Castle of Our Skins | BCMC Volume 3

#BCMC

VOL. 3

SC

O

R

E

2023

Distributed By

PE

R

U

SA L

BLACK COMPOSER MINIATURE CHALLENGE

An anthology of 30 second pieces for soprano-cello duo and cello solo by 18 Black/African Diasporic composers.

A Note About Performance Rights Should you perform and/or record any of the works included in this anthology, please contact the composer directly as performance rights and/or other licensing fees may apply.

R E

A Note from the Editor

U SA L

Special Thanks

SC O

The scores in this anthology show diversity in color, texture, text-setting, and creating tiny-yet-bold sonic worlds. All scores remain as true to the original as possible, with some formatting changes to accommodate this volume. All original poetry appears with each song, either at the beginning or the end of the score.

PE R

Many thanks are due to Anthony R. Green for engraving these scores, all of the participating poets from Castle of our Skins' Black Poet Miniature Challenge, and all the contributing composers for their creativity and fellowship. Castle of our Skins' Black Composer Miniature Challenge 3.0 project was supported by New Music USA’s New Music Organizational Development Fund.

About Castle of our Skins Castle of our Skins is a Black arts institution that centers Black music, culture, and history through people, programming, and partnerships. In classrooms, concert halls, and beyond, Castle of our Skins invites exploration into B ​ lack heritage and culture, spotlighting both unsung and celebrated f​ igures of past and present. For more information, please visit www.CastleSkins.org

PE R U SA L SC O

R E

TABLE OF CONTENTS The Composers The Poets

R E

pg. 1

pg. 5

SC O

Solo Cello Julian E. Brown : What I Should Have Said Kathryn Patricia Cobbler : This is Our Resistance Kennedy Taylor Dixon : to keep me Nantenaina Andriamorasata : The forest

PE R

U SA L

Soprano And Cello Duo Autumn Maria Reed : I Throw Words Not Hands Dani Osoba : Morning Tides Ebun Oguntola : Circles Erick Odiweric : Life is Not One Thing Isaiah Chapman : Inner-course Jessica T. Carter : ...how strange...

Lauren McCall : A Brief History of the Fist Marcus Rock : Half Baked Monthati Masebe : Mifhululu Naamia Rivera : Tired of Hiding Rodrigo Gonçalves de Sousa : Exhaling Magic Sharon Udoh : regret Vanessa E. Hudson : She's Human, too!

Willie Alexander III : Here Before

p. 5

pg. 8 pg. 9 9 pg.p.10 pg. 23 11 pg.

pg. 55 pg. 59 pg. 13 pg. 95

pg. 14 pg. 15 pg. 16 pg. pg. 13 17 pg. pg. 37 19 pg. 43 20 pg. pg. 47 22 pg. pg. 63 23 pg. pg. 24 pg. 71 pg. 25 pg. 77 pg. 26 pg. pg. 85 27 pg. pg. 91 28

pg. 99

pg. 1 pg. 27

PE R U SA L SC O

R E

THE COMPOSERS

R E

Autumn Maria Reed is a Wisconsin-based composer and Berklee alumna.

She has composed library and theatrical music and in 2022, debuted two pieces: a symphonic work "Exodus From Extinction" for Black Diaspora Symphony Orchestra and a string quartet "Yankadi” at LunART Festival.

SC O

Dani Osoba is an early career artist from Kent, UK. After graduating from the University of Hull in 2022, she has been focused on creating a well-rounded career, including composing, songwriting, performance and community arts.

Dani’s pieces have been hailed as “mellow”, “soulful” and “like cloud-watching”.

U SA L

Ebun Oguntola is described by NPR as a “curious and enterprising young artist.” She has delved into composition, conducting, songwriting, production, and multi-instrumentalism. In 2021, Ebun was featured on From the Top, where she was interviewed by Kevin Olusola from Pentatonix, on NPR. Erick Odiweric is an African composer from Nairobi, Kenya. He is the founder/director of the Score Side Publications. His interest and roles greatly lie on music composition, predominantly choral and instrumental music.

Select published works include Safari, Shepherd's Space, and City of God.

PE R

Isaiah Chapman is a composer and violist with six degrees from the Eastman School of Music, Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and the University of North Texas. He currently freelances, composes, and studies Library and Information Science at Simmons University.

Jessica T. Carter is a Black American composer, violinist, mezzo-soprano, and educator from Indiana who is swiftly making a name for herself.

Described as evocative (Aspire Magazine) and lyrical (Apricity Magazine), Jessica specializes in concert music, film scoring, and musical theatre.

Julian E. Brown is a Chicago-based composer with an aim to write music that people will enjoy listening to and that musicians will enjoy playing. Beginning his artistic expression as a lyric poet, Julian's works often favor subtle melodies.

