Symphony No. 1, Colorful Meditations was drafted and completed within a month. The composer previously sketched the inner movements of the work in 2015 after the loss of a dear childhood friend. The piece is a Neo-romantic display of minimalist conversations between the sections of the orchestra featuring extended major and minor chords with R&B style progressions, one of the composer's biggest influences. The instrumentation is fairly uncharacteristic featuring not only the contrabassoon but also enlisting the forces of the Bbb contrabass clarinet in addition to Bb bass clarinet. The piece employs a very large orchestral force with a large string section and fairly substantial wind section with extended percussion which includes 2 sets of timpani and 2 Vibraphone. Silence is used extensively throughout, of only for a moment, the composer’s use of silence enhances the overall picture of sound. Releases of tension, combining timbres, and explosive runs enhance the overall tonal color. The movements are named for colors, however, the composer notes that each color does not have its own music in the spirit of a “leitmotif.” The movements are rather a combination of sonic descriptions of colors. Themes are not necessarily exclusive to a specific color pair but rather a tonal expression of the colors presented for each movement of this 40-minute symphony.

mvt I- Red & Orange
mvt II- Yellow & Green
mvt III- Blue & Purple
mvt IV- Black, Brown, & White

Symphony No. 1, Op. 4 Mvt IV Presto Agitato (black, brown, & white)

Symphony No. 1, Op. 4 Mvt III Moderato Con Moto (blue & purple)

Symphony No. 1, Op. 4 Mvt II Largo Moderato Con Moto (yellow & green)

Symphony No. 1, Op. 4 Mvt I Allegro Maestoso (red & orange)

Composed following the sudden passing of 2 civil rights icons, Rep. John Lewis and CT Vivian on the same day, I was compelled to offer some of my talents to pay tribute to the struggle so many of those that look like me do. going with the trend of the composer to use beautiful progressions that could be heard in some of the greatest RnB music ever created. RnB is a creation of black people.

Symphony No. 2 Mvt I Andante Con Brio

Symphony No. 2 Mvt III Allegro Maestoso

Movement one is fast-paced and Starts the symphony with a host of fireworks in the brass accompanied by woodwind mallet runs with stability from the low voices throughout. The movement has a challenging 7/8 is a change in the rhythmic tapestry. The movement runs to a rousing conclusion that accurately evokes the sounds and emotions of an Awakening. The euphoniums and clarinets are a chorus of warmth. 

Movement 2 is an endless work of growth. The music stops to breathe but continues forward keeping that momentum moving toward the close. The G minor sailing melody presented in the oboe is passed around and much like the composer’s earlier works, the thematic material is commented upon between the sections and elaborated and transformed, just as trials transform us.

Movement 3 is all about the maintenance of the growth of light. Keeping the work moving toward its conclusion. This movement is a lovely setting of 5/8. The work continues and is the slowest music in the work so far. The horns and woodwind lines are complemented beautifully with the tenor brass color provides width with the addition of the electric piano to bring the RnB sound to the wind orchestra. The movement closes after many colorful comments and outbursts in the ensemble. The final Concert bass solidified. 

Movement 4 is a tasteful setting of transportation to a place of transformation. The journey we have embarked on. The winds present a melody that floats atop a constantly changing foundation. The movement in the low voices shows trial but also triumph. The winds are in control as we go through until its end. The symphony ends in a rousing flourish of color and light! The transformation is complete and both listener and performer have been changed alike. Transformation complete! 

-Terrence J 2021

Terrence Abernathy