Marlon Daniel: Charleston Today: 'But only now—and thanks only to the Colour of Music—are we hearing these exquisite works performed live in Charleston.'

Marlon Daniel
(Charleston Today)

Sterling Elliott

(Charleston Today)

Nkeiru Okoye(Charleston Today)

Maestro Marlon Daniel sends another review:

http://www.charlestontoday.net/2014/10/29/the-flight-of-a-new-festival/

The Flight of a New Festival

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Peter Ingle

***

The best bit of magic, however, may have come at the start of our evening in a brief work entitled “Voices Shouting Out,” which is a wistful, percussive wonder composed by Nkeiru Okoye in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. The voices in this case are orchestral instruments whose “shouting out” creates a bold imagery reminiscent of Aaron Copeland, with similar themes of nationalistic pride, honor, and grandeur. It is not surprising that such a deeply expressive piece was sketched out in the course of an evening and performed only six weeks later. The reflective, celebratory mood of this short work is sure to see its popularity continue to rise.

Of course, “Voices Shouting Out” has been around for well over a decade, just as Edmund Thornton Jenkins’ Rhapsody has been around for almost a century. But only now—and thanks only to the Colour of Music—are we hearing these exquisite works performed live in Charleston. Let’s just hope that we don’t also become too small for this unprecedented festival that has only recently taken flight, but which is sure to soar to great heights in the years ahead.