SINCE DAWN: Music Inspired by Maya Angelou’s Call to Hope
What happens when a powerful poem meets a full orchestra and chorus? In SINCE DAWN, composer Dan Locklair brings one of the most memorable public poems of the 20th century to life.
The piece is inspired by Maya Angelou’s On the Pulse of Morning, which she famously delivered at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton in 1993. But while that moment was tied to a specific event, Angelou’s words reach far beyond politics. Her poem speaks to something universal: our shared past, our connection to the natural world, and the possibility of renewal.
Locklair, who spent many years teaching at Wake Forest University, knew Angelou personally. That connection gives SINCE DAWN an added layer of intimacy—it’s not just an artistic tribute, but a collaboration rooted in mutual admiration. In fact, Angelou herself narrated the premiere performance in Winston-Salem in 1996, with the Winston-Salem Symphony and Wake Forest University Choirs under the direction of music director Peter Perret.
Turning Poetry into Sound
Rather than simply setting the poem to music in a straightforward way, Locklair builds the entire piece around three simple but powerful images from the poem’s opening line:
“A Rock, a River, a Tree.”
Each of these images becomes its own musical idea:
- The Rock is heard in a short, strong musical gesture—something firm and grounding.
- The River flows in a more lyrical, melodic line, moving smoothly and expressively.
- The Tree is represented by richer, fuller harmonies that feel expansive and rooted.
As the piece unfolds, these ideas return again and again in different forms, much like the recurring images in Angelou’s poem. Even if you don’t consciously track them, they help give the music a sense of unity and emotional direction.
SINCE DAWN
Appears on season-ending concerts with music by Conor Brown and Aaron Copland
May 30 & 31
What You’ll Hear
SINCE DAWN features a narrator alongside chorus and orchestra. The narrator—Jaki Shelton Green in these concerts—delivers Angelou’s text, almost like a solo voice telling a story, while the chorus and orchestra surround and support those words with color, texture, and emotion.
Unlike many choral works, the text isn’t repeated over and over. Instead, the words move forward continuously, allowing the poem to unfold naturally—while the music deepens and amplifies its meaning.
As the piece builds toward its conclusion, Angelou’s message becomes especially clear. She calls on us to “lift up your hearts,” reminding us that every new hour offers the chance for a fresh start.
A Message for Today
Even though Since Dawn was composed in the mid-1990s, its message still resonates today. It’s a work about reflection, resilience, and hope—about recognizing where we’ve come from and imagining where we can go next.
Whether you’re hearing it for the first time or returning to it again, Since Dawn invites you to listen not just with your ears, but with a sense of possibility.
On Audio: Dan Locklair’s SINCE DAWN
Locklair SINCE DAWN
Winston-Salem Symphony | Wake Forest University Choirs
Maya Angelou Narrator | Peter Perret Conductor
September 1996 (world premiere)