Monday, April 25, 2016

James Lee III: "Thurgood's Rhapsody" "is a celebratory and adventurous piece on the life of...Thurgood Marshall" for World Premiere by Baltimore S.O., June 9-11, 2016

James Lee III
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:


THURGOOD'S RHAPSODY
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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