This June 19th, Minneapolis’ Orchestra Hall will resonate with purpose and power as the Minnesota Orchestra honors Juneteenth with a landmark program featuring two inspiring composers from Subito Music: Michael Abels and James Lee III. Their works, rich in emotion and storytelling, will be performed alongside vibrant pieces by Black American composers—creating an evening that blends artistry, culture, and commemoration. The program will be conducted by the vibrant Jonathan Taylor Rush, who debuted with the Minnesota Orchestra in 2023. Rush’s 2024-25 season included performances with Nashville Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, North Carolina Symphony, Savannah Philharmonic and Hartford Symphony.
🎼 Michael Abels –Delights and Dances
Celebrated for his Pulitzer-Prize winning opera Omar (co-composed with Rhiannon Giddens), and for scoring Get Out, Us and Nope, Michael Abels brings a signature blend of cinematic drama and rhythmic vitality to the concert hall. His orchestral work, Delights and Dances, channels his jazz-infused sensibility into a spirited display of cultural pride and musical joy.
Abels often uses his compositions to showcase Black experiences and traditions. His piece promises a tapestry of textures, from playful syncopations to sweeping emotional arcs—a perfect tribute for Juneteenth’s spirit of liberation.
Delights and Dances was commissioned by the Sphinx Organization, which seeks to promote representation and participation of Black and Latino musicians in classical music. Abels is also a co-founder of the Composers Diversity Collective, an advocacy group to increase visibility of composers of color in film, game and streaming media. The commission was a celebration of Sphinx’s 10th anniversary celebrating diversity in concert music. Abels describes the piece as a quartet of string soloists in a kind of diptych of American musical genres, one regarded as “Black” and the other “white.” His composer’s note explains its two principal sections:
The piece begins with a slow, lyrical introduction that grows from a cello solo into a duet with the viola, culminating in a gentle crescendo for the full quartet. The first major section is blues, which allows the soloists to flaunt their musical talents through a series of solos that are designed to sound improvised, although they are actually notated. The second half of the piece is a rousing bluegrass hoedown, once again featuring the quartet as they trade riffs back and forth (in a way that might recall “Dueling Banjo”), which culminates in a boisterous coda. It’s a piece that celebrates musicians playing together. I hope it fills you with joy.
As is the case with many of Abels’ compositions, Delights and Dances is an eclectic stylistic mix, with elements of bluegrass, jazz, Latin rhythms, and blues. Its progression from the more modernist opening moments to the rumbustious energy of the hoedown is exhilarating and fun.
🎙️ James Lee III – Freedom’s Genuine Dawn
James Lee III, an emerging force in contemporary orchestral music, offers a profound exploration of emancipation with his piece Freedom’s Genuine Dawn. Structured around evocative themes and soundscapes, this work culminates in a spoken-word collaboration inspired by the words Wordsmith of Frederick Douglass’ texts. From his speech ‘What to the Slave is the 4th of July?’ Douglass asks “are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us?” In Lee’s title, he reveals “Douglass’ desire that America would offer genuine freedom from all forms of slavery and that that day would not delay in becoming a reality.”
Musical suggestions of celebratory, playful, and patriotic natures ensue as Douglass praised the founding fathers. This praise abruptly ends with a harmony that suggests he begins to enumerate the sins of the nation culminating in an electrifying testament to the power of voice and community.
The union of orchestral palette and spoken word immerses audiences in the unfolding of liberation, reflecting Juneteenth’s deep-rooted emotional and historical significance.
A Broader Celebration of Black Expression
The evening’s program thoughtfully weaves together landmark works by Black composers:
- James P. Johnson: Victory Stride
- Mary D. Watkins: Soul of Remembrance
- Valerie Coleman: Umoja: Anthem of Unity
- Carlos Simon: Ring Shout, from Four Black American Dances
Under the direction of conductor Jonathan Taylor Rush, known for championing under-represented composers, the concert will be a sonic journey through resilience, memory, hope—and unity.
Why This Night Matters
🎵 Narratives in motion – Abels’ cinematic expressiveness and Lee III’s spoken-word invocation make this concert a multi-dimensional expression of identity and identity reclamation.
🎵 Historical resonance – Performing on Juneteenth, the anniversary of the end of slavery in Texas, brings a living texture to the narrative of freedom and recognition.
🎵 Subito Music’s representation – It’s a proud moment for Subito Music to have two of its composers partnered at such a milestone concert.
More Than Music: Community & Culture
Juneteenth at Orchestra Hall extends beyond the stage:
- A vibrant vendor expo featuring ten African American-owned businesses in the lobby.
- A visit from the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, emphasizing the historical path of freedom. The evening offers a melded experience of music, reflection, art, and empowerment—ideal for families, concertgoers, and community members alike.
Invitation & Call to Experience
Tickets are available now. Whether you’re drawn by Abels’ cinematic flair, Lee III’s poignant narrative, or the rich cultural tapestry woven throughout the evening, this Juneteenth celebration is a vital, uplifting gathering for everyone.
Let this powerful musical event bring you into a time of reflection, celebration, and unity. Spread the word, bring your curiosity—and join the Minnesota Orchestra on June 19 as these compelling composers uplift us through sound, story, and shared purpose.
Abels: Delights and Dances for solo string quartet & string orchestra
String Quartet, Strings
Duration: 13′
Composed: 2007
Published by: Subito Music Publishing
Full Score & Parts: available on rental:
Lee III: Freedom’s Genuine Dawn for Narrator & Orchestra
“Freedom’s Genuine Dawn,” co-commissioned by the BSO, Baltimore Symphony, and the Rochester Philharmonic, explores themes of liberation and hope. Lee describes it as a work meant to “express the joy and optimism that comes with the dawn of freedom.” The piece combines classical music with African American spiritual influences, creating a rich and evocative experience.
Instrumentation: narr; [2(1) 2(1) 2(1) 2(1); 4221; timp 3perc; stgs
Duration: ca. 18′
Composed: 2022
Published by: Subito Music Publishing
Performance materials available on rental:
