Description

Physical copy of the sheet music mailed to you. 

Composer: Marcus Norris

Year: 2019

Instrumentation: A violin concerto for violin and chamber orchestra:

(Flute, Oboe, Clarinet in B-flat, Bassoon, Horn in F, Trumpet in B-flat, Vibraphone, and Strings.)

Duration: 10 – 11 minutes

For parts in quantities other than what is offered, contact Performances@MarcusNorris.com

About the work:

GLORY is inspired by trying to reach triumph, despite adversity, and trying not to lose your heart in the process. Commissioned by the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, I was challenged to try to write a piece inspired by Beethoven’s first piano concerto. Beethoven was a German composer from the 1800s, and I’m a Black kid from the South Side….As much admiration, reverence, and respect as I have for Beethoven, it is only natural that our culture, musical vocabulary, sensibilities, and overall life experiences are vastly different. So rather than trying to mimic his style, I chose to go a level deeper, and drew inspiration from the fact that Beethoven was likely the first great composer that would have considered himself to be a Great Artist expressing himself through his music. Before him, it would have been a bizarre thought to assume that just because you hear sad music that the composer who made it was also sad. This was a new concept in concert music that came with Beethoven. Now, when we listen to his music, we often think of him as hero on a journey.

GLORY does not follow a specific story and is not programmatic, but is very introspective. As you listen, I invite you to close your eyes and experience the sounds as they occur, assigning your own meaning to them.

As I wrote the piece, I also wrote this short poem to emotionally guide me:

“Did you know I was broken when you met me?
Then why ain’t you listen?
We could wish things different, but wishful thinking ain’t how we livin.
Some stories are tragedies, it’s an ancient tradition.
This was written.
Possessed with the audacity to want more than we’re gettin.
My days take minutes, my life’s an instant.
I’m everything but a victim.
If I gotta be the bad guy, I wanna be the villain.
They’re gonna have to go to God if they want forgiveness.
I don’t have it in me, pardon my image,
Don’t hate the sinner for sinnin.
GLORY can only be taken, it could never be given.”
– Marcus Norris

Original cover artwork by Jaleel Campbell, commissioned by Marcus Norris for GLORY. The piece was commissioned by Matthew Aubin for the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, and was premiered in Jackson, Michigan on March 22, 2019.