Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
WORK SAMPLES
"Williams has a musical language all his own. It brims with vernacular American optimism…" - Peter Dobrin, The Philadelphia Inquirer
SELECT MUSICAL THEATRE WORKS
"When Gran'Me Cooked"
from the musical, GRACE
Story, Music & Lyrics by Nolan Williams, Jr.
Featuring the cast of GRACE
NOTE: GRACE was an official selection for the 44th Annual Humana Festival of New American Plays. Click here for more info.
"Bogle, Augustin, Prosser, Dorsey, Jones & Minton"
Excerpt from the new musical, GRACE
Story, Music & Lyrics by Nolan Williams, Jr.
Featuring Rayshun Lamarr and the cast of GRACE
"Selflessness"
Excerpt from the musical, CHRISTMAS GIFT!
Story, Music & Lyrics by Nolan Williams, Jr.
Featuring Nova Payton and the Let Freedom Ring Choir
SELECT COMMISSIONED WORKS
"The National Anthem"
Williams was commissioned by Major League Baseball to create a setting of "The National Anthem" for the 2018 MLB All-Star Game. Televised nationwide on the FOX network, a choir of nearly 400 community voices formed a human flag as they premiered Williams' a cappella choral setting.
"We Shall Overcome" (EXCERPT)
To commemorate NASA's Exploration Flight Test-1 of the newly-minted Orion capsule, Williams was commissioned by the Lockheed Martin Corporation in 2014 to contribute a limited-edition sound recording of his setting of the iconic Civil Rights anthem, "We Shall Overcome." The recording, featuring Mezzo Soprano Denyce Graves, choir and orchestra, was flown into outer space on NASA's maiden Orion mission.
"We Choose To Remember" (EXCERPT)
Williams' "We Choose To Remember" is a song commissioned by Georgetown University to honor the descendants of the 272 enslaved children, women and men of the Jesuit plantations and from whom Georgetown University benefited. It was premiered in The Kennedy Center Concert Hall in January 2017.
HOLD FAST TO DREAMS: A CHORAL / ORCHESTRAL FANTASY
"Soaring... Lovely... Dreamily upbeat..." -The Philadelphia Inquirer
Williams' "Hold Fast To Dreams" is a choral/orchestral fantasy in five movements exploring the cycle of dreams awakened, dreams awaited, dreams lost, dreams persisted and hope renewed. The critically-acclaimed work -- composed in honor of Colonel Guion Bluford, Jr., first African American astronaut in space, and in tribute to NASA's unsung African American pioneers -- was commissioned by the Mann Center and premiered by The Philadelphia Orchestra in July 2017. Here are excerpts from three of the five movements.
"Hold Fast To Dreams," Mvt. 2
Excerpted from Mvt. 2. Dreams Awaited: "Hold Fast To Dreams"
Composed by Nolan Williams, Jr.
Text by Langston Hughes
Orchestrated by Nolan Williams, Jr. & Richard Bronskill
Featuring the NEWorks Philharmonic Orchestra, NEWorks Voices of America Choir, Morgan State University Choir and Baritone Frank Mitchell
"Hold Fast To Dreams," Mvt. 4
Excerpted from Mvt. 4. Dreams Persisted: "Unconquered & Unconquerable"
Composed by Nolan Williams, Jr.
Text by Lewis Latimer, Phillis Wheatley & Nolan Williams, Jr.
Orchestrated by Nolan Williams, Jr. & Richard Bronskill
Featuring the NEWorks Philharmonic Orchestra, NEWorks Voices of America Choir, and Morgan State University Choir
Hold Fast To Dreams, Mvt. 5
Excerpted from Mvt. 5. Hope Renewed: "Child of the Universe"
Composed by Nolan Williams, Jr.
Text by Max Ehrmann
Orchestrated by Nolan Williams, Jr. & Richard Bronskill
Featuring the NEWorks Philharmonic Orchestra, NEWorks Voices of America Choir, and Morgan State University Choir
SELECT ARRANGED WORKS
"America, the Beautiful" (EXCERPT)
Text by Katharine Lee Bates, Music by Samuel A. Ward
Setting by Nolan Williams, Jr.
Orchestrated by Nolan WIlliams, Jr. & Richard Bronskill
Featuring the NEWorks Voices of Inspiration with the Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Nolan Williams, Jr.
NOTE: This setting of America, the Beautiful was premiered by the National Symphony Orchestra (2012).
"City Called Heaven" (EXCERPT)
African American Spiritual
Setting by Nolan Williams, Jr.
Orchestrated by Nolan Williams, Jr. & Richard Bronskill
Featuring the NEWorks Voices of Inspiration with orchestra
NOTE: City Called Heaven has been performed by The Philadelphia Orchestra (2014) and National Symphony Orchestra (2010, 2011).
"The Larch Tree"
Russian Folk Song
Setting by Nolan Williams, Jr.
Featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo
NOTE: The Larch Tree was performed by Ladysmith Black Mambazo for the world orchestral premiere of Stravinsky's Firebird: Reimagined, an international touring production that reinterpreted Stravinsky's Firebird with South African artistic aesthetics.
"Mason Temple" (EXCERPT)
Adapted from the African American Spiritual, "Rockin' Jerusalem"
Setting by Nolan Williams, Jr.
Featuring Nolan Williams, Jr., piano
NOTE: Mason Temple was arranged for the 2009 TV-One documentary, STAND. Williams, alongside creative partner Robert Ellis (E2 Music Group), composed the film score for this project.
Copyright © 2021, Nolan Williams, Jr.
All Rights Reserved.
COVER PHOTO CREDIT: Marvin Joseph
This website uses cookies.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.