Search - Cecilia Smith :: DARK TRIUMPH - The Life of Victoria Lancaster Smith - Told through Spoken Word and Music

DARK TRIUMPH is jazz vibraphonist Cecilia Smith?s rich and complex musical work which tells the story of an African American woman who dedicated herself to serving others ? first as a nurse and later as a volunteer for both the Red Cross and the Peace Corps. The selfless and extraordinary life of one Victoria Smith is richly celebrated here through a deft blend of orchestration and narration. Storytelling set to music has an allure all its own. It?s no surprise that contemporary composers often embrace this blended art form. And to what better purpose than honoring the life of an extraordinary American? One thinks of Aaron Copeland and his work celebrating Abraham Lincoln. Yet how often has an African American?s life been the subject of a major musical tribute? And moreover, how often has that tribute focused on unsung heroes, the everyday people of the black community? Perhaps never. Until now ? DARK TRIUMPH is a stunning addition to a select canon. Celebrating what it means to be both black and American, Cecilia has written original compositions that blend modern classical, jazz and contemporary popular music. As such, her arrangements pay homage to an all-American experience, yet are grounded in the specificity of an African-American one. Take your time to absorb and appreciate DARK TRIUMPH, as it is not only a fitting musical tribute to the incredible life of a great woman. It is an historic first. Taken from the Liner Notes Written by Bridgett M. Davis