Associate Professor of Music Michael "Doc" Woods created a 'Spiritually
Uplifting' tone at his premiere with the Albany Symphony Orchestra on
Dec. 8 at the Canfield Casino in Saratoga Springs. For this
performance, Woods had the opportunity to write a new piece titled,
"Places of Light" and an arrangement of "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've
Seen," which fit with the spiritual theme of the program. "Places of
Light" has given the funk-inspired, jazz expert a chance to write in a
different way. Woods explained, "My concept for this is thematic
transformation. 'Light' is a manifestation of illumination, rather than
a place, I looked at light as a mental state of mind, from which you
can see the future you want for yourself; you can project a sense of
hope and fulfillment." The Albany Symphony Orchestra's holiday program
titled "Spirituals at the Holidays" was repeated twice more that
weekend featuring Woods' new piece.
