Symphony Listening Program - Colman

What

Symphony Listening Program - Colman

When

12/2/2025

Composer: Valerie Colman
Composition: Umoja
Ensemble: Imani Winds 

Day 1. This Week’s featured Composer is Valerie Colman. The name of this piece of music is  Umoja. Umoja means unity and is the first of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. During the week  of Kwanzaa, families and communities share food and honor their ancestors, and celebrate  African and African American culture. Each day, they light a candle to highlight the principle of  that day. You can find great information and resources for teaching about Kwanzaa here.  https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/seven-principles 

kwanzaa#:~:text=Umoja%20(Unity),community%2C%20nation%2C%20and%20race. 

Day 2: This Week’s featured Composer is Valerie Colman. The composition is called Umoja.  Colman is a renowned, contemporary composer and flutist (flute player) who founded the group  Imani Winds. Can you recognize her playing the flute?  

Day 3: This Week’s featured Composer is Valerie Colman. The composition is called Umoja.  Consider the word Umoja (unity) as you listen to music today. What does unity mean? What  choices might Colman have made to create a feeling of unity in the music. 

Day 4: This Week’s featured Composer is Valerie Colman. The composition is called Umoja. The composition is written for a wind ensemble. It includes instruments in the Woodwind family such as flute, clarinet, and obo. This ensemble also includes a French horn. Can you hear the  horn?  

Day 5: This Week’s featured Composer is Valerie Colman. The composition is called Umoja. Colman created this piece to express her feelings about the feeling of unity. She may have also  been thinking about Kwanzaa and what it means to her.