Resonance Commissions | We Are Murmurs

Commission story

Started in 2014, the Dirty, Stupid Music series has become a Resonance Ensemble staple—an evening highlighting the solo talents of a few select Resonance Ensemble musicians in the style of a cabaret. In 2023, we collaborated closely with the performing artists to cultivate an evening-length string of performances ranging from whimsical coloratura arias and blues hits, to demanding settings of Whitman and intimate renditions of pop-folk favorites. The 2023 cast, featuring instrumentalists from the likes of Liberace and Liza as well as the Jecca Jazz ensemble, showcased a tremendous array of musical genres and song styles. In addition to sharing standard favorites, the evening also featured the world premiere of a new work for solo voice ensemble by Cecille Elliott—a fantastic composer and lyricist in addition to her life as a vocalist, educator, and multi-instrumentalist.

About We Are Murmurs

We Are Murmurs is about experiencing very sudden grief. It explores the notion of not being ready for change, and change coming anyway. To understand a certain type of grief—and the disbelief that can accompany it.

This was my first time having an experience like this–of writing something, rehearsing it with other people and directing what we’re going to do with it. I only started performing sets of original music a few years ago, though I’d been writing well over a decade before that. To have the ability to compose/write music that needs more than just me as a musician to execute it, and then to be able to share it with others, that experience has been eye-opening, humbling, a huge honor. I want to keep writing and sharing. I’m so grateful to the four other vocalists who joined me on this. I felt very self-conscious and they embraced my work and gave it life. Their support meant so much.

program note by Cecille Elliott

You can read more about Cecille, her process, and We Are Murmurs on our blog.

Return to Commissions Gallery

Only in Falling | Poet-in-Residence | The Talk | LISTEN | Safe Harbor
We Hold Your Names Sacred | After Time Has Gnawed | Normal Never Was
Abya Yala | An African American Requiem
We Are Murmurs | Seek What You Want to Find | RE-FLEC | Shout Out
From the Book of Sankofa | Seven Prayers