IN MEMORIAM: ALAN RAPH

ALAN RAPH (JULY 3, 1933 – DECEMBER 8, 2023)

In 1970, a brief but fruitful period of collaboration as an arranger for Charles Mingus resulted in 9 movements of music for Mingus Dances by Alvin Ailey and the Robert Joffrey Ballet Company. The third movement, “Adagio ma non troppo” was later re-orchestrated and recorded in 1971 for the album Let My Children Hear Music, with Raph conducting the ensemble. Alternatively titled “Myself When I Am Real”, the composition initially developed as a piano solo spontaneously improvised by Mingus in 1963 for the album Mingus Plays Piano.

A selection of obituaries and memorials for Raph can be found at the following links:

https://www.ctinsider.com/connecticut/article/alan-raph-obituary-ct-jazz-music-18551881.php

https://www.local802afm.org/allegro/articles/alan-raph/

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/newstimes/name/alan-raph-obituary?id=53804454

“Adagio ma non troppo” from Let My Children Hear Music