1

THE COMPOSERS

R E

Kathryn Patricia Cobbler is a loop pedal violist, improviser, composer, and educator. Named a CBC Trailblazer in 2021 and a recipient of an Ottawa Arts Council’s Emerging Artist awards, she has been featured in Canada’s most notable Concert Series including Chamberfest and NUMUS Concert series.

SC O

Kennedy Taylor Dixon is a violist, composer, and scholar pursuing a Ph.D. in Music Composition at Princeton University. Described as a “vibrant musical voice,” her work has been heard at the New Music on the Point, Bang on a Can, Electronic Music Midwest, and International Alliance for Women in Music.

U SA L

Lauren McCall is a composer and music educator from Atlanta. She is an alumnus of the Vermont College of Fine Arts where she studied music composition, and now studies music technology at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She writes works for chamber ensembles, electronics, and voice.

Marcus Rock studies at Birmingham Conservatoire. He has composed music for the Cheltenham Music Festival and students from the China Central Conservatory, and was selected as a Composer in the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme.

PE R

Monthati Masebe is an emerging music composer, producer, multiinstrumentalist and actor. They have a deep love for African indigenous knowledge and turning to ancient systems to solve modern issues. They use all their mediums to tell stories of forgotten histories and hidden archives.

Naamia Rivera is a black/hispanic composer and flutist from Brooklyn. They went to Laguardia High School and the Juilliard MAP, and study Flute and Composition with Valerie Coleman at The New School. They are interested in writing inclusive and accessible work that address issues with today's society.

Nantenaina Andriamorasata is a songwriter, music composer and performer from Antananarivo-Madagascar who uses the stage name Vakamiarina. Nantenaina was the 2nd prize winner of the 2021 Merck Foundation (Africa) Song awards for the work More than a mother.

2

THE COMPOSERS

R E

Rodrigo Gonçalves de Sousa is a Brazilian black writer, poet and composer born in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Sousa played tenor saxophone, piano, and began studying music composition in 2018. He studied music theory with conductor Josué Campos, and music orchestration with composer Jonathan Peters.

SC O

Sharon Udoh is a gay, first-generation Nigerian-American composer, pianist, arranger, bandleader, and vocalist. Her work abandons genre and is expansive, focusing on human complexity, order within chaos, and emotional connection. She sometimes takes the stage as Counterfeit Madison.

U SA L

Vanessa E. Hudson is a composer, violinist, and pianist from Manchester, CT. She studies Composition and Music Theory with a minor in arts leadership at Boston University. She also serves on the E-Board for BU Music Engagement, a service club that provides free music lessons to students in K-8 schools.

PE R

Willie Alexander III is a multi-genre composer and performer. He has composed for Kanye West, SKIMS, and Vanessa Beecroft; with performances at the Lincoln Center, Davies Symphony Hall, Hollywood Bowl, and Art Basel Miami. Alexander joined the NY Philharmonic as a full time chorus singer.

3

4

PE R U SA L SC O

R E

THE POETS

R E

Aaron Emmanuel is a writer, musician, and speaker living in the greater Boston area. He was born in California, but spent his formative years in Baltimore, Maryland. His writing and music is centered in trying to find deeper connection within himself and the world around him.

SC O

Aliyah Muhammad is an emerging Oakland poet and Mills College graduate.

She received a fellowship to attend The Martha's Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing, attended the Rooted and Written Conference with the Writers Grotto SF, and taught at the Oakland Downtown Senior Center.

U SA L

Danie Etienne is a Haitian-American story teller, movement author, and film maker. From the expressive nature of Haitian communication to the myriad of cultural celebrations, she learned that Konpa and the social worlds of music and dance were integral to her ability to form close relationships.

Erika DeShay is an English teacher and lover of words. She has been writing poetry since she could formulate sounds. Her poem, Black Lives Matter, can be found in Spoken Black Girl magazine. When she’s not writing, she’s baking her love into pies. You can follow her at @deshaywrites on Instagram.

PE R

FreeQuency is a storyteller, speaker, workshop leader and performing artist.

Their work interrogates and occupies the in-between spaces of gender and geography while exploring the mundane nuances and stark contradictions of everyday existence under so called "post colonial" racialized capitalism.

Karen Hays is a retired professional educator of reading, writing, journalism, oratory, speech, and language arts. Words are Karen's joy, delight, and bane intertwined when dream painting visions are obscured by the stark witness of the blank page.

Len Lawson is the author of Negro Asylum for the Lunatic Insane (Main Street Rag, 2023), Chime (Get Fresh Books, 2019), and the chapbook Before the Night Wakes You (Finishing Line Press, 2017). A South Carolina native, he is currently Assistant Professor of English at Newberry College.

5

THE POETS

R E

Lily Dove started her journey as a writer, starting off with short stories and creative poems. She grew to have such a passion for writing that in February of 2022, she performed a poem about the inequities of healthcare for Boston's Mayor Michelle Wu’s We are Boston 2022; From Dream to Action event.

