Julius P. Williams on Composing for the Rededication of Bostons Shaw Memorial The history-making Berklee professor talks about his new piece, Heroes, performed in front of the memorial at a ceremony held earlier today.
By
Alicia Taylor Bard
June 1, 2022
Julius P. Williams
Image courtesy of Robert Toress
Berklee Nows Keyed In series features Berklee artists and experts making news and sounding off on the latest news and trends from the music world and beyond.
Julius P. Williams has had a storied career that just seems to keep getting better. The Berklee professor, who teaches in the Composition Department, has just made a significant addition to his body of work as a composer. On June 1, Heroes, a song he was commissioned to write for the national rededication of the Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Massachusetts Regiment Memorial, was performed by the Boston's Children's Chorus at the ceremony in front of the monument on Boston Common.
The composer and conductor has written operas, symphonies, and chorus works for stage, concert hall, film, and television. In addition to his 26-year teaching career at Berklee, Williams is the artistic director and conductor of the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra, a composer in residence with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and cover to maestro Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra. In 2019, the award-winning conductor was named the first African American president of the Conductors Guild.
We caught up with Williams to talk about his latest project and illustrious career.
The Shaw 54th memorial is called one of the 10 monuments that changed America. Your original composition Heroes will be forever linked to this monument. Where does this rank on your wall of achievements, and how is it different from other pieces you've composed? I'm honored and humbled to be a part of such an important part of American history. Initially, I didn't realize how the music was going to be used, and I didn't realize it was going to be such a huge event. These soldiers were fighting for their freedom to show they were equal to everyone else. Hopefully, this song captures their fight and spirit.
Because of the historic significance, did you change or alter how you approached composing this piece? I composed the piece like I would compose any other piece. My approach stayed the same but what made it hard is that it was made for a children's choir, and children didn't need to hear some of the graphic events that took place, so I had to make it uplifting and still tell the story without all the violence that was involved. I also read several books and writings, including one by Frederick Douglass, to help inspire me.
You have already made history after being elected the first African American president of the Conductors Guild. As we know, representation matters. Who inspired you in the early stages of your journey, and what do you hope aspiring young artists might feel when they see the success you've had? I wouldn't be here today if I didn't have three people in my life. I grew up in New York City, and I was part of a group.... We were part of a high school choir, and we performed for all the dignitaries who came to New York. In that period I met a composer named Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, an African American composer/conductor, and I saw him on the stage of the Lincoln Center and said, I want to be like this guy. I met him and he thought I was talented and started to give me jobs, so at 17 years old I was playing off-Broadway. John Motley, a teacher of mine, introduced me to a lot of people. And finally, a great composer, Ulysses Kay, sort of the dean of Black composers, he also helped me meet a lot of people. By the time I was 18 years old, I was working with Alvin Ailey, Leonard Bernstein, and others.
I try to tell my students that you don't think of success as being famous; you think of success as trying to do the work that you need to do. Sometimes they see the financial thing, but success is within you.
Which do you prefer, conducting or composing? People mistake and think if you are a conductor you're automatically a composer, and if you are a composer you're automatically a conductor, which is not true. Some conductors are the worst composers and vice versa. They may compliment each other, but they are different and I happen to be a conductor who is also a composer. However, many great composers couldn't conduct themselves out of a paper bag. One is a performance art and one is kind of a creative art. As a composer, I look for how to make that piece come together, understanding the color and the harmonic structure, but if I'm a conductor I have to figure out how to make that piece work in this environment, and every environment is different.
What key teachings do you try to impart on your students to set them up for success in this field? Some of the key teachings are to study hard and to listen to other people, have an open mind to listen and learn, and how to listen to other people. Ultimately, you need to have a vision of where you want to go and what you want to see. And finally, don't be arrogant!
Most Popular
Kendrick Lamar
Image by I aki Espejo-Saavedra
Kendrick Lamars New Album Is Full of Berklee Collaborators Berklee alumni played significant roles in every step of the creation of Kendricks double album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.
Latest
Kendrick Lamar
Image by Batiste Safont
Digging into Kendrick Lamars Latest Album with Ethnomusicologist Emmett G. Price III The Dean of Africana Studies unpacks Kendricks cultural significance, the themes running through Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, and what a big stepper is, anyway.
Image courtesy of the artist
Ukrainian Pianist Vadim Neselovskyi Holds Benefit Concert at Berklee The Ber
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
28/04/2024
Mediahaus delivers the first SRT live-streaming sports production over 5G with U...
23/04/2024
Psychology can play an important role in helping us understand what audiences respond to (Dr Jon Roozenbeek, Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab)
For newsroom...
23/04/2024
IN ADDITION TO FICTION AND DOCUMENTARY FEATURES, THE SELECTION INCLUDES:
PRO...
23/04/2024
Today, we announced our first quarter 2024 earnings. In a solid start to the year, Spotify reported
Monthly Active Users grew 19% Y/Y to 615 million.
Subscri...
23/04/2024
Idag publicerar Spotify sina finansiella resultat f r f rsta kvartalet 2024. ret har inletts stabilt:
M natliga aktiva anv ndare kade med 19 % j mf rt med f...
23/04/2024
In the last decade, as K-Pop cemented its status as a global phenomenon, Spotify has helped fans around the world keep their fingers on the pulse at every step ...
23/04/2024
Social entrepreneur Hedayat Osyan wins Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition
23 April, 2024
Media releases
The prestigious award is now in its third yea...
23/04/2024
LONDON IBC is now accepting nominations for its IBC2024 Innovation Awards, which honor achievements in technological innovation and social impact media & entert...
23/04/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. In response to the introduction of the Broadcast VOICES Act that seeks to encourage more diversity in the ownership of TV and radio stations, t...
