Composer Valerie Coleman does a little bit of everything. She is a flute virtuoso, a famous composer, a model for Black musicians worldwide and a mentor to her students.
Musical selections from Valerie Coleman
Umoja, Anthem of Unity for Orchestra
Umoja is one of Coleman’s seminal compositions. The original orchestration was for a wind quintet, but it exists in several versions, including vocal and instrumental ensembles. Umoja is Swahili for “unity,” and this is what she has to say about the work, “Now more than ever, Umoja has to ring as a strong and beautiful anthem for the world we live in today.”
Red Clay & Mississippi Delta
Here are Coleman’s words about the work:
Red Clay is short work that combines the traditional idea of a musical scherzo with living in the South. It references the background of my mother's side of the family, which hails from the Mississippi delta region. From the juke joints and casino boats that line the Mississippi river to the skin tone of kinfolk in the area: a dark skin that looks like it came directly from the red clay. The solo lines are instilled with personality, meant to capture the listener’s attention as they wail with “bluesy” riffs that are accompanied (‘comped’) by the rest of the ensemble. The result is a virtuosic chamber work that merges classical technique and orchestration with the blues dialect and charm of the South.
Portraits of Langston: VI. Harlem's Summer Night
This is the sixth vignette from the larger work Portraits of Langston. Using flute, clarinet and piano, Coleman paints a vivid soundscape in each movement that is inspired by a different poem by Langston Hughes.
Credits
Host: Tesfa Wondemagegnehu
Producer: Dan Nass
Writers: Andrea Blain and Scott Blankenship
Additional music selections: Jeffrey Yelverton
Executive Producer: Julie Amacher
Love the music?
Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.
Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.
YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.
Your Donation
About Rhapsody in Black
Where we turn up the voices of Black artists in the world of classical music, with host Vernon Neal.
Subscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | TuneIn | RSS Feed