SC O

Michael Divine (Ashton Michael Lee) is an educator, poet, storyteller, and healer from Spartanburg, South Carolina. Ashton created a healing tool to teach folx ways to think independently called The Student of Life. His series targeted critical life lessons through a “power thought” and storytelling.

PE R

U SA L

Nailah Nombeko is a New York based composer/pianist. She has composed for major artists such as opera star Karen Slack and the Ethel Quartet. Her works have been performed at the DiMenna Center, Symphony Space, Columbia University and on the Portland Opera’s concert series.

6

7

PE R U SA L SC O

R E

What I Should Have Said Julian E. Brown

? b 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ #œ b 4 F as if explaining

? bb œ œ œ œ

œ œ #œ œ ‰ J

Vcl.

? bb œ œ œ

7

œ œœœ

œ

œ œ œ

œœœ œ

>œ œ œ œ

œ œœœ

f

œ

œ œ œ

œ

œ J ‰

U œ œ œ œ

P

PE R

Vcl.

>œ

U SA L

4

œ ‰ œœœ œ J

œ nœ œ œ

SC O

Cello

R E

q = 58

© 2023 Julian E. Brown All Rights Reserved 8

This Is Our Resistance Kathryn Patricia Cobbler

?4 ˙ 4 P

?

4 Vcl.

>œ . œ >œ bœ œ œ f

œœœœœœ œ œœ

j œ œ.

œ.

>œ . >œ œ œ œ œ. œ >

˙

j œ œ.

F

j œ œ œ œ

œ.

j œ w

SC O

Cello

R E

q = 80

Directly after playing the last note, the performer recites:

U SA L

"No Justice, No Peace" (mp)

The piece entitled This Is Our Resistance is a melodic anthem. A sounding refrain that takes the performers and listeners on a reflective journey inward. Ending with the words "no justice, no peace" this short work reminds us of the strength that comes when we join our voices and our actions to help better our communities.

Note To Performer :

PE R

I have included a few dynamic markings within the part; feel free to interpret the musical line in the score as it resonates with your artistic expression.

9

to keep me for granddad

kennedy taylor dixon

˙ ˙

? bb œ œ œ œ bb

5 Vcl.

? bb b b œ

9

˙

˙.

œ

œ

˙

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

œ

œ œ ˙.

U SA L

Vcl.

j ‰ œ ˙ F ˙.

œ œ œ f

R E

Cello

U, U, ? bb 3 b b œ œ 4 ˙.

P

œ œ ˙. ‰ Jœ ˙

SC O

freely ; q = 72

,

pizz.

œ Œ Œ ggg œ œ l. v.

P

Program Notes

PE R

for granddad. nothing will ever keep me from getting to you. i miss you.

© ASCAP KTD Music 2023 10

The forest Nantenaina Andriamorasata

Andante moderato

Vcl.

? œ

‰

œ œ ˙˙

˙ ˙

œ

œœ œ œ œ œ œ

U SA L

PE R ? œ bœ œ ˙ n˙ œ

œ. ? bœ. œœ ..

21 Vcl.

œœ .. œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ ˙

œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ ˙. ?œ ≈ œ ˙.

17

Vcl.

‰

œ œ ˙˙

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙. ˙. œ ≈

13 Vcl.

˙ ˙ ˙

œ

œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ ˙. œ œ ?œ ≈ œ ˙.

9 Vcl.

˙ ˙˙

œ. œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ ˙ ˙˙

œœ˙ ‰ ˙

R E

5

œ

˙ ˙

SC O

? 44

Cello

œœ˙ ‰ ˙

bœ œ ‰ ‰ J

œ œ

bœ œ œ œ œ

œ œ bœ Œ

œ ≈

bœ bœ œ œ nœ b˙ bœ Œ

œ b b œœ ‰ J

bœ bœ œ bœ nœ ˙ . œ b œœ b˙.

© 2023 Vakamiarina 11

˙. ˙.

œ œ ‰ J j œ ‰ œ

bœ œ ‰ J

Œ

œ

˙ ˙˙

œ œ ˙˙

˙ ˙

˙ ˙˙

29 Vcl.

? œ

Vcl.

Vcl.

33

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙. œ œ ≈ ˙ .. œ ˙

37

œ œ œ œ œ ˙. œ œ œ œ ≈ ˙˙ .. œ

?

?

41

œ

‰

œ

?œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

œ œ ˙˙

œ .. œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙˙

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙. ≈ œ ˙ .. ˙

j œ ‰ œ œ

≈ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙. œ ˙.

j œ ‰ œ

Œ

œ

œ

œ

w w

PE R

Vcl.

‰

œ. œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ ˙ ˙˙

œœ˙ ˙ ‰

R E

?

˙ ˙

U SA L

Vcl.

œœ˙ ˙ ‰

SC O

25

12

I Throw Words Not Hands

I Throw

I slay with wordplay.

I don't hit with my fists, I

Words Not Hands

pummel with my wits.

But my sentences assay.

text by Karen Hays music by Autumn Maria Reed

Who the best? Who still standing?

Soprano

Cello

5 Sop.

&

Moderato ; q = c. 96

#### 4 & 4

∑

j œ œ

SLAY

> ? #### ‰ j œ # œ œ æœ

FISTS,

? #### n œ F

I

#### P & n˙

BEST?

Vcl.

P

I don't

? ####

sul tasto

nœ nœ

Œ

Ó

3

3

I

ggg n n œœ Œ œ. œ n œ œ. œ œ nœ F 3

3

œ œj

˙.

3

HIT

with my

œ œ

n œ. œ œ œ. œ œ œ. œ œ pizz.œ œ Œ œ

œ

œ

WITS.

œ

œ.

f

UU œ œ Jœ œ .

Meno mosso

11

Sop.

nœ

œ

pum mel with my

PE R Vcl.

œ œ.

with word PLAY.

F ‰ œj

3

arco

3

mosso F A˙ tempo f Più œ œ j 3 " œ œ nœ œ œ 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

#### & n œ.

8

Sop.

˙.

U SA L

Vcl.

3

3

˙.

∑

>˙ . œ œ j ggg n œ Œ œ œ œ œ ˙ nœ

? # # # # 4 œ . j >˙ 4 ˙ œ p

####

∑

SC O

~ Karen Hays

R E

Who? Who better than the rest?

Who still

U œ nœ œ

stand ing?

n œœ

But my sen tenc es

œ œ œ

œ #U œ

SAY.

˙ .œ n œ œ œ 43 j ˙ #œ P

U U œ œ 42 œ œ œ œ Who? Who

œ

as

bet ter than the

- 2 œ œ œ œ 4 π

œ

Who the

Œ U œ

U > œ œœ j œ

REST?

Copyright © 2023 by Autumn Maria Reed/Rebemolo Publishing (BMI). All Rights Reserved. 11Feb2023 13

Cancer season study the tides of

Morning Tides

the ocean shored by your skin each ripple, each wave

text by FreeQuency music by Dani Osoba

~ FreeQuency

? 43

Cello

¬.

*

F œ œ & œ

tides

of

the

œ œ œ ‰ Œ J

œ˙

œ

f & œ œ œ 12

Sop.

the

shored by your

˙

˙. ˙. p

˙. ˙.

F

PE R

? # ˙˙ ..

Vcl.

Sop.

&Œ Œ œ

each

Vcl.

?œ œ œ sim.

3

∑

Œ œ œ œ ‰ Œ œœ œœ J sim.

P œ ˙. o

cean œ œ œ j œ Œ œ œ œ ‰ Œ œ œ p f Œ

F Œ Œ œ

œ ˙

each

rip ple,

œ œ œ p

U Œ Œ Œ Œ œ œ ˙ œ œ rip ple, each wave each U œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ p dim. al niente * snares or paper : dim. al niente

dim. al niente

18

œ

˙.

skin

∑

F œ œ

p ˙.

U SA L

Vcl.

œ

∑

Œ œ œ œ ‰ Œ œ œ J p F

∑ œ

stud y

? Œ

∑

œ

7 Sop.

¬.

∑

SC O

& 43

Soprano

R E

w/snares on : circular brush w/brushes throughout q = 120 or*Snares, rub paper together throughout; m. 19 : dim al niente

3

Œ

œ œ œ

F

3

œ ˙

rip ple,

Œ

œ œ œ

, œ

œ œ

Œ

each wave

œ œ œ

œ œ Œ

each wave

˙.

14

I stress standing still and worry in circles I stress standing still And worry in circles There is no sight of light No matter where I look I try my best to take the best steps But although I try to move forward I get stuck I stress standing still and worry in circles ~ Lily Dove

π

F bœ œ œ œ nœ #œ

Vcl.

?

wor ry

&

œ bœ

in

cir

. œ. œ5. œ. œ. ˙ œ Œ

light

No mat ter where I

? @ @ @ @ bœ nœ œ b œœ œ n œ b œ

PE R Vcl.

œ œ

˙˙ b b ˙˙

look

I

try

scratchy

10

Sop.

Vcl.

≈ j. œœ . π

ww

ƒ œ.

œ œ

There

is

still

œ

Glissando

cles

# œœ .. b œ œ œ #œ nœ #œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ œ œ nœ #œ œ œ f P

6 Sop.

And

#œ

œ

U SA L

Sop.

&Œ

Y

cresc. within speaking voice

SC O

? 4 #O 4

4

≈ j y.

