
On Creation, Culture, and Connection with James Lee III
03/16/22 • 37 min
Angela and Joshua introduce and interview composer James Lee III. Lee gives us a peek into his composing process, deeply rooted in his fascination with and inspiration from his cross-cultural and musical background. Listeners are treated to three exquisite compositions that indicate why Lee is prized and in constant demand for his musical imagination and socio-historical significance.
Featured Music:
"Sonata for Violin and Piano"
"Niiji Memories," performed by the Columbia Orchestra, featuring flutist Julietta Curenton, conducted by Jason Love
"Beyond Rivers of Vision," performed by the Minnesota Orchestra, conducted by Scott Yoo
Angela and Joshua introduce and interview composer James Lee III. Lee gives us a peek into his composing process, deeply rooted in his fascination with and inspiration from his cross-cultural and musical background. Listeners are treated to three exquisite compositions that indicate why Lee is prized and in constant demand for his musical imagination and socio-historical significance.
Featured Music:
"Sonata for Violin and Piano"
"Niiji Memories," performed by the Columbia Orchestra, featuring flutist Julietta Curenton, conducted by Jason Love
"Beyond Rivers of Vision," performed by the Minnesota Orchestra, conducted by Scott Yoo
Previous Episode

The Legacy of a Legend - Shirley Verrett
In this episode, Angela introduces everyone to the life and legacy of trailblazer Shirley Verrett. Her remarkable voice and artistry allowed her to successfully span mezzo-soprano and soprano roles. Verrett ascended to the heights of operatic stardom during the Civil Rights era of the 1960s, defying the racist and exclusionary customs of the industry. Verrett is recognized as one of the most revered Black operatic figures and continues to be a role model to generations of aspiring vocalists.
Featured Music:
"Mon coeur s'ouvre á ta voix" from Samson et Dalila by Saint-Saëns, performed by Shirley Verrett
"Vissi da'rte" from Tosca by Pucinni, performed by Shirley Verret
"Give Me Jesus" performed by Shirley Verrett
Next Episode

Leontyne Price: America’s Leading Lady in Opera
Joshua and Angela salute the illustrious career of opera soprano Leontyne Price. We hear three signature selections by Ms. Price and learn of her journey from Laurel, Mississippi, to capturing the attention and admiration of the world for her unparalleled vocal prowess and artistry. She remains a standard-bearer for opera singers globally.
Featured Music:
"Summertime" from Porgy and Bess, performed by Leontyne Price
"O patria mia" from Aida, performed by Leontyne Price and The Metropolitan Opera
"This Little Light of Mine" by Margaret Bonds, performed by Leontyne Price
Melanated Moments in Classical Music - On Creation, Culture, and Connection with James Lee III
Transcript
Angela Brown (00:00):
Before we get started with this episode, we wanted to thank our listeners for your amazing support of this podcast. We can't wait to bring you future episodes, but we need your support. Just go to givebutter.com/melanatedmoments to help share more stories of exceptional black artists with thousands of listeners across the US and around the world.
Joshua Thompson (00:27):
And if you'd like more information on each episode, go to our website or follow us o
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/melanated-moments-in-classical-music-606157/on-creation-culture-and-connection-with-james-lee-iii-78825777"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to on creation, culture, and connection with james lee iii on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy