Only the Midnight Sky Excerpts

This video contains excerpts from my orchestral work, Only the Midnight Sky and Silent Stars. It was made possible by the Emerging Black Composers Project, (EBCP) a program created to support the work of Black Composers. I was chosen as one of four winning finalists in 2022. The work was premiered by the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Orchestra (SFCO) in February 2023 under the direction of conductor Edwin Outwater. The music is inspired by a poem called ‘Haiku and Tanka for Harriet Tubman’ by the brilliant, Philadelphia poet laureate, Sonia Sanchez. I love the way this poem brings Harriet Tubman to life. I could feel her running, her spirit, strength and courage. There is a fierceness and clarity of image and rhythm, which I tried to capture in the music. There are three excerpts.
Thank you to EBCP, San Francisco Conservatory, conductor Edwin Outwater, the fabulous student musicians of the SFCO, to the funders, Michele and Lawrence Corash and to the brilliant Sonia Sanchez.
First Movement RUNNING 0-1'00
Second Movement PICTURE HER 1'00 -2' 04"
Third Movement TURNING SOUTH 2' 05" to 5"05