R E

& 44 Ó

Cello

text by Lily Dove music by Ebun Oguntola

p Í strained 3 Œ ‰ j y ‰ ¿ y y y y y ing still stand ing O I STRESS #stand ˙ ˙ œ œ Í

q = 100

Soprano

Circles

&

˙

œ œ

and

I

? ˙˙ 15

b b ˙˙

try

Ï on the verge of yelling # œ. œ. œ. œ. œ-

œ-

to move for ward I

get

˙˙ ƒ

Gliss

ando

Í œ ˙ my best

#O Í

‰

no

œœ n œ@ bœ

ƒ ‰ œ bœ. œ œ œ Œ J

O

take the best steps

to

œG J

b œœ . œœ @ Œ @ . b œœ œœ f ƒ . liss

œ #œ œ œ bœ œ œ œ

UY SCREAM!

STUCK

U ∑

Life is Not One Thing text by Aaron Emmanuel music by Erick Odiweric

q = 100 (Expressively)

F> > >. œ ∑ ‰ œ œ œ. œ œ œ Soprano œ œ œ œ J > > Life is not one thing but the same re volv ing œ œ œ ? # 43 ‰ . r ‰ . ‰ . r ‰ . Œ Œ œ ‰ . Œ Œ œ œj œ œ Cello R œ R œ J R F F P P cresc.

5 # j ∑ Œ Œ œ œ œ.

Sop. & œ Œ Œ œ œ œ ˙. œ̄ .

heart,

? # œ œ̄ œ̄ 10

Sop.

Vcl.

&

#

?#

œ.

œ̄ œ̄ œ̄ œ œ́ œ œ́ J

but the

P

cresc.

∑

Œ

F cresc. Œ œ œ

œ œ œ œ J

œ́

œ œ́

but the

cresc.

q = 50

# œ. œ œ. œ œ &

PE R

14 Sop.

learn ing how

Vcl.

? # œ ‰.

R P

œ ‰.

R

to beat.

œ.

same

re volv ing

˙.

œ œ œ œ œ œ ÿ ÿ ÿ

# # # fœ. . œ œ. œ. is not

one

# ## r ‰ . Œ Œ œ œœœœ <<<< f

heart,

œ œ œ œ œ

molto rit.

U ˙.

molto rit.

˙.

thing

œ

pizz.

Œ

heart,

molto rit.

re volv ing

A tempo

Life

œ œ œ œ œ œœœœœ ÿ œ ÿ ÿ F

same

j œ œ œ

U SA L

Vcl.

SC O

R E

# 3 & 4

œ

molto rit.

Untitled Life is not one thing

U ˙. f

arco

But the same revolving heart Learning how to beat ~ Aaron Emmanuel Copyright © Feb 2023 by Erick Odiweric 16

Inner course Two Miniature Songs for Soprano and Violoncello

text by Michael Divine music by Isaiah Chapman

I.

Moderato, in swinging and sultry fashion ; q = 100

∑

j # œ ? 44 ‰ œ Œ œœ œ œ F pizz.

Cello

Sop.

&œ œ œ lies

?

Sop.

F 8 3 & œ œ #œ is

Vcl.

?

it

j # œ ‰ UÓ œœ

when

#œ œ œ F

∑

œ

just

3

œ

P #œ

e ner gy?

∑

un der our spell or

w j # œ ‰ œ Œ œ F

œ œœ

j œ œ ‰ Ó œ

U ∑

is...

f œ J ‰ Œ

Copyright © 2023 by Isaiah Chapman 17

l.v.

F U sing straight, like an incantation œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

Ó

PE R

Vcl.

œ ˙

U SA L

5

p

R E

Soprano

SC O

& 44

f œ œ bœ Ó œ

3 ´ U j jÓ Œ ‰ œ . œ bœ œ nœ œ œ Lu

st

ful tongues speak U j j œœ j b œ œœ œ ‰ ‰ j ‰ ‰ #œ Œ #œ œ ‰ œ Ó gg œ Œ œœ œ j œ œ gg œ œ œ œ œ œ > p>

(swing e 's)

U ∑

Ó ‰ j j‰ œ >œ f Attacca

II. In swinging fashion ; q = 92 96

F 2 &4 œ

Sop.

bœ

œ

œ

We

œ F

œ

œ

rit.

3 Sop.

&˙

Ó

of

œ œ

œ

œ

œ ti

œ

fy

a

œ J

œ

Œ

U œ

‰

‰

œ way

œ

œ

p U̇ ‰ Jœ

ing

œ

U œ

poco cresc.

rit.

‰ bœ

a

œ

U SA L

Vcl.

poco cresc.

rec

œ ? ‰ J ‰ b œJ Ó

have

44 œ

œ

œ J

‰

SC O

? 42

Vcl.

(pizz.)

œ J

4 ‰ 4

R E

(swing e 's)

the

soul.

U œ œ Œ Œ bœ œ b œ l.v. p

PE R

Inner course

Lustful tongues speak lies when under our spell or is ... is it just energy?

Reflections. We have a way of rectifying the soul. ~ Michael Divine

18

Untitled A heap of me all burgundy Black and brackish laid out in the street.

