lullaby | ballad | spiritual (2021)
for Flute, Oboe & Bassoon
Movements:
I. My Mama’s Sweet Baby Boy
II. The Blind Child’s Prayer
III. Scandalizin’ My Name
Duration: 10 minutes
Commissioned by Elicio Winds at Auburn University, this trio for flute, oboe, and bassoon draws on Alabama’s rich musical heritage, reimagining three traditional songs—a lullaby, a ballad, and a spiritual—across a three-movement suite. From the gentle rocking of My Mama’s Sweet Baby Boy to the lyrical melancholy of The Blind Child’s Prayer and the spirited dialogue of Scandalizin’ My Name, the piece honors Southern folk traditions through a blend of tenderness, abstraction, and rhapsodic intensity. Each movement offers a distinct emotional lens, illuminating the stories and voices embedded in Alabama’s musical past.
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