INSTRUMENTATION
Piccolo
Flutes1&2
Oboes1&2
EnglishHorn
Clarinets1&2
BassClarinet
Bassoons1&2
Horns1&2
Trumpets1&2
Trombone
BassTrombone
Tuba
Timpani(3)
SnareDrum
BassDrum
TempleBlocks Triangle
Cymbals:LargeRide,SuspendedandCrash
Tambourine
Glockenspiel
Xylophone
Marimba
Vibraphone
Harp
Piano
Strings
"Listenmypeople, ChildrenofALL It'stimeforUnity HeartheWindscall.
Oha-hum,a-humNkosiah.. Oha-hum,a-humNkosiah..
Initsoriginalform,Umoja,theSwahiliwordforUnityandthefirstprinciple oftheAfricanDisporaholidayKwanzaa,wascomposeasimplesongforwomen's choir.Itembodiedasenseof'tribalunity',throughthefeelofadrumcircle,thesharing ofhistorythroughtraditional“callandresponse”formandtherepetitionofamemorable sing-songmelody.Itwasrearrangedintowoodwindquintetformduringthegenesisof Coleman’schambermusicensemble,ImaniWinds,withtheintentofprovidingan anthemthatcelebratedthediverseheritagesoftheensembleitself.
Almosttwodecadeslaterfromtheoriginal,theorchestralversionbringsanexpansionand sophisticationtotheshortandsweetmelody,beginningwithsustainedetherealpassages thatfloatandshiftfromabowedvibraphone,supportingtheintroductionofthemelody bysoloviolin.Herethemelodyisasweetlysinginginitssimplestformwithanearnest reminiscentofAppalachianstylemusic.Fromthere,themelodydancesandweaves throughouttheinstrumentfamilies,interruptedbydissonantviewpointsledbythe brassandpercussionsections,whichrepresenttheclashofinjustices,racismandhate thatthreatenstogainafootholdintheworldtoday.Spikytexturesturnintoanaggressive exchangebetweenupperwoodwindsandpercussion,beforeareturntothemelody asagentlereminderofkindnessandhumanity.Throughthebrassledensembletutti,the journeyendswithaboldcallofunitythatharkensbacktotheoriginalanthem.
Umojahasseentheseenthecreationofmanyversions,thatarelikesiblingstooneanother, similarinmanyways,buteachwithauniquevoicethatisinformedbyColeman’sever evolvingcreativityandperspective.
“Thisversionhonorsthesimplemelodythateverwas,butisnowafullexplorationintothe meaningoffreedomandunity.Nowmorethanever,Umojahastoringasastrongandbeautiful anthemfortheworldweliveintoday.”