How strange the summer's fruit smells, boiling into the concrete. ~ Aliyah Muhammad

4 &4

Cello

Ó

, ≥ A

?

œ ˙.

- - œ œ œ œ 3 œ &4 œ œ œ 5

Sop.

Vcl.

?3 4

œ

œœ

the sum mer's fruit

PE R

strange

Vcl.

?

Sop.

Vcl.

f #œ

Œ

&œ

? œ #œ #œ œ œ œ œ

the

3

j> œ œ ˙ J ‰B

Ah!

3

Œ

U ˙

smells

44 # ˙

44 œ #œ 3

p œ #˙

Œ

#˙

. œ. >œ # œ . . œœ J‰ œ œ . . # œ. œ. œ ƒ con

bur gun dy Black

˙

3 4 Uœ ‰ J

>œ >œ > U œœ # œ œœ œ œ # œ # œœ Í

œ œ # œ œ œ

œ #˙

in

˙

to the con

œ #œ

Ó

crete

#˙

#˙ >

Copyright © 2023 by Jessica T. Carter (BMI). All Rights Reserved.

19

3 4

>œ Œ ? œœ

œ

Œ K œœ ‰ œj # œ #œ >

boil ing

Ḟ

≥ ≥ œ ˙ > p.

me

f

U ˙

˙.

14

all

of

ƒ ˙. ‰ œJ

street

œ œ

œ œ œ œ

heap

w

˙

laid out in the

#œ #œ œ œ #œ & 9

Sop.

brack ish

œ œ œ œ

U SA L

and

œ

œ- œ- œ-

œ #œ œ œ

3

SC O

∑ ≥ U , œj U̇ B 4 >˙ 4 f

Soprano

P #˙

text by Aliyah Muhammad music by Jessica T. Carter

R E

Andante ; q = 80

... how strange ...

How

3

˙

U ˙

crete

œœœ

F 3 U ∑ Ó

A Brief History of the Fist text by Len Lawson music by Lauren McCall

Soprano

& 44

f œ

∑

One

3 Sop.

?

Sop.

Vcl.

Œ

‰

raised

fist

œ œ

means

SC O

œ œ- œ œ œ- œ œ œ œ œ- œ œ œ- œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ â -â -â-â -â -âf F

œ œ œ œ Ó

œ

œ œ œ

Soul

One

swing ing fist

pow er.

Œ

‰

œ œ means

œœœ œ œ œ œ œœœœ œœœœœœœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ- œ- œ - œ- œ- - - F f

PE R

Vcl.

&

? 44

U SA L

Cello

œ œ

R E

Boldly ; q = 80

¨ œ̈ œ̈ œ œ .

œ

˙

^ ^ ^ œ œ. œ. . œ œ œ. œ. œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ > f

up

5

determined

?

Fight

& œ̈

the pow

er.

Œ

‰

œ J

Two

fists

œœ

œ œ

‰

means a

œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ œ. .

©2023 Len Lawson and Lauren McCall 20

& œ

œ

œ

fight

Vcl.

?

œ

œ

& œ 8

Sop.

œ

for

pow

œ-

œ â

Œ

œ

fists

up,

? œ - œ- œ œ-

œ-

œ

Œ

er.

No

œ â

œ

‰

œ

œ

ƒ j ~~ œ . œ ~~~~

œ

œ

œ

œ

all

äj ä ä œ œ œ Œ

the

pow er.

œ- - œ- œ- - œ- œ- - œ- - œ̆ ˘ ˘ ä œ œ œ œ̆ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ- œ œ œ œ - - œ> ƒ strongly

PE R

A Brief History of the Fist One raised fist means soul

21

œ J

‰

U SA L

Vcl.

œ

œ

R E

Sop.

SC O

7

power. One swinging fist means Fight the power. Two fists

up mean a fight for power.

No fists up, all the power. ~ Len Lawson

œ

Half Baked

Note to performer: the soprano may sing on any vowel.

q = 60

5 Sop.

&

œ

œ.

> ? # œœ b œœ .. f

bœ J

˙

# >œ b œœ≈ œ

œœ

U SA L

3

?3 4

>œ .

. œ. b œ b œ

5:4

PE R Vcl.

& #œ

12

Sop.

Vcl.

L̇ .

ƒ> whimsical 3 b œ >œ 2 œ # œ œ œ œ œ œ bœ œ 3 œ œ ≈ &4 #œ J 4

9 Sop.

L̇

R E

L̇≤ .

arco

Vcl.

∑

& 45 Lincise

Cello

ƒ espressivo F œ ˙ 24 œ ‰ Œ Œ J # >œ # œ L j œ Œ ? 42 œ œ œ. # œ. # œ. œ œ b œ œ ‰ œ œ œ sub f espressivo F > pizz. J ƒ > π , f œ J ‰ nœ j 3 œ œ ‰ 4 > ≤L -̇ œœ ∑ J ‰ 43 π f

non vib., blend w/cello

SC O

& 45

Soprano

L ‰ Jœ ˙

Marcus Rock

q = 80

œ

œ >œ .

