Oklahoma Composer Says “Thank You” To Oklahoma

 

Letter To The Editor

From Glenn Edward Burleigh, Composer

        

         This past Palm Sunday and Good Friday some of my dreams as a composer came true.  I have always wanted  to share a large body of my music in my home state that would reach out to all ages, races, denominations, academic levels and even political parties.   I heard and saw this happen this year on April 1st and 6th.

I had the opportunity organize and conduct two major concerts as a part of our Centennial Celebration.

            The first was the Festival Of Spirituals founded by Thomas and Carol Brice Carey at The University Of  Oklahoma  37 years ago.  This year’s  concert  was sponsored by the Cimarron Circuit Opera Company, headed by Erica Thomas, a marvelous Soprano, and a former student of Thomas Carey who also founded CCOC.   I  want to thank Patti Drennan and the Music Ministry of First Baptist Church of Norman for being such wonderful hosts.  Oklahomans who joined forces included:

            1.            The University Of Oklahoma Concert Choir

                                    Headed by Dr. Steven Curtis

            2.            The University Of Oklahoma Gospel Choir

                                    Headed by Mr.  Anderson Harrison

            3.            Singers from  Quayle United Methodist and

                        Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Churches in Oklahoma

                        City.

 

Also joining us were several friends and Burleigh family members  who played and sang with passion and vigor.  This wonderful body of music we call Spirituals was handed down to us through oral tradition of our ancestors.   Even in Post Slavery days, this music was sung in African Churches all over the country,  including Oklahoma. It is now being sung by college / university choirs  all  around the world.  

 

            Carol Brice Carey studied many of the Spirituals with  the famed Harry T. Burleigh, my distant cousin.  This link was one of many reasons this concert was so special to me.  Mr. Burleigh was  the first to take the Spirituals  and transform them into concert works still performed around the world.  How grateful I am to have had some of my Spiritual arrangements performed  so beautifully at this concert.

            We were very blessed to hear gorgeous  a  cappella arrangements performed by guest Soprano, Brenda Wemberly,  from Charlotte,  North Carolina and Baritone, Dorceal Duckens from  Houston Texas.  Both joined us on Good Friday  for a presentation of “Born To Die”.  What power and grace they brought to the experience. Special thanks also goes to the congregation that packed the house and  filled it with beautiful sound as they joined the choirs in singing three spirituals at the same time in 3-part harmony. They became  a 900 voice  choir.

 

Concert II

            Less than a week later we continued the Centennial Easter Celebration with my Cantata, “Born To Die” performed by the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and the Ambassador’s Concert Choir,  founded and headed by Maestro Kenneth Kilgore, one of my Oklahoma mentors. This presentation was special to the composer because the work was performed by the Ambassador’s shortly after its completion.   Ms. Wemberly and Mr. Duckens were  joined by Pennsylvania Tenor, Gordon Kaslusky, all of whom blessed the house with their golden voices and warm personalities. 

            Grown men (including the composer) wept.  Hands were constantly in the air.  Some shouted out loud while others  simply stood in reverent  silence as the music went up to the Lord and out to the people.   At times we couldn’t tell  that we were in a formal concert........  It transcended  all  that.  Orchestra members hugged me.  What a sense of family and love!

            I must give special consideration to Sandra D. Thompson, from The University Of Central Oklahoma, who conducted in both concerts with such passion and love.  A million  thanks to Mr. Richard Sias and his foundation for the generous financial support of this and many other concerts over the years.  “Born To Die”  is his favorite of my works.  God bless you sir!

            I am working on several new works for children and adults that will also celebrate our Centennial.  They will be announced throughout the year.  Thank you Oklahoma for parenting me, educating me, sending me out and allowing me to come back  home.  Most of all I thank God for “the gift” and for the privilege of  sharing it with his people here at home and around the world.

Oklahoma, you’re OK!

 

Glenn Edward Burleigh

Pianist-Composer-Conductor

President and Founder

Glenn Burleigh Music Workshop And Ministry Inc.

 

 

For more information about Glenn Edward Burleigh,  his mission and music, visit the Glenn Burleigh Music Workshop website at :   www.glenmusik.com