An excerpt
from “It Just Is (Yiqiniso)” by Antonio García
Jazz Studies
Director Antonio García created many compositions and arrangements to inspire appreciation of diverse cultures and motivation for social justice
(including "Sobukwe," "Open Minds, Closer Thoughts," "A Question of Hope," "It
Just Is (Yiqiniso)," "No Pass, No Special," "That We Might Walk Free," "Reunion: Brothers
From Another Mother," "Mfoka Zibhebhu," "Come Sunday," "Kush," "Song for
Everyone (Ingoma Yabantu)," and "A Friendly Exchange," to name only a
sampling). Upcoming at this time is a new commission from the Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia titled "Maggie Said 'WALK!'" The piece explores the streetcar strike that Richmonder Maggie L. Walker led nonviolently in Richmond in 1904 (along with Richmond Planet newspaper editor John Mitchell, Jr.) more than 50 years before the landmark bus strike in Montgomery, Alabama and uses text from her March 1, 1906 address "Benaiah’s Valour" (also known as the "Address for Men Only").
He has also
facilitated and/or commissioned a number of works from students and alumni of
both VCU and the University of KwaZulu-Natal to address similar thoughts,
including:
UKZN students, alumni and faculty:
Leap of Faith Stephan le
Roux
Makalafukwe Sazi
Dlamini
The Mandela Suite George
Mari
Traditional African
Poetry poetry
by Kwena Ramahuta and traditional, arr. Burton Naidoo
The Journey Has
Begun poetry
by Kwena Ramahuta, music by Dalisu Ndlazi, arr. Lungelo Ngcobo
