Composers

Bill Banfield

1961 -

About

William Banfield (b. 1961), a native of Detroit, received his Bachelor of Music from the New England Conservatory of Music/Jazz Studies, a Masters in Theological Studies from Boston University and Doctor of Musical Arts in composition from the University of Michigan. Prior to coming to Berklee, Dr. Banfield held the endowed chair in Humanities and Fine Arts, Professor of Music, director of American Cultural Studies and chair of Jazz, American Popular, World Music Studies, at the University of St. Thomas, MN. From 1992-1997, he served as Assistant professor, African American Studies/Music, at Indiana University. A composer and jazz recording artist, Banfield's works have been commissioned, performed and recorded by orchestras including; the National, Atlanta, Dallas, Akron,Toledo, Detroit, New York Virtuoso, Grand Rapids, Akron, Roanoke, Richmond, Savannah, Rapides, Indianapolis, Sacramento and San Diego symphonies. Recordings of his works are carried on Atlantic, TelArc, Collins Classics (London), Centaur, Albany and Innova records. His larger concert and jazz works have been performed by Jon Faddis, Billy Childs, Bobby Mcferrin, Nelson Rangell, Ron Carter, Regina Carter, Mark Ledford, Patrice Rushen, Bill Brown, Nnenna Freelon and others.  Banfield in 2002 served as a WEB Dubois fellow at Harvard and following, was invited by author Toni Morrison to serve as visiting Professor/ Atelier Artist in residence at Princeton University. Dr. Banfield's two books explore the critical relationships between artistry, society and education in concert and popular music. Landscapes in Color: Conversations With Black American Composers (Scarecrow Press, 2003), and Black Notes: Essays of A Musician Writing In a Post Album Age, have both been reviewed highly. Banfield was recently writer and host of two National Public Radio (NPR/MPR) music radio shows. In 2005 he joined Scarecrow Press as its contributing editor of African American Cultural Studies and he writes for Downbeat magazine. Currently, Banfield currently serves as Professor, Africana Studies/Music and Society at Berklee College of Music.

Related Information

http://www.darryltaylor.com/alliance/composers/william, http://www.billbanfieldmusic.com/

Works by Bill Banfield

Title Collection Voice Type Range Poet
A New Song The Prophetess II: Psalms for Voice and Piano Soprano B3 - B5 Psalm 40: 1-3
All I Gotta Go Voice F4 - C6 Nikki Giovanni
Clean Hands The Prophetess II: Psalms for Voice and Piano Soprano F4 - A5 Psalm 24: 1-4
Clinton's Song (God Bless Chocolate City and It's Vanilla Suburbs) The Prophetis (She Speaks) Voice C4 - C6 William Banfield
Dying Children/Waiting God The Prophetis (She Speaks) Voice C4 - C6 William Banfield
Fisherman's Dock (Opera Aria): A Question Mark and the word attached, How?: A love that could never be Voice C4 - B5 William Banfield
Fret Not The Prophetess II: Psalms for Voice and Piano Soprano Db4 - C6 Psalm 37
Handiwork The Prophetess II: Psalms for Voice and Piano Soprano E4 - Bb5 Psalm 18:1
Hold On Spiritual Songs for Tenor and Cello Tenor E3 - G#4 Biblical
Honey Chile Songs for the Ladies Suite Soprano G3 - G6 William Banfield
It's All Good My brother Voice D4 - Eb6 William Banfield/W. Brown
Job's Song The Prophetis (She Speaks) Voice C4 - C6 William Banfield
Love Crawls Songs for the Ladies Suite Soprano Ab3 - B5 Zora Neal Hurston
Love Song (Bittersweet) The Prophetis (She Speaks) Voice C4 - C6 William Banfield
Momma Why (Duet: Act IV) Soprano | Baritone Eb4 - A5 | F#3 - Eb4 William Banfield
Mommy Why (Scene: Act II) Soprano | Baritone Eb4 - A5 | F#3 - Eb4 William Banfield
Sentirenla Songs for the Ladies Suite Soprano E4 - Bb5 William Banfield
Soon And Very Soon Spiritual Songs for Tenor and Cello Tenor F3 - C5 Biblical
Stand by me Songs for the Ladies Suite Soprano G3 - D6 Charles Tindley
Summer lies High E4 - C6 William Banfield
Were You There Spiritual Songs for Tenor and Cello Tenor D3 - G4 Biblical
When The Notes Come Songs for the Ladies Suite Soprano C4 - G5 William Banfield
Whom shall I fear The Prophetess II: Psalms for Voice and Piano Soprano Eb4 - G5 Psalm 27
Title Published Size Solo with Ensemble Duration Range Level Orchestration
96/66 Concerto For Guitar 1 Yes Professional
All We Need Is Peace Yes Professional
Can We All Get Along? (Laments, Prayers, and Songs for the Communities) Yes Chamber 20+ Professional pno-fl-cl/bcl/asax-perc
Delancey Street Tuba Concerto Yes Tuba Professional
Essay For Orchestra Yes Full Orchestra Professional
Four Persons Yes Chamber 20+ Professional ob-cl-bsn-pno
I Trust Harlem choral symphony 12 Yes Professional
It's All Good My Brother Yes Professional
Jenny Guitar Concerto 2 Yes Professional
Let My People Go: A Spiritual for Chorus and Orchestra Yes Full Orchestra Professional
Moods and Colors Yes Trombone Professional
No More Mirrors in My Nanas House Yes Piano Professional
Peace Symphony Yes Full Orchestra Professional
Primal Instincts Yes Percussion Professional
Revolution For Orchestra Yes Professional
SHINE: Symphony 13 Yes Chamber + Choir Professional
Structures in Soul and Sound Yes Flute, Violin, Viola, Cello Professional
Symphony 11: Songs, Stories Yes Full Orchestra Soprano Professional
Symphony No. 10: Affirmations Yes Full Orchestra Professional
Symphony No. 1: Brevities Of Experience Yes Full Orchestra Professional
Symphony No. 2: Dream Realized, Nightmare Resolved Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 4 [1.2.3/pic.4/pic] 2 2[1.2/bcl] 2-tsax-4221-4perc- two speakers (readers of the text)- choir (SATB), harp, pno, str
Symphony No. 3: Jobs Song Yes Full Orchestra Professional
Symphony No. 4: Streams of Consciousness Yes Full Orchestra Professional
Symphony No. 5: Four Songs for Five American Voices Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 3232-4331-3perc-hp-pf-str
Symphony No. 6: Four Songs For Five American Voices Yes Full Orchestra Professional
Symphony No. 7: Reveries, Summers Circle Yes Full Orchestra Professional
Symphony No. 8: Triumph and Trial Yes Full Orchestra Professional
Symphony No. 9: Hope Yes Full Orchestra Professional
The Afro American String Quartet: ConTone #4 Yes Chamber Professional str quartet