Lift Every Voice and Sing, for tuba-euphonium octet
Instrumentation: tuba euphonium octet (euphonium 1-4, tuba 1-4)
Year Composed: 2020
Duration: 3’
Premiered September 2020 (virtual) by the COVID-19 Black All-Star Ensemble
Program Notes:
Lift Every Voice and Sing is considered the American Black National Anthem. It was originally composed by J. Rosamond Johnson and the lyrics written by James Weldon Johnson. This arrangement was written as the finale for my COVID-19 Black All-Star Ensemble project during the summer of 2020 (June-October). In its virtual premiere, it featured over 25 Black tuba and euphonium players around the US. The arrangement includes elements of fanfare to set up the anthem and features different sections of the ensemble.