstork has contributed to American classical music in virtually every genre known to the tradition. One example is his opera about John Parker’s story as a leader in the Underground Railroad, “Rise for Freedom.” Hailstork is currently Professor & Eminent Scholar at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.

Hailstork’s second symphony is lively and powerful. It was partly inspired by a trip the composer took to Ghana. Hailstork explains in the liner notes of the Naxos recording of his second symphony that he composed the second movement as a response to seeing dungeons in which slaves were kept prior to their shipment overseas. Mourning, grimacing horror, and empathy characterize the movement. The remaining movements could all easily be a depiction of an imaginary hero figure. The first movement is apprehensive and tense with a primary theme featuring notes jumping up and down in syncopated fashion. This theme returns in the third movement but with more courage and assertion. The imaginary character seems to be going through a growth process, questioning identity or deciding a course of action. According to Hailstork, the finale explicitly depicts the heroic perseverance of the African slaves after they arrived in America. The music starts tentatively and includes a very slow insecure reference to the main theme. Before long, courageous-sounding new themes indicate reinvigoration. Decisive victory is clear by the end!

Recordings

Primephonic:

Grand Rapids Symphony, David Lockington, Naxos

Spotify:

Grand Rapids Symphony, David Lockington, Naxos

YouTube:

Grand Rapids Symphony, David Lockington, Naxos, Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America

(separate videos for each movement)

I. Allegro – YouTube, II. Grave – YouTube, III. Allegro con brio – YouTube, IV. Adagio – Allegro – YouTube

Bonuses

Hailstork’s “An American Port of Call,” Gateways Music Festival Orchestra, Michael Morgan, YouTube channel of Gateways Music Festival