In 1997, the Girls Choir of Harlem premiered “Voices from the Light,” composed by African-American composer Dorothy Rudd Moore. As was common with many pieces by persons of color, it remained largely unknown for many years. Following the piece’s premiere at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center on November 23 of that year, the piece was not heard again until 2022 and has only been performed five times in its history. Masterfully linking quotes from leading African-American poets and Negro Spirituals amidst the tapestry of Moore’s own text and music, this piece deserves its rightful space in the choral canon. This session serves to bring this piece into the light with a panel discussion of the composer’s life and work, a textual and musical analysis of the piece, and a full performance of the work for treble choir, soloists, string quartet, oboe, and piano. Dorothy Rudd Moore (1940-2022) is considered one of the leading women composers of color for her generation, having received commissions from the National Symphony, Opera Ebony, the Buffalo Philharmonic, and solo artists. As a music educator, she taught at the Harlem School of the Arts, New York University, and the Bronx Community College. She co-founded the Society of Black Composers, organizing numerous concerts showcasing the works of Black composers. Moore’s own words in this work tell a story of a dreamer who ‘heard a voice in sleep last night,’ the text paying homage to Langston Hughes, Arna Bontemps, Maya Angelou, and Countee Cullen. The text provides a swath of imagery providing comfort and support from the Ancestors—drawing that imagery from the above-named poets, Negro Spirituals, and Moore’s own words. Moore’s score masterfully intertwines original musical ideas with quotations from Negro Spirituals, each carefully developed through chromatic and modal alterations that mirror the ethos of the text. With intuitive voice-leading paired with the colorful textures of the instrumental ensemble, “Voices from the Light” is accessible to the advanced high school, collegiate, or professional treble ensemble. Dorothy Rudd Moore lived in an era when composers were seen as, in her words, “male, white, and dead.” Circumstances led to her Voices from the Light being almost lost, but this masterwork deserves to be heard and performed by the next generation of choral musicians.
Voices from the Light: Reviving a Masterwork for Treble Voices
Marques L. A. Garrett
University of North Texas
Marques L. A. Garrett (he/him) is Associate Professor of Choral Studies at the University of North Texas. He is an accomplished vocalist and composer with his works available through several publishers and performed by festival/honor, all-state, professional, and college/university choirs such as the Los Angeles Master Chorale and the Oakwood University Aeolians. He regularly serves as a choral clinician and guest conductor for festival and honor choirs throughout the country. He is an active researcher with published articles and presentations on the choral music of Black composers and rehearsal techniques for state, regional, and national conferences.
Susan Kelly
Stewarts Creek High School
Susan Kelly is Co-Director of Choirs at Stewarts Creek High School in Smyrna, Tennessee. Previously, Dr. Kelly was the Director of Choral Activities at Tennessee State University. She serves as the Associate Conductor for Vox Grata Women’s Choir in Nashville and as the adult choir director at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Murfreesboro. Dr. Kelly is also in demand as a guest conductor, having recently conducted regional and All-State choirs across the Southeast and Northeast. She is a past president of TN-ACDA and serves as Chair of Choral Performance Assessment for Middle Tennessee Vocal Association.
Brian Russell
Stewarts Creek High School
Brian Russell is Co-Director of Choirs at Stewarts Creek High School in Smyrna, Tennessee. Previously, Dr. Russell was Assistant Professor of Music at Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington) and Hobart and William Smith Colleges (Geneva, NY). He serves as Executive Music Director of Murfreesboro’s Ethos Youth Ensembles and Director of Music at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Franklin. He remains an active guest conductor, having been an invited clinician for regional and All-State choirs across the Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast. He serves as the State Choral Performance Assessment Coordinator for TN-ACDA.
