Keyboard Maniac
Lettie Beckon Alston (piano), Falvio Varani (piano), Cedric D. Alston (synthesizer), Roderic S. Leon (keyboards), Lettie Beckon Alston (keyboards)
Lettie Beckon Alston was born in Detroit, Michigan. She now resides in Michigan and is Associate Professor of Music at Oakland University. At the age of 15 she began piano lessons. She went to Wayne State University where she studied piano and composition. She graduated with her bachelor and masters degrees. She was the first African-American composer to obtain a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan, where she studied composition with Leslie Bassett, William Bolcom and Eugene Kurzt. She also continued to study the piano and took courses in electronic music. Dr. Alston went on to teach at Wayne State University in 1983, the Detroit Public School in 1986, Oakland University as a Visiting Assistant Professor in 1987 and Eastern Michigan University in 1988. She returned to Oakland in 1991. This recording is entitled "Keyboard Maniac" because of the excitement electronics bring to Art Music, and Lettie Alston says, "as a composer, pianist and organist writing for the piano and electronic medium has been a spiritual awakening for me."
Track Listing
| Title | Composer | Performer |
|---|---|---|
| The Journey: The Longest Mile | Lettie Alston | Lettie Alston, piano |
| Four Moods for Piano | Lettie Alston | Lettie Alston, piano |
| Three Rhapsodies for Piano | Lettie Alston | Flavio Varani, piano |
| Sonata of the Day, No. 1 | Lettie Alston | Flavio Varani, piano |
| Piano Variations on Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing | Lettie Alston | Lettie Alston, piano |
| Keyboard Maniac (Rhapsody No. 4) | Lettie Alston | Flavio Varani, piano |
| Spiritual Awakening | Lettie Alston | Lettie Alston, electronic keyboards |
| Sweet Memories | Lettie Alston | Flavio Varani, piano; Cedric Alston, synthesizer; Lettie Alston, electronic keyboards |
| Diverse Imagery | Lettie Alston | Lettie Alston, electronic keyboards |
| Echoes from the Spirit | Lettie Alston | Cedric Alston, electronic keyboards; Roderic Leon, electronic keyboards |
| Daylight | Lettie Alston | Lettie Alston, electronic keyboards; Cedric Alston, synthesizer |
| Storm Chaser | Lettie Alston | Flavio Varani, piano; Lettie Alston, electronic keyboards |
| The End Times | Lettie Alston | Lettie Alston, electronic keyboards |
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