Carlos Simon's "Breathe" - World Premiere!

"Breathe" was commissioned for the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra by the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music with the gracious support of Justus and Elizabeth Schlichting.
From Mr. Simon:
Drop Thy still dews of quietness
Till all our striving cease”
One of my favorite books to read and re-read has been Meditations of
the Heart written by renowned theologian, Howard Thurman. A
spiritual advisor to many including Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurman
was a prolific writer and preacher who lived in San Francisco for a
large part of his life. Meditations of the Heart is a collection of
meditations and prayers on the beauty of humanity. I was deeply
inspired by one section entitled “Still Dews of Quietness”, which
urges one to “stay put for a spell”. Through his words, I wanted to
take the gesture further by writing a piece that encourages others to
simply reflect and breathe.
-Carlos Simon
Mr. Simon is the Composer-in-Residence for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He was also named as one of the recipients for the 2021 Sphinx Medal of Excellence. The Sphinx Medal of Excellence is the highest honor bestowed by the Sphinx Organization, recognizing extraordinary classical Black and Latinx musicians.

[@LydiaLeong]

01:37 Start of performance 02:44 Letter [A] 04:01 Letter [B] 05:22 Letter [C] 06:49 Letter [D] 08:34 Letter [E] 10:56 Letter [F]