Soulful Symphony with Darin Atwater
national premiere on MPT: February 28, 2009
Watch it on MPT:
September 13 at 4pm
It's one of Maryland's most unique musical treasures. Soulful Symphony is the nation's most acclaimed African-American symphonic orchestra, and in their television debut, recorded at the MPT studios, they perform "Song in a Strange Land," a masterwork by Soulful Symphony founder and artistic director Darin Atwater. It is the contemporary exploration of the spiritual, told in musical genres ranging from gospel to jazz to symphonic. . . a powerful, unforgettable anthem to the spirit of African Americans.
Soulful Symphony is a 75-member orchestra comprised of African-American musicians and founded in 2000 by Darin Atwater. Showcasing some of the finest instrumentalists and vocalists in the country, Soulful Symphony is a uniquely versatile ensemble of string orchestra, brass, reeds, chorus and rhythm. With original compositions and Atwater's arrangements of recognizable popular tunes, Soulful Symphony performs a flexible repertoire that crosses musical genres.
Darin Atwater -- composer, conductor, pianist -- is regarded as one of the leading artists of his generation. His skills in classical, jazz and sacred music have earned him a distinguished international reputation.
"America is still fertile ground for harvesting a new canon of symphonic music," says Atwater. "It is our goal to take music from the vernacular and elevate it to its highest artistic possibility."
From soothing strings to the power of the gospel choir, from blazing brass to the pulse and fire of a rhythm section, Soulful Symphony with Darin Atwater has it all for a complete, exciting experience; a new sound for a new century.
Sponsor: Coppin State University
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