Portraits of Langston: VI. Harlem’s Summer Night

Poem by Langston Hughes: 0:00
Music: 0:58-3:30

Program Note Excerpt: "The 1900's was a new era for African Americans. For the first time in American history, the disciplines of visual art, music, and literature simultaneously took a turn to celebrate African American culture.

'Portraits of Langston' is a suite in six short movements, and is my take on [Langston] Hughes' poetic memories of Harlem and Europe (mainly Paris). Each movement is a musical sketch of selected (and lesser known) poems from Langston Hughes' vast library." - Valerie Coleman

Form / Imitation / Melody:
A 0:58 - Flute melody with piano accompaniment
B 1:55 - Clarinet imitates the opening melody, flute plays descant phrases in response
C 2:53 - Flute / Clarinet duet with piano accompaniment