Voices of the Millenniums

Voices of the Millenniums is the third in the composer’s Millennium Series. It was written for the final concert of the Louisiana Sinfonietta during the 2000 season, marking the end of one era and the beginning of another. Its theme is the continuous struggle of the human race for goodness and peace.

Text materials for the composition have been taken from wise words of the past, including Pericles’ Funeral Oration, St. Francis of Asissi’s prayer, Byron’s Childe Harold, Canto II, and numerous epigrams. New materials include Pinkie Gordon Lane’s Campanile and Ava Leavel Haymon’s Alleluia for a New Millennium. The music includes materials from past works of the composer as well as new music. Juxtaposition of old and new resources both in word and sound underlines this eternal striving of humans for a higher quality of life. Voices is rhapsodic in character as a whole, including long rhythmic and lyrical sections. The piece ends in a triumphant and hopeful manner with a rousing crescendo.

The composer acknowledges with gratitude his fellow musicians, poets, and reader for their performances; his fellow composer Liduino Pitombeira for his computer work; Louisiana State University, which made possible this project through its Boyd Professor grant; and his family for its general support.