23/04/2024
MIAMI, Fla. As part of a push to expand its FAST channel and streaming operations, Hemisphere Media Group has launched its free ad supported television (FAST) c...
23/04/2024
LOS ANGELES DirecTV is adding seven new channels to its rapidly expanding streaming lineup through new licensing agreements with Cineverse Corp. and Scripps Net...
23/04/2024
Entitled Our Creative Future, the manifesto calls for radical new action' t...
23/04/2024
The company has secured investment from private equity firm PAI Partners, which also holds a stake in outside broadcasting company EMG
By Jenny Priestley
Pub...
23/04/2024
Cameron also said he recognised Marlow as a potential UK and European base for his new company, LIGHTSTORM 3D
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: April 23, 2024 ...
23/04/2024
The five categories cover Content Creation, Content Distribution, Content Everywhere, Social Impact and Environment & Sustainability
By Matthew Corrigan
Publ...
23/04/2024
He played a central role in securing key broadcast rights, including the FIFA World Cup 2018 and 2022
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: April 23, 2024
He pla...
23/04/2024
IBC is preparing to honour the highest achievements in technological innovation and social impact with the launch of its prestigious IBC2024 Innovation Awards, ...
23/04/2024
BREA, Calif. Bolin Technology is integrating Network Device Interface (NDI) across its product line, bringing support for the latest NDI technologies to its PTZ...
23/04/2024
WYOMISSING, Pa. PENN Entertainment has announced that longtime Disney and ESPN executive Aaron LaBerge has been named chief technology officer effective July 1,...
23/04/2024
In response to an FCC ruling in March proposing a $1.2 million fine against Nexstar and a ruling that Mission Broadcasting sell WPIX, Nexstar has filled a respo...
23/04/2024
Sony has announced new details about how the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is using Sony's Ci Media Cloud platform to streamline its workflows and spe...
23/04/2024
Esports' rapid rise to popularity can be attributed to many factors, from technological advancements that have enhanced the quality of modern gaming experie...
23/04/2024
OpenDrives, Inc., the global provider of software-defined media workflow solutions and data management capabilities, has been selected as a winner in the 2024 N...
23/04/2024
BCNEXXT is pleased to announce that Vpe has won the 2024 NAB Show Product of the Year Award in the Asset Management, Automation and Playout category. The offici...
23/04/2024
Gravity Media, a world leading global provider of complex live creative production and media services, today outlined the broadcast technology and television pr...
23/04/2024
Scality, a global leader in cyber-resilient storage for the AI era, today announced the appointment of Peter Brennan as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Scality...
23/04/2024
Blackmagic Design today announced ATEM 1 M/E Constellation 4K and ATEM 2 M/E Constellation 4K switchers, two new Ultra HD models of the ATEM Constellation famil...
23/04/2024
Blackmagic Design today announced Blackmagic Videohub 120x120 12G, the newest model in the Videohub 12G router family. The massive Blackmagic Videohub 120x120 1...
23/04/2024
Blackmagic Design today announced new lower prices for Blackmagic Video Assist 3G and 12G models. Customers can save US$200 on all models. These lower prices ma...
23/04/2024
Adder Technology continues to shine brightly, with its groundbreaking product, the ADDERLink INFINITY 3000 (ALIF3000), once again taking center stage. Hot on t...
23/04/2024
Pliant Technologies' CRP-C12 Compact Radio Pack is an Audio Production, Processing and Networking category winner in the 2024 NAB Show Product of the Year A...
23/04/2024
SipRadius, the specialists in live media transport and transcoding, will showcase their world-leading implementation of AV1 and JPEG-XS over transport streams a...
23/04/2024
Composer Rafael Krux has added a Prism Sound Dream ADA-128 modular conversion system to his production studio where he creates music for commercials, trailers, ...
23/04/2024
PMC proudly provides the ultimate large-scale Dolby Atmos audio system for the legendary musician Steven Wilson at the High End, Munich. He will share his exten...
23/04/2024
Particles emitting from a 3D rotating shape's edge
Graham Quince April 22, 2024
0 Comments
In Fixin' FX, people send me their problematic proj...
23/04/2024
Hollyland Technology Announces a New Line of Video Transmitters: Introducing the...
23/04/2024
Charlotte Deleste, anchor at WISC Madison, Wisconsin, is leaving the station. Her final day on the air is April 24. Deleste has spent 18 years there....
23/04/2024
Top WNBA draft choice Caitlin Clark will appear on local broadcast for 17 games next season in a deal between Tegna and the Indiana Fever....
23/04/2024
The merger will provide vertical integration potential and enhanced product offerings to capture regional and international opportunities for revenue growth and...
23/04/2024
Abu Dhabi, 23 April, 2024 : Partnership delivers greater cybersecurity to Thura...
23/04/2024
Soccer's Appeal to Younger Audiences: Inside the Gamification of European Fo...
23/04/2024
With NBA and NHL Playoffs in Full Swing, Never a Dull Moment for TNT Sports Prod...
23/04/2024
NAB 2024: AT&T Business's Scott Beckett Details Transmission Firepower With ...
23/04/2024
NAB 2024: Manufacturers focus on cinematic look for live productions By George Bevir
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 - 10:40
Print This Story
With live sports pro...
23/04/2024
Save the Date: SVG Sports Content Management Forum Returns to NYC on July 24 By SVG Staff
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 - 4:05 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
...
23/04/2024
Published On: April 23rd, 2024
data-orig-src=https://www.sgo.es/wp-content/upl...
23/04/2024
Rohde & Schwarz introduces new R&S SMB100B microwave signal generator for analog...
Julius P. Williams on Composing for the Rededication of Bostons Shaw Memorial The history-making Berklee professor talks about his new piece, Heroes, performed in front of the memorial at a ceremony held earlier today.
