Concert Works
Premiere of BLACK BOTTOM, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, conductor, Thomas Wilkins
Click here to purchase or rent scores.
Passing by the River (2024)
Orchestra
5 minutes
Instrumentation: 2 Flutes (2nd Dbl, Piccolo), 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets in B♭, 2 Bassoons, 4 Horns in F, 3 Trumpets in B♭, 1 Tenor Trombone, 1 Tuba, Timpani, 2 Percussion (Drum Set, Glockenspiel), Strings.
When the Caged Bird Sings (2024)
Full orchestra with four vocal soloists
75 minutes
Instrumentation: Narrator, Soli Soprano, Jazz Singer (Mezzo), Tenor, Bass-baritone; SATB Chamber choir of opera singers portraying church congregants, SATB Mass Choir, and 2 Flutes, Piccolo, Oboe, English Horn, 2 Clarinets in B♭, Bass Clarinet in B♭, 2 Bassoons, 4 Horns in F, 3 Trumpets in C, 1 Tenor Trombone, 1 Bass Trombone, Tuba, Timpani, 3 Percussion, Electric bass, Strings
Coming Soon
Black Bottom (2020)
Full orchestra with four vocal soloists
25 minutes
Instrumentation: Soli Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass-baritone; and 2 Flutes, Piccolo, Oboe, English Horn, 2 Clarinets in B♭, Bass Clarinet in B♭, 2 Bassoons, 4 Horns in F, 3 Trumpets in C, 1 Tenor Trombone, 1 Bass Trombone, Tuba, Timpani, 3 Percussion, Electric bass, Strings.
Briar Patch (2020) – A sung story
25 minutes
Chamber orchestra with soloists.
Instrumentation*: Soli Soprano, Soprano 2, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, and Bass-Baritone; and Flute, Clarinet in B♭, Trombone, Percussion and strings.
*Full orchestra version anticipated.
Charlotte Mecklenburg (2018)
Full Orchestra (2018), also score for reduced orchestra (2020)
12 minutes
Instrumentation - Score: Flute 1 (Piccolo), Flute 2, Oboe 1, Oboe 2 (English Horn), 2 Clarinets in B♭, Bass Clarinet in B♭, Bassoon, 4 Horns in F, 3 Trumpets in B♭, 2 Trombones, Tuba, Timpani, 3 Percussion, Harp, Strings
Instrumentation – Reduced score: Flute 1, Flute 2 (Piccolo), Oboe 1, Oboe 2 (English Horn), 2 Clarinets in B♭ (Bass Clarinet in B♭), 2 Bassoons, 2 Horns in F, 2 Trumpets in B♭, Timpani (opt Shaker), Percussion, Strings
Grayce & Sickle (2021)
Wind Ensemble
5 minutes
Instrumentation: 2 Flutes (2 Doubling Piccolo), 1 Oboe, 1 Clarinet in B♭, 1 Bass Clarinet in B♭, 1 Alto Saxophone, 1 Tenor Saxophone, 1 Baritone Saxophone, 1 Bassoon, 1 Horn in F, 2 Trumpets in B♭, 1 Tenor Trombone, 1 Euphoneum / Bass Trombone, Tuba, Percussion (2 or 3 players) [Drum Set, Orchestral Bells, Marimba]
Invitation to a Die-In (2017)
Orchestra with Theatrical Baritone
12 minutes
Instrumentation: Baritone and: 2 flutes (1 doubling piccolo), Oboe, English Horn, Clarinet in B♭, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, 4 Horns in F; 2 Trumpets in B♭, Trombone, Tuba (or bass trombone), Timpani, 3 percussion, Strings
Phillis Wheatley: A Musical Journey (2005, revised 2022)
Narrated Orchestral Showcase in the style of Peter and the Wolf
23 minutes
Instrumentation: Narrator; and 1 Flute, 1 Oboe, 1 Clarinet in B♭, 1 Bassoon, 2 Horns in F, 1 Trumpet in B♭, 1 Tenor Trombone, Timpani, 3 Percussion, African Percussion, Strings
Recording • Notes
Songs of Harriet Tubman (2006)
Orchestral song cycle, also scored for soprano, piano and strings.
25 minutes, each aria is 5-7 minutes
Instrumentation: Soprano and, 2 Flutes (2nd doubling Piccolo), 1 Oboe (doubling English Horn), 2 Clarinets in B♭ (2nd doubling Bass Clarinet), 1 Bassoon, 4 Horns in F, 2 Trumpets in B♭, 1 Tenor trombone, 1 Bass trombone, 1 Tuba , Timpani, 3 Percussion, Piano, Strings.
Voices Shouting Out (2002)
Full Orchestra. 5 minutes
Instrumentation: Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets in B♭, Bass Clarinet in B♭, 2 Bassoons, 4 Horns in F, 3 Trumpets in C, 1 Tenor Trombone, 1 Bass Trombone, Tuba, Timpani, 3 Percussion, Harp, Strings
Chamber and Solo works
Members of the Louisville Orchestra perform MOVEMENTS FOR STRING QUARTET at a Cocktails, Cookies and the Composer recital
African Sketches.
For solo piano. 2003-04 • Recording
Breaking Bread
For solo viola. 2022 • Recording
Drums Talking.
Solo piano. Commissioned by Blair MacMillan . 2016
Euba’s Dance.
Etude for unaccompanied Solo cello. Commissioned by Matt Haimovitz. 2021. Recording
King Fallen.
For string trio. 2013
Meanderings
No. 1: When Young Spring comes. Solo piano. Commissioned by pianist Lara Downes. 2021. Recording
Movements for String Quartet.
Premiered by Detroit Symphony Orchestra String Quartet. 2020. Recording
Choral Music
University of Michigan Choirs with EXIGENCE vocal ensemble performing WHEN THE CAGED BIRD SINGS
"The Beatitudes from WHEN THE CAGED BIRD SINGS (2024)
SATB CHOIR with optional soprano solo. Commissioned by the University of Michigan Orchestras. Coming Soon. Also for SATB choir and strings. 2024. Video
Clap Your Hands.
TTBB choir and strings. Commissioned by the New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra. Also for SATB choir and strings. 2011
Inside is what remains.
SATB, with soprano solo. Arrangement Commissioned by Adrienne Danrich, Music as a Message. 2021. Video
Kyrie.
SATB choir and piano. 2004
Song Cycles, Arias & Songs
Tenor Issachah Savage sings "A Kiss on the Forehead" at Tulsa Opera's GREENWOOD OVERCOMES
1861.
Unaccompanied song for tenor. Commissioned by American Opera Projects and The Walt Whitman Project. 2011 Video.
A kiss on the forehead.
Standalone song from Home of my Ancestors. Tenor and piano. Commissioned by Houston Grand Opera. 2018 Video.
Brooklyn Cinderella.
Song cycle for voice and piano. Commissioned by American Opera Projects and The Walt Whitman Project. 2011. Digital version • Video.
Inside is what remains.
Standalone song from At the Grande (2025). Soprano, high soprano, or contralto. Commissioned by Tulsa Opera. 2021 • Recording
Songs of Harriet Tubman.
Song cycle for soprano and piano or orchestra. 2011 • Video • Notes
Twenty-Eight Bathers.
Lyrics by Walt Whitman. Commissioned by Lyric Fest. 2019 • Recording
We Met at the Symphony.
Song cycle for soprano and string quartet. Commissioned by The Harlem Chamber Players. 2022 • Video • Notes