THE STORY BEHIND: Nabors' "Of Earth and Sky: Tales From the Motherland"

On September 23, conductor Robert Spano and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra will present KAREN GOMYO RETURNS with violinist Karen Gomyo.

Title: Of Earth and Sky: Tales From the Motherland
Composer: Brian Raphael Nabors (1991- )
Last time performed by the Rhode Island Philharmonic: This is a RI Philharmonic Orchestra premiere. This piece is scored for three flutes, three oboes, three clarinets, three bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, harp, piano and strings.

The Story: Brian Raphael Nabors was born in Birmingham, Alabama. There, he attended college, receivinga Bachelor of Music Theory and Composition degree from the School of the Arts at Samford University. Nabors went on to earn both a Master of Music degree and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Composition at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
       
He has never forgotten his Southern roots, however. As a composer and pianist, Gospel music has been an underlying force. However, his tastes and influences have taken him farther afield in both piano performing and composition. Mainly, these include American jazz, funk, and rhythm & blues, plus various African musical influences.
       
Yet Nabors’ professional life has taken the international route of many of his New Music contemporaries. His music (often on commission) has been performed by symphony orchestras in Boston, Atlanta, Nashville, Cincinnati, Detroit, Fort Worth, and Munich (Germany). The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra premiered Of Earth and Sky: Tales From the Motherland in April 2023. It is a 20-minute, four movement suite. Nabors himself wrote the following description for the premiere:

 I: “Huveane Moves Away from the Humans” 
The piece opens up with an epic creation story from the Basotho and Bavenda people of Lesotho, Southern Africa. The creator god Huveane created the heavens and the earth, plants, living creatures - including human beings. When living things discovered reproduction, they began to fight, amongst other activities, Huveane’s creation became far too noisy for him to remain on earth. He then climbed into the sky by driving in pegs that he put his feet on, taking out each peg as he stepped onto the next, so that people would not be able to follow him. He has lived in the sky ever since.  
 
II: “Anansi”
Anansi is an Akan character who has become famous throughout Africa and many countries in the Caribbean region. He is known for his insight, intelligence, and wisdom. Anansi can change form and may be depicted as a human, although his normal form is a spider. According to the Asante people, Anansi can be a trickster—that is, a personality who teaches moral, ethical, political, or social values based on his ability to lead a person to the truth through example, puzzles, and the least-expected turns and twists of fate.
 
III: “Nyami Nyami”
​The Nyami Nyami, is one of the Tonga people’s most important gods.
Living on the banks of the Zambezi River in Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Tonga people (also known as the Batonga) look to the dragon-like creature for protection and provision in difficult times. Reported sightings of the monster in the Zambezi River are not unusual, but for the non-believers, the most convincing proof that the Nyami Nyami may be more than just a legend was the mysterious disasters that occurred during the construction of the Kariba dam wall.
 
IV: “Celebration”
Celebration is a joyous finale honoring the jovial energy of the African spirit. Within this celebration, I was especially inspired by the traditional “Bata” dance of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria and the Zaouli dancers of the Guro people of Côte D’Ivoire. I seek to engulf the listener in these sounds of life, spirit, and humanity.




Program Notes by Dr. Michael Fink © 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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