Shed a Little Light

Description

James Taylor has given the El Sistema-inspired movement special permission to use his song Shed A Little Light – a beautiful song which celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. We envision programs across the US and world performing this work in honor of MLK Day. Adam Johnston has been commissioned to creat a “El Sistema Full Arrangment Package” that enables various ensembles and levels of ensembles to perform together. All of the versions are attached, along with Adam’s explanation of how to use them.The piece was created specially for us. Audio recordings of the various versions can be downloaded at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mkohhl7xb3p379r/AAB8QoFmXeqiYK95iHBPKmLJa

Thanks to James Taylor’s generosity, the arrangement is available to El Sistema-inspired programs to use at no charge. However, we envision a sustainable process of creating new commissions designed for El Sistema-inspired orchestras – to make this possible, we urge everyone to join as a co-commissioner for $50 and be permanently listed on the title page.

The $50 will launch a Commissioning fund that will be used exclusively for this and future commissions – we envision a financially sustainable process of creating works designed specifically for our movement. And co-commissioners will be invited to help determine future commissions for our field. Please join to help launch this new tool for our field – creating arrangements of the music we want, designed and created for us. Shed a Little Light  is a beautiful start – please join.

If you would like to be a co-commissioner, please email Louise Lanzilotti at kalikolehuamele@gmail.com and we will expedite your payment and get your name or organization’s name on the title page.

Join these initial co-commissioners: Eric Booth; The People’s Music School, Chicago; Kalikolehua – El Sistema Hawai‘i.