James Lee III
www.jameslee3.com
THURGOOD'S RHAPSODY
PROGRAM NOTE
www.jameslee3.com
Recently we learned that composer James Lee III
had been commissioned to compose one of ten
pieces in honor of the Centennial of the Baltimore
Symphony Orchestra, to be given its World Premiere
under Marin Alsop, Conductor, on June 9-11, 2016.
We were intrigued to learn that the title was
Thurgood's Rhapsody, so we asked James Lee if he
could tell us something about the work. He kindly
provided the following Program Note:
PROGRAM NOTE
Thurgood's Rhapsody is designed to be a concert opener
or an encore piece. The work is a celebratory and
adventurous piece on the life of former Supreme Court
Justice Thurgood Marshall. I chose to use an idea of
opening the piece with the oboe since it is this
instrument that tunes the orchestra before starting to
play a concert. This oboe represents the “tuning in” to
unity and justice as one remembers the famous landmark
decision of Brown v the Board of Education.
The work then proceeds to present a kaleidoscopic scene
of events in the life of Justice Marshall including his work
as a lawyer in the South, his work at the NAACP, various
social interactions and ultimately his success and the
many milestones in his life.
--- James Lee III
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