Juba for flute choir (2P, 6C, 2A, 1B, CB) gives homage to its namesake: a rhythmic dance found in the origins of both African-American and West African cultures. Premiered in 2014 by the National Flute Association High School Flute Choir under the…
Rubispheres is a series of chamber trios depicting urban life and landscapes in the world. The first three Rubispheres of the series features wind trio (flute, clarinet and bassoon) in a set of exciting hip,…
Ruby St. (street) Nola is a homage to the 'bon temps' of New Orleans nightlife. The work is colorful and should be performed with jazz/soulful articulations in mind.
Portraits of Langston is a 6 movement 'tour de force' with optional narrator, and is based on the poems of Langston Hughes, his experiences in Paris and Harlem. For the best impact, it is recommended (but not necessary) to perform it with narrator,…
Freedmen honors the legacy of Native Americans and former African slaves (adopted into Native American tribal membership through emancipation or marriage), who traversed the Trail of Tears. African-American descendants with Native American ancestry…
In its original form, Umoja, the Swahili word for Unity and the first principle
of the African Dispora holiday Kwanzaa, was compose a simple song for women's
choir. It embodied a sense of 'tribal unity', through the feel of a drum circle, the…
Dedication: To my friends Elizabeth Crone and Richard Masters
Commissioned by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, with support from Elizabeth Crone and Dr. Richard Masters with The College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences…
