CARLOS SIMON Elegy : A Cry from the Grave for String Orchestra
“ I noticed there ’ s something that music can say that words cannot .” – Simon
ABOUT THE COMPOSER
Born 1986 in Atlanta , GA
• Simon grew up in Atlanta and started playing organ at age 12 in his father ’ s church .
• He has received degrees from Georgia State University and Morehouse College and earned a doctorate from the University of Michigan .
• Simon is a versatile composer who combines the influences of jazz , gospel , and neo-romanticism in his works . He is passionate about social justice and seeks out mission-driven projects . He has stated “ the projects I ’ m often drawn to have always been about telling the stories of people who aren ’ t often heard or are misrepresented or marginalized .”
• Simon was named as one of ASCAP ’ s “ Composers to Watch ” and has won a Marvin Hamlisch Film Scoring Award and the Presser Award .
• He has served on faculty at Spelman College and Morehouse College and currently serves as an Assistant Professor at Georgetown University .
THE WORLD AT A GLANCE
2015
MUSIC Drake ’ s “ Hotline Bling ”
FILM Spectre
ABOUT THE PIECE
• Composed in 2015 , this piece is an artistic reflection dedicated to those who have been wrongfully killed by oppressive powers , namely Trayvon Martin , Eric Garner , and Michael Brown .
• Simon was moved to write the work after the announcement that a Ferguson , MO grand jury declined to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of an unarmed teen , Michael Brown .
• Simon states , “ while the predominant essence of the piece is sorrowful and contemplative , there are moments of extreme hope represented by bright consonant harmonies .”
LITERATURE Ta-Nehisi Coates ’ Between the World and Me
HISTORY Freddie Gray is killed by police , leading to the Baltimore Uprising
16 BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA