Orchestra Diversity and Education Programming
The Programs Program I
Walking With The Spirits
The orchestra program Walking With The Spirits represents varying historical and cultural aspects of the American and African American experience. These include musical commentary on gospel and spiritual choral concepts, symphonic perspectives on jazz and prominent African American figures of the 20th century. (click here for sample program notes)
Program II
SunDawn - Family Concert For Orchestra
This program consists of original compositions for bamboo flute and orchestra and solo flute and orchestra. The audience is introduced to new musical words and concepts in an educational and entertaining fashion.(click here for full description of SunDawn)
Program III
Vanqui - The Orchestra Concert Version
This orchestra concert presentation is a tale of death and resurrection through the eyes of the heroine, Vanqui, a 19th century slave woman.The original music of Leslie Savoy Burrs and the libretto by John A. Williams brings new sound and text to this performance by framing a uniquely American experience in a compelling, multi-dimensional work of art.
This orchestra performance portrays the story of two Africans, Vanqui and Prince. Enslaved in America, this married couple is forcibly separated and then both are cruelly murdered. They are resurrected as spirits who ride the wind searching for each other and for the Baobab tree. During their journey, they encounter famous freedom fighters including Harriet Tubman, Henry "Box" Brown, Nat Turner, Frederick Douglass, and John Brown. Reunited in the end, Vauqui and Prince symbolize the triumph of slaves over an inhumane system and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit. (click here for full description and reviews of VANQUI)
Educational Options
The musical concepts presented in these orchestra programs can be integrated into a variety of grade levels and subject matters throughout the curriculum. Curriculum topics could include:
• The Underground Railroad, pre-Civil War freedom fighters and abolitionists
• The life and works of award winning novelist, poet and librettist John A. Williams
• Dr. Martin Luther King
• Composer William L. Dawson
• Poet Sterling Brown
• Photographer Roy De Carava
• Community Engagement Component
Mr. Burrs' orchestra programs could be supplemented with a community outreach project that includes the following:
• Informance presentations by Mr. Burrs to community organizations and/or small groups of students generating a dialogue and hands-on experience while introducing them to music instruments and music concepts.
• A special presentation of Burrs' chamber music performances incorporating improvisation and jazz elements.
• Coordinating music presentations involving students in non-music classes such as English or art and assisting them in creating new musical works based on poetry and visual art.
Highlights for Presenting Mr. Burrs' Orchestra Programs
• A successful crossover presentation enhancing audience development capabilities, particularly for the African American community, students and family attendance.
• Addresses the issues and concerns of diversity, American history and African American representation. These programs are composed for orchestra, jazz ensemble, vocal soloists and chorus with optional screen projected images of artwork and celebrity narrators.
• The artistic and historic content for these programs provides an effective and engaging outreach and education component to be utilized in classroom settings and as a potential interactive Internet program.
• The music is described as Urban Classical Music combining classical, jazz, African American and contemporary music idioms.
• These programs have an aesthetic and spiritual quality, which embraces and reflects the African American experience in American history and society.
Walking With The Spirits
The orchestra program Walking With The Spirits represents varying historical and cultural aspects of the American and African American experience. These include musical commentary on gospel and spiritual choral concepts, symphonic perspectives on jazz and prominent African American figures of the 20th century. (click here for sample program notes)
Program II
SunDawn - Family Concert For Orchestra
This program consists of original compositions for bamboo flute and orchestra and solo flute and orchestra. The audience is introduced to new musical words and concepts in an educational and entertaining fashion.(click here for full description of SunDawn)
Program III
Vanqui - The Orchestra Concert Version
This orchestra concert presentation is a tale of death and resurrection through the eyes of the heroine, Vanqui, a 19th century slave woman.The original music of Leslie Savoy Burrs and the libretto by John A. Williams brings new sound and text to this performance by framing a uniquely American experience in a compelling, multi-dimensional work of art.
This orchestra performance portrays the story of two Africans, Vanqui and Prince. Enslaved in America, this married couple is forcibly separated and then both are cruelly murdered. They are resurrected as spirits who ride the wind searching for each other and for the Baobab tree. During their journey, they encounter famous freedom fighters including Harriet Tubman, Henry "Box" Brown, Nat Turner, Frederick Douglass, and John Brown. Reunited in the end, Vauqui and Prince symbolize the triumph of slaves over an inhumane system and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit. (click here for full description and reviews of VANQUI)
Educational Options
The musical concepts presented in these orchestra programs can be integrated into a variety of grade levels and subject matters throughout the curriculum. Curriculum topics could include:
• The Underground Railroad, pre-Civil War freedom fighters and abolitionists
• The life and works of award winning novelist, poet and librettist John A. Williams
• Dr. Martin Luther King
• Composer William L. Dawson
• Poet Sterling Brown
• Photographer Roy De Carava
• Community Engagement Component
Mr. Burrs' orchestra programs could be supplemented with a community outreach project that includes the following:
• Informance presentations by Mr. Burrs to community organizations and/or small groups of students generating a dialogue and hands-on experience while introducing them to music instruments and music concepts.
• A special presentation of Burrs' chamber music performances incorporating improvisation and jazz elements.
• Coordinating music presentations involving students in non-music classes such as English or art and assisting them in creating new musical works based on poetry and visual art.
Highlights for Presenting Mr. Burrs' Orchestra Programs
• A successful crossover presentation enhancing audience development capabilities, particularly for the African American community, students and family attendance.
• Addresses the issues and concerns of diversity, American history and African American representation. These programs are composed for orchestra, jazz ensemble, vocal soloists and chorus with optional screen projected images of artwork and celebrity narrators.
• The artistic and historic content for these programs provides an effective and engaging outreach and education component to be utilized in classroom settings and as a potential interactive Internet program.
• The music is described as Urban Classical Music combining classical, jazz, African American and contemporary music idioms.
• These programs have an aesthetic and spiritual quality, which embraces and reflects the African American experience in American history and society.