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Concert Works

Premiere of BLACK BOTTOM, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, conductor, Thomas Wilkins  

Passing by the River (2024)

Orchestra

5 minutes

Instrumentation:  2 Flutes (2nd Dbl, Piccolo), 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets in Bâ™­, 2 Bassoons, 4 Horns in F, 3 Trumpets in Bâ™­, 1 Tenor Trombone, 1 Tuba, Timpani, 2 Percussion (Drum Set, Glockenspiel), Strings.

Recording Notes

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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 Bâ™­, Bass Clarinet in Bâ™­, 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

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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 Bâ™­, Bass Clarinet in Bâ™­, 2 Bassoons, 4 Horns in F, 3 Trumpets in C, 1 Tenor Trombone, 1 Bass Trombone, Tuba, Timpani, 3 Percussion, Electric bass, Strings.

Video Notes

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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 Bâ™­, Trombone, Percussion and strings.

*Full orchestra version anticipated.

VideoNotes
 

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​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

RecordingNotes

 

Instrumentation – Reduced score: Flute 1, Flute 2 (Piccolo), Oboe 1, Oboe 2 (English Horn), 2 Clarinets in Bâ™­ (Bass Clarinet in Bâ™­), 2 Bassoons, 2 Horns in F, 2 Trumpets in Bâ™­, Timpani (opt Shaker), Percussion, Strings

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Grayce & Sickle (2021)

Wind Ensemble

5 minutes

Instrumentation: 2 Flutes (2 Doubling Piccolo),  1 Oboe, 1 Clarinet in Bâ™­, 1 Bass Clarinet in Bâ™­, 1 Alto Saxophone, 1 Tenor Saxophone, 1 Baritone Saxophone, 1 Bassoon, 1 Horn in F, 2 Trumpets in Bâ™­, 1 Tenor Trombone, 1 Euphoneum / Bass Trombone, Tuba, Percussion (2 or 3 players) [Drum Set, Orchestral Bells, Marimba]

VideoNotes

 

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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

Video Notes

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The Journey of Phillis Wheatley (2005)

Narrated Orchestral Showcase in the style of Peter and the Wolf

23 minutes

Instrumentation: Narrator; and 1 Flute, 1 Oboe, 1 Clarinet in Bâ™­, 1 Bassoon, 2 Horns in F, 1 Trumpet in Bâ™­, 1 Tenor Trombone, Timpani, 3 Percussion, African Percussion, Strings

Recording Notes

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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.

VideoNotes

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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

VideoNotes

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

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Drums Talking.

Solo piano. Commissioned by Blair MacMillan . 2016

 

Euba’s Dance.

Etude for unaccompanied Solo cello. Commissioned by Matt Haimovitz. 2021. Recording

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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
WTCBS Choir with exigence.jpg

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 

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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 &Songs

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.

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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.

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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 • VideoNotes

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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 • VideoNotes

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