Instrumentation: Solo mezzo-soprano and piano

Duration: 16’15

Premiere: April 28, 2022 at Daniel Recital Hall in Greenville, SC

Performers: Colleen Allard-smith and Lauren Sarkela

Program Notes: Shades of Black is a song cycle for mezzo-soprano and piano depicting adversities and triumphs African Americans experienced throughout history. The text of the song cycle was written by African American poet, Lucille Clifton. I incorporated five of her poems into the composition. The adapted poems include: Slaveships, Harriet, From Dark Nursery Rhymes for a Dark Daughter, Black Women, and Listen Children.

The first song, Slaveships, relates to the horrific journey Africans experienced while they were enslaved at sea. The second song, Harriet, relates to Lucille Clifton’s admiration for the heroic, brave black women, Harriet Tubman, Isabell ( Sojourner Truth), and her grandmother. The third song, From Dark Nursery Rhymes for a Dark Daughter, is about one of the haunting struggles of “flesh colored” objects not matching black people’s skin. The fourth movement, Black Women, relates to black women not being able to embrace their femininity/womanhood. The final movement, Listen Children, is about black people loving and appreciating themselves.

"Harriet" and "From Dark Nursery Rhymes for a Dark Daughter" have not be performed/recorded, so midi adaptations are used.

Email me (williecornishjr@gmail.com) to see portions of the score.