Sometimes the most powerful response to an unspeakable tragedy isn’t a speech, but a piece of music. Throughout history, composers of all styles and genres have used their art to help communities grieve, heal, and find hope, and that tradition continues today. Hi – I’m Loki Karuna, and on this edition of Noteworthy I’d like to share how the pain of a nation was transformed into an unforgettable tribute by composer Omar Thomas.
Omar is a Brooklyn-born composer who has, among many things, transformed the landscape of music for the concert band. Back in the summer of 2015, the country was reeling from the tragic shooting at the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. In the wake of that heartbreak, a consortium of musical ensembles commissioned Omar to write a piece to honor the nine lives that were lost. In response, he created this – a work he called Of Our New Day Begun.
Through his artistry, Omar Thomas reminds us that even in our darkest moments, music can be a profound tool for strength, healing, and perseverance. His dedication to telling difficult, yet essential American stories drives his work, and makes him one of today’s MOST Noteworthy composers.
Noteworthy is a production of WDAV classical public radio.