Cecilia Smith was granted a commission through an anonymous benefactor to create a music and spoken word project. The piece, DARK TRIUMPH, was written for large ensemble, including a string section, choir and vocalist and features the BOYS' CHOIR OF HARLEM and vocalist ELON ROBIN DIXON. The commissioned two-CD project was recorded at RIGHT TRACK STUDIO 509A in New York City.

This musical work traces the life of an African American Senior citizen, Victoria L. Smith, who has led an extremely unusual life of service. The work can best be compared to the work that was written by American composer Aaron Copeland, who wrote a piece called A LINCOLN PORTRAIT which uses orchestration and narration to highlight Lincoln's life.

The work that Cecilia Smith composed utilizes both jazz and classical composing devises as well as some sampled sounds generated through keyboard.

DARK TRIUMPH is currently being taught in this current semesters Women's' Health Issues courses at the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC)/City University of New York (CUNY). A DARK TRIUMPH curriculum guide is also being developed. Dr. Olivia Cousins, (Chair) Dr. Kim Hearn and Deborah Parker M.S. of the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC)/City University of New York (CUNY) Health Department and Women's Resource Center are currently creating the curriculum guide. As soon as the curriculum guide is completed, a commercial release will be planned. We have had to delay the commercial release because of the amount of time involved with the education aspect of DARK TRIUMPH. If you are a college or university interested in having this taught at your institution, or you have any questions regarding this project. Please contact:

CEA MUSIC COMPANY
186 5th Ave. Suite 1R
Brooklyn, NY 11217
(718)-398-2946
Fax (718)-638-8140
E-mail: ceamallets@mindspring.com

This e-mail address is for DARK TRIUMPH inquires only.

Future updates on DARK TRIUMPH will be posted on the website.

Composer - Cecilia Smith
Producers – Cecil Bridgewater & Cecilia Smith
Concept – Cecilia Smith
Narration – Victoria Lancaster Smith
Narration Edited by - Cynthia Simmons
Liner Notes – Bridgette Davis
Copyist – Cecil Bridgewater

Musicians:
Carlton Holmes – Piano/Keyboard
Acoustic Bass - Lonnie Plaxico
Drums - Montez Coleman
Vibraphone - Cecilia Smith
Soprano Saxophone – Bruce Williams
Percussion - Farai Malianga
Elon Robin Dixon - Vocalists and Voice Over
Boy Sopranos - Members of the Boys Choir of Harlem:
Elijah Eagle, Joshua White, Shane Jerman, Joshua Smith, Corey Warren

Strings:
Conductor - Cecilia Smith