The FAMU Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble took to the stage at their Black History Month Concert, last week, delivering a mesmerizing performance that honored the rich musical heritage of Black composers.
Among the works showcased was "Of Our New Day Begun" by renowned classical music and jazz composer, Omar Thomas, whose evocative compositions have garnered global acclaim.
Thomas, who celebrates his 42nd birthday today, serves as an Assistant Professor of Composition and Jazz Studies at The University of Texas Austin. Renowned as one of the most influential and prolific Black composers of our era, he intricately weaves themes of joy, sorrow, and the spectrum of human emotions into his music.
"Of Our New Day Begun," premiered on February 20, 2016, just days before his 33rd birthday, at the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Conference in Charleston, South Carolina. “Of Our New Day Begun” was written to honor nine beautiful souls who lost their lives to a callous act of hatred and domestic terrorism on the evening of June 17, 2015 while worshipping in their beloved sanctuary, the historic Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Drawing from the rich traditions of the Black church, this piece incorporates melodies and harmonies rooted in negro spirituals and hymns. Anchored by James and John Johnson's timeless anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing," Thomas' composition is imbued with soul-stirring blues influences, creating a moving tapestry of sound.
“What's really interesting about this piece is that the hardest part about writing it was actually agreeing to do it," Thomas said.
"I was contacted by Dr. Gary Schallert, Director of Bands at Western Kentucky University, and he had told me that his wind ensemble had been perform at the CDBNA Southern Conference in Charleston, SC that year. The performance would at a venue right across the street from Mother Emanuel AME Church, this was right after the shooting happened, and he just felt a great weight and a burden to honor the Charleston 9.
And he asked me to write something, and by this point I've never really written a large wind ensemble piece yet, so I was kind of panicking. It just feels like so much responsibility to take on your shoulders. And, I didn't want to do it first, you know. I just thought it would be too much. And, I had planned to say no.
Then I spoke to my dad about it. My dad was like, you better do it. And so, I did it. And, um, the rest is history,” Thomas added.
“You know, once it sunk in that Gary was going to invite members of the church to the premier and I knew exactly what it needed to sound like. I knew that it needed to be sounds and experiences and rhythms and harmonies from the AME experience. And I knew that it needed to be anchored by the Black National Anthem with Lift Every Voice and Sing, because there are just so few symphonic settings of that wonderful, powerful and important piece of music.
And from then on, I just kind of ran with it,” Thomas continued.
Not the first choice
It's worth noting that Thomas wasn't Schallert's initial choice when he reached out to composer John Mackey. Mackey expressed his belief that he wasn't the right fit for the job and instead suggested Thomas.
This isn't the first time the FAMU Symphony and Wind Ensemble have embraced the works of Thomas. In 2023, they performed his piece "Come Sunday" at the College Band Director's National Association National Conference, further cementing their commitment to celebrating the contributions of Black composers to the world of music.