Inaugural Season Work: Tray for flute, clarinet, and horn
Cinematic, yet symphonic, the piece begins in two four time where a halftime variation of the often heard melody is introduced. After a moving fermata, the piece migrates into nine eight time, back to two four time, later to twelve eight time and finally ending where it started, in two four time, with a restatement of the original melody. “Tray” is filled with arousing glissandos from the horn and flute as well as drone sustains from all, with seemingly improvised melodic lines, and superimposed Negro Spirituals of two blatantly different tonal centers. The piece takes the listener/viewer on a vivid journey, as it depicts the controversial stalk, tussle and eventual shooting of an unarmed black teen named Trayvon Martin by a neighborhood watch volunteer one February night, as he walked back to his father’s house inside of a Central Florida subdivision. This is followed by a depiction of the trial for his murder, where the young man’s killer was found “not guilty”, as well as the moments following this trial, which came to be the earliest stages of the renowned Black Lives Matter movement in 2013.
The piece ends as it begins melodically, harmonically, and in time signature. As the piece winds down, the visual component pays homage to the lives lost due to the senseless occurrences of violence caused by the unfair stereotypes perpetuated and justified by the American caste system.
The piece ends as it begins melodically, harmonically, and in time signature. As the piece winds down, the visual component pays homage to the lives lost due to the senseless occurrences of violence caused by the unfair stereotypes perpetuated and justified by the American caste system.
Inaugural Season Composer:
Marie A. Douglas, a composer hailing from Atlanta, has garnered widespread acclaim for her exceptional talent in seamlessly blending genres and textures within her captivating concert stage pieces. Her music serves as a profound reflection of her inner-city upbringing and her diverse musical experiences, infusing a genuine and authentic essence into each composition. Douglas draws significant inspiration from the African Diaspora, effectively integrating elements of hip-hop and western art music idioms to create compositions that resonate with a wide range of audiences. With her works captivating concert-goers across the United States and Canada, Marie's artistry extends beyond the stage as she collaborates with various ensembles and lends her creative prowess to the world of film music, as well as hip hop and r&b. As she embarks on a remarkable academic journey, pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Memphis under the guidance of distinguished mentors Kamran Ince and Albert Nguyen, her unwavering dedication to sonic innovation continues to shape the evolving tapestry of her artistic expression. www.marieadouglas.com
