Gregory K. Williams

It has been exciting to see and hear of the reactions from friends and loved ones as they have been receiving their copy of SHADOWS: The Unaccompanied Viola Sonatas of Gunter Raphael, which officially gets released into the world on Friday, February 2, 2024. I have been hearing from people in my hometown of NYC, in Boston, as far away (so far) as Cleveland about receiving their copies of the album, and really loving it.

In this digital era that we live in, getting the word out about an album is a grassroots endeavor. Even with going through conventional media platforms (ie. submitting press releases, sending it to classical radio stations, etc.) there is a limit to how much BUZZ can happen. It takes a village to work around the Algorithms of Social Media and the Internet, and to get the word out about something that the world needs to hear.

So, dear READER! If or when you get to hear your copy of SHADOWS, here are a few simple things that you can do to help get the word out to others:

1. Please take a photo of you with your copy (if it is digital, take a shot with the album cover on your screen!) Share it with others on your social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Tiktok, etc.), and share with it a link to my website, https://gregorykwilliamsviolist.com/.
2. If you are more savvy with videos, do a video reel instead, and share it as you see fit!
3. If you are purchasing a recording on a platform such as Amazon, please write a review of it so that others will be inspired to listen to it as well.
4. WORD OF MOUTH: Tell your friends and favorite people about this album! Günter Raphael’s story is one that deserves to be shared, and his music deserves a chance to be listened to.
5. For the active musicians out there… play Günter Raphael’s music! A lot of it is not easy rep, and some of it may be hard to find, but it is definitely rewarding, and a fun alternative to some of the other mid-20th century composers that are getting a spot in the sun these days (ie. Igor Stravinsky, Paul Hindemith, Arnold Schoenberg, Aaron Copland, Florence Price, Rebecca Clarke, etc.) In fact, pair Raphael’s music with these composers! If you need help finding recommendations, please let me know!