œœ

3

bœ œ œ œ

pizz.

whimsical

3

# œ #œ #œ ‰ J ≤ arco ≥ L > œ ? ‰ & nœ J L sub F 3

2œ 4œ

œœ- ‰ J

3

f œ #œ œ œ œ

L widen vib. (molto) over note duration n˙ ˙ L̇

L̇

œ

6

F

L œ ‰ J f

ΠΠ22

œ

Mifhululu This piece is emulating a traditional bow instrument called umrhubhe. The single string instrument has the ability to bring out most of the tones I've written here. It's quite fascinating and I would suggest performers listen to videos of the late Madosini's wen' use Goli to get a sense of the sound. The opening section is atmospheric and breath,like. This is to sonically teleport one to a space where umrhubhe is usually played: outdoors in open fields or inside the hut of a traditional healer. In both instances wind, breath and nature are intrinsic elements.

4

Vcl.

†

Vcl.

∑

?# w 8

Whist.

#

†

#

?# 12

†

wæ ∑

˙.

#

Vcl.

Whist.

†

# ‰

j œ œ. œ J œ. œ. œ œ j œ œ .

fuoco

œ

œ

œ

œ.

œ

œ œ

‰ ?# œœœ œ œœœœœ w (arco)

23

œ Œ æ T j œ œ. œ. œ

Ó

œ.

œ . œj U ord. ; molto sul pont. , r œ œ . ≈ œr œr œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œr œr œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ ‰. r œ . - œ œ. œ œ. f

l.h. pizz.

Vcl.

w æ

w

Œ

œ

Ó

∑

œ œ

œ.

œ r ? # œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ≈ œ œ œr œr œ œ œ œ. œ œ- œ œ- œ œ œ œ œ

14

∑

1/2 hair, 1/2 stick col legno tratto ; molto sul tasto

œ.

∑

PE R

Whist.

∑

∑

‰ Œ

U SA L

Whist.

Monthati Masebe

R E

Cello

∑

SC O

Whistle

# 4q = 100 † 4 col legno battuto ?# 4 4 π

Œ

‰ œœœ ˙.

œœ Ó

Ó

œœ

r œ œ œœ ..

‰ œœ œ œ w ‰ ≈ R

r œ ∑

Ó

Tired of Hiding text by Marlanda Dekine music by Naamia Rivera

Carefree ; q .= ca. 50

f ad lib.

U œ œ ∑ Soprano & 68 œ . ‰ ‰ œJ J Jœ # œ laugh so loud ly Tir ed of hid ing my teeth I . œ œ. œ # # œœ œ . n œœ n œœ U œœ œ œ . bœ œ ?

6 œ œ œ b . . œ œ& Cello 8 J œ J œ J p F ƒ laugh freely, naturally U p ad lib.

5 p œ U j œ . . ‰ Sop. & ‰ ‰ œJ œ nœ œ. œ. œ œ #œ œ laugh and I dan ces bo dy My bo dy My U œ œ U œ œ nœ œ œ. œ ? œ . n œ œ Œ.

Vcl. & œ #œ nœ œ. œ. π f 8 P U j œ œ œ. . . ‰ ‰ œ bœ bœ Sop. & œ. œ. œ ‰ Œ dan

ces

œ. œ.

PE R

? œœ .. p

U SA L

SC O

R E

P œ #œ œ œ œ œ

Vcl.

œ œ œ œ œ œ

I'm

tir

ed

of

bœ. œ œ œ

U ˙. hid

ing

Six of Swords I'm tired of hiding my teeth. I laugh so loudly my body dances ~ Marlanda Dekine © 2023 by Naamia Rivera New York All Rights Reserverd.

24

Exhaling Magic text by Erika Deshay music by Rodrigo Gonçalves de Sousa

Soprano

Cello

& 44

?4 œ 4 œœ

∑

˙.

in

air,

in hal ing the

p

& œ

œ bœ

hal

ing,

œ bœ

œ

ex

ing

ma

Vcl.

? bw w p

hal

# œœ ..

is

tak

∑

truth,

# >œ ‰ Œ J

#˙. gic.

3

#œ œ f

#œ # œ nœ

˙

Ah!

œ œ #œ

pizz.

3

Untitled Blackness is taking in air, inhaling the truth, exhaling magic. ~ Erika DeShay

25

n œœ ˙˙ J

œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ # œ n œ œ ˙æ œ≈ œ≈ œ≈œ≈˙ f nœ

3

PE R

ex

3

ness

œ œ #˙

U SA L

œ œ # œ œ œ œ œ ? œœ

7

Black

3

œ œ3 œ

3

Sop.

f

& nœ 4

Vcl.

œ. bœ œ bœ ˙

œ #œ #œ œ

œ

SC O

p 5

Sop.

