by Caiti Beth McKinney
Happy Spring to the Horn Community!
I want to start the season with a bang by featuring one of my favorite living composers (who also just happens to be a rockstar horn player), Aliyah Danielle.
Aliyah is one of those rare artists who can shine in any genre and any style, and this is further evidenced by her groundbreaking compositions. You can see the depth of her unique perspective even in the degrees she holds: Aliyah has her grounding in music education with a B.M. from Arizona State and then continued to earn a Master of Music in Contemporary Performance from the Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain. Beyond formal education, Aliyah’s musical origins come from her family; her mother is a pianist, and Aliyah grew up surrounded by singers and church music. Like many horn players, Aliyah fell in love with the sound of the instrument before she had ever even held the instrument.
When it comes to composing, Aliyah has a bold and individual style that plays with genre and expectations. One of my favorite of Aliyah’s works, a brass quintet titled In Spite Of…, takes the listener on a full emotional journey. The piece begins with a contemplative chorale that blends elements of gospel music with a quiet fanfare, then moves into a soaring section with quick, articulated trumpet and floating horn lines. Out of seemingly nowhere, the tuba takes over with a funk/jazz bass line until the trombone enters with the melody. The music constantly surprises me, never quite leading where I anticipate (in the best way). This quintet is a guaranteed crowd pleaser, so be sure to give it a listen!
Aliyah has also composed a variety of other outstanding pieces, including several chamber pieces for horn, tuba, or some combination of them. Even more incredibly, in 2023 Aliyah released her debut album, Genesis, a triumph of both her horn playing and compositional abilities. Genesis engages with themes, according to the composer, of “…mental health, breaking free from societal expectations, personal growth, and healing.” Like much of Aliyah’s music, the album is highly narrative, genre-bending, and experimental. Listeners can hear infusions of styles like rock and R&B, all imbued with Aliyah’s classical training and background. (I should mention that I have listened to the album in its entirety over a dozen times, and I am continuously surprised with each listen).
If her musical performances and writing weren’t enough, Aliyah is also a founding member of the Chromatic Brass Collective, an outstanding organization dedicated to providing mentorship and resources for “racially and ethnically underrepresented women and gender non-conforming people throughout the brass world.” If your eyes and ears aren’t on Aliyah Danielle, you’re missing out.
