The St. Olaf Band - "Come Sunday" (Omar Thomas) Live in Japan

St. Olaf Band (Timothy Mahr, conductor) presents "Come Sunday" by Omar Thomas from three of their tour concerts in Japan in 2023.

“Come Sunday” Music by Omar Thomas.
Copyright © 2023 St. Olaf College. All Rights Reserved.
Music posted by permission of the composer.

Omar Thomas: https://www.omarthomas.com/
St. Olaf Band: https://wp.stolaf.edu/stolaf-band/
Timothy Mahr: https://www.stolaf.edu/profile/mahr

About the piece:

Come Sunday is a two-movement tribute to the Hammond organ’s central role in black worship services. The first movement, Testimony, follows the Hammond organ as it readies the congregation’s hearts, minds, and spirits to receive The Word via a magical union of Bach, blues, jazz, and R&B. The second movement, Shout!, is a virtuosic celebration - the frenzied and joyous climactic moments when The Spirit has taken over the service.

The title is a direct nod to Duke Ellington, who held an inspired love for classical music and allowed it to influence his own work in a multitude of ways. To all the black musicians in wind ensemble who were given opportunity after opportunity to celebrate everyone else’s music but our own - I see you and I am you. This one’s for the culture!