Katahj Copley - DOPE | University of Texas Wind Ensemble | Weston Lewis, Conductor

The first semester of my masters- I was in a different headspace. I had finished writing Where the Sky Has No Stars and at the moment I felt renewed. I didn’t know what else to write, so I began to write music that felt disingenuous to my spirit (music that will never see the light of day)- I was going on autopilot and I had lost my voice. During one of my lessons at UT Austin, my professor Omar Thomas and I began listening to a piece I had mocked up a couple of days before. We both weren’t feeling it, and finally I asked him to turn off the piece and I told him it didn’t sound like me. I felt lost creatively. He then asked me what music I listen to. I began to name only band music composers. He asked me again, and I told him outside of wind band music I’m in love with Rap, R & B, Jazz and Soul.
Then he asked an important question- “Why do you make a barrier between those ideals?”
I didn’t have an answer.
He continued, “If you create something that is a celebration of who you are, the music you grew up with, and the music that inspires you now… then that would be dope…”
And with that this piece was born. DOPE is a gumbo of all the music that inspires and influences me from Thundercat to Kendrick Lamar to Miles Davis to Hiatus Kaiyote and more, this piece is in essence a deep look into my musical world.
The piece can be broken up into three parts. Since this work is dedicated to the trail black music has created, inspired and the new horizons it’s reaching, each part is named after a part of the black identity.
​UNDENIABLY (which is the partial score) is the opening of the piece. It's gritty, intense with moments of color and undeniable energy. It is carried by a bass line heavily influenced by Thundercat's playing on Kendrick Lamar's Untitled 05 along with Miles Davis's Nardis.
UNAPOLOGETICALLY (the middle section) is a world building vibe and examines just how beautiful the music can be. I explore the colors and stretch them to their limits, but in doing so found new hues within myself and my writings. With this act, I gained heavy inspiration from John Coltrane, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington and Hiatus Kaiyote (to name a few)
​UNDISPUTEDLY (the finale) is an intense, groove filled statement. Every color explored is here and is in its full potential. It's bold and- like undeniably and unapologetically- is undisputedly black. Guided by my love for Tyler, the Creator's Hot Wind Blows, Marvin Gaye's I Want You ( due to Kendrick's The Heart series), and Kamasi Washington's Street Fighter Mas along with Askem.

[@toe7798]

Copley will write the most earth shattering, Super mario galaxy sounding, move-busting, most delicious pieces of music to ever bless our ears and will name it something like "Bruh"

[@katahjcopleymusic]

Facts

[@bread_girl_jane]

he also has a piece called “AYO”

[@toe7798]

@@bread_girl_jane one of my fav pieces by him!! Played it a year ago. Super cool

[@leugli]

LMAO

[@jamessylercomposer5770]

Excellent work, Katahj. I can hear your influences coming through, especially Miles and the Gil Evans era. As an old ex-jazzer I hear what used to be referred to as "third stream" but now is the natural expression influences coming through without artifice. The ideals of the old movement are now assimilated. Keep going.

[@joshuahardison6712]

just read this for the first time at USF and this is my new favorite piece EVER. i sat there enjoying every sound and hearing Hiatus Kaiyote, to the funky JD BECK hi-hat, to the disgusting funkiness of snarky puppy in some parts

[@composermaxofficial]

Katahj has some of the best music out there.

[@minnesotarailfan12]

Immediately hooked from the low reeds and brass at the beginning- this is amazing!!!

[@kevindaymusic]

Bravo Katahj and Weston🔥

[@suno186]

this guy went to my high school, what a legend

[@carlinleemusic]

So glad I checked this out!

[@robtraughmusic]

Love it!

[@annwilson891]

LOVE!!!

[@Fernando.bruv1]

This piece is an absolute work of art.

[@minnesotarailfan12]

Also, the bell at the end and the vibe of the piece just gives off locomotive/railroad vibes, which probably wasn’t intentional but I love it all the same as a railfan!

[@DasBlarcy]

Just heard this last night at Western Uni, this piece was killer, loved your story for it too

[@shmaneyok]

this is incredible!!!! one of my favorite pieces i’ve ever played in band

[@LullyBoa]

Love the song Katahj miss you - McEachern Saxes

[@Arrrrrrrrikived]

6:56 flute solo makes me teary eyed ..

[@mylesblakemore]

Superb composition and performance, I loved every second!

[@monkeyman1ooo183]

Amazing piece, I’m excited to play it in wind ensemble this year! Any idea if/when we can buy the piece from bandcamp, iTunes, etc?

[@nrg4598]

innovative genius,Bravo

[@ryanevangelho]

Wonderful piece and performance, super great work that really shows how hip-hop can and should fit into music education today. Amazing job

[@andyschaefer574]

14:57

[@scottclements9029]

Wow! What an enjoyable composition. Thank you for making a perusal score available for this. The bass bone writing is off the hook! Great piano voicings. Everything is so fun to listen to.

[@brycereyes7062]

this go hard

[@nrg4598]

really though

[@brandonshenmusic]

BRAVO! Absolutely incredible work.

[@jonahstek651]

If they actually do make a Legend of Zelda movie after the success of the Mario movie, then I want this guy in charge of the music for it

[@emiliedaye5620]

10:15 trumpet solo

[@creativename7021]

thats a sax

[@stephensteele4754]

What a nice piece! Thank you!

[@Mistify.]

WOW🤩🤩🤩