∑

œ bœ.

J

œœœ

f #œ

R E

q = 70

# œœ

Ó Ó

ing

Regret After the door closed

regret

with deep regret she realized he was worth more alive

text by Nailah Nombeko music by Sharon Udoh

~ Nailah Nombeko

P Œ. œ. œ œ bœ.

∑

œ bœ œ œ ˙. œ œ œ ? b 6 ggg ˙ .. œ œ. œ b b 8 œ. œ ˙ F

Cello

b œ. b & b

5 Sop.

Œ.

∑

Sop.

U SA L

b &bb œ 9

with

‰ œ . œ . œ œJ œ œ œ deep

Vcl.

b & b b œJ œ 13

Sop.

more

Vcl.

? bb œ œ œ b

>œ .

œ >

œœœ

œ œœœœ œ

Œ.

F Œ. . œ œ bœ. œ

œ.

bœ.

œ

more

œ.

f

af ter the

œ.

door

arco

he was worth

closed

œ. œ œ œ. œ œ

œ J œ

œ.

more

œ ggg œ œ

arco

œœœœœ

p ‰. œ œ œ ˙.

œœœ

∑

a live

bœ. g ‰ gg œœ .. pizz.

œ

P

œ œ œ œ œ œ pizz. nœ. gg œ .. g œ

f bœ J œ œ.

closed

P

nœ œ œ

Œ.

re gret she re a lized

PE R

? b œ . œ œ œj bb .

door

arco

arco œ b œ œ œ . pizz. b œ œ > œ j ˙. œ œ . œ ? b j œ .

J bb œ.J œ . ggg ˙˙ ..

3 pizz.

Vcl.

œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

af ter the

SC O

pizz.

œ.

R E

Soprano

bb b 6q .= 60 ∑ & 8

Œ.

œ p

.œ

œ œœ

œ Œ.

26

She's Human, too!

She's resilient!

Strong, Black and a powerhouse.

She's Human, too!

When can she be soft? ~ Danie Etienne

text by Danie Etienne music by Vanessa E. Hudson

With fervor ; q = 82

> f 4 ‰ Jœ œ . b œ b œ œ œ Œ ∑ &4 re sil i ent! pizz. j She's bœ nœ arco b œ ? 44 œ ‰ Œ n œ. œ. ‰ Œ ≈ bœ œ œ œ bœ œ œ œ œ bœ œ n œ. œ. > P f fl F

Cello

œ œ œ

3 Sop.

&Œ

Vcl.

Sop.

Vcl.

&Π?

27

a pow

er

44

house,

poco rit.

Ḟ P # ‰ œJ œ œ gently

Ó

4 ˙ &4 ˙ 8

and

U SA L

& 44

‰

ƒ# œ

œ œ.

A tempo

PE R

Sop.

˙

Œ

œ œœ œ J

Black,

? œ b œ ‰Œ P 5

54 œ

poco rit.

. # œ. n n œœ. arco œ 3 œ # œ œ # œ. œ œœ 4 5 œ #œ œ œ. œ j œ œ b œ & 4 œ. . . œ œ œ œ. œ. flœ œ. flœ n œ. b œ. œ flœ œ. flœ . n n œœ œ >œ > 4 >> .

F

Strong,

pizz.

Vcl.

SC O

R E

Soprano

When

œœ ≈ ‰ Œ ? Œ R

p ‰ œj œ

œ œ ˙

be

œ L >œ

œ

p

can

˙

she

œ œ œ

œœœ

3

w soft? œL

Ó

Œ

·˙

Copyright © 2023 Vanessa E. Hudson

œ œ. œ ˙ œ

w·

#˙.

œ œœ L

L

Here Before text by Aaron Emmanuel music by Willie Alexander III

Life

Cello

is

not

? 43 œœ œœ ˙˙

œ œ ˙

œ œ œ.

one

thing

But the same

re volv ing heart

œœ œœ ˙˙

b œœ œœ œœ ..

œœ # œœ œ ˙˙ œ J

5 Sop.

& œ œ ˙ Learn ing

to

˙

beat

˙

U SA L

œœ œœ ˙˙ b ?

PE R

Vcl.

how

œ

œ J

œ #œ ˙

R E

Soprano

& 43 œ œ ˙

SC O

q = 45

b œœ œœ œœ œœ n œœ

œœ œœ œœ rit.

Œ

∑

U œœ œœ œœ ..

U œ. œ. œ.

Untitled Life is not one thing But the same revolving heart Learning how to beat ~ Aaron Emmanuel

Copyright © 2023 by Willie Alexander III 2 / 18 / 23 24:34:46 Here Before 28

#BCMC

VOL. 3

PE

R

U

SA L

SC

O

R

E

2023

Distributed By

BLACK COMPOSER MINIATURE CHALLENGE An anthology of 30 second pieces for soprano-cello duo and cello solo by 18 Black/African Diasporic composers.