James Lee III’s Souls of Alkebulan: Warrior Dance


This February, the Daily Classical Music Post celebrates Black composers and musicians whose music has been suppressed and ignored. All of these musicians should be added to the music history and music theory curriculum.

https://youtu.be/xbTiOIHftdk


James Lee III (born 1975) began piano lessons at the age of 12 and quickly realized that music was what he wanted to do with his life. He has said, “I want to compose music to reach to the inner soul of the listener that elevates them irregardless of race and religious affiliation.” He earned his degrees at the University of Michigan and also was a composition fellow at Tanglewood Music Center in 2002. His list of compositions on his website includes orchestral works, concertos, band music, chamber music, piano music, and choral works (https://www.jameslee3music.com/list-of-works). Performances of his music have been met with acclaim, and he has won many awards.


His piano piece Souls of Alkebulan: Warrior Dance (composed 2012) is an exciting and fascinating work. Alkebulan is the ancient Indigenous name for Africa, and Lee has painted a vivid image through the use of tempo, rhythm, and melody. Warrior Dance is the final movement of five; the first four movements of Souls of Alkebulan are Vitality of Kemet, Memories of Axum, Heart of Kalimba, and Lost Treasures.


My classical music post for today is James Lee III’s Souls of Alkebulan: Warrior Dance.

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