CHAMBER WINDS

When Ben Horne approached me to compose a chamber work for him, I saw it as an opportunity to explore musical landscapes —specifically, aspects of Black life that have often been overlooked in the realm of chamber music. As I began searching for a sound world that could bring this vision to life, it became clear that the rich, soulful universe of R&B was the perfect foundation. I proposed to Ben the idea of crafting a suite that would blend classical and R&B, creating something that was not only elegant and vivid but unapologetically Black. The first words I said to him were, “I want to write something as smooth as shea butter.” And from that moment, Shea Butter Suite was born—an homage to Black music, particularly R&B, and the culture that envelops it.

The first movement, Honey Dipped and Satin Kissed, sets the tone for the entire piece—dark, sultry, and deeply passionate. Heavily influenced by the likes of D’Angelo, Ginuwine, Erykah Badu, and the Afro-Latin grooves that shaped 90s R&B, this movement is a nocturnal drive through a labyrinth of desire and longing.

The second movement takes the form of a song, inspired by the words of Zora Neale Hurston. Her exploration of unspoken connections between people provides the backdrop for this movement, which paints the picture of two lovers meeting for the first time, yet feeling an undeniable familiarity as if they’ve met in another life. Their connection transcends words, and the music becomes the voice of their unspoken bond. The inspiration behind this movement is Daniel Caesar’s “Neu Roses (Transgressor's Song)”, his duet with H.E.R. “Best Part, and D’Angelo and Lauryn Hills’s duet, “Nothing Even Matters”.

The third movement, Sugar Brown, is a vivid and expansive reimagining of D’Angelo’s Brown Sugar and Lady. This movement pays tribute to his motifs while deepening and expanding its essence. The result is a passionate dance of rhythm and soul, blending the energy of the first movement with the silky, tender lines of the second, creating a soundscape that’s both rhythmic and expressive—imbued with the very soul of Black love and identity.