RZA is expanding his purview with the release of “A Ballet Through Mud,” the title track off his upcoming orchestral album of original composition.
“A Ballet Through Mud” was originally performed by the Colorado Symphony last year, and the full album will be released on Aug. 30 via Platoon and 36 Chambers. In addition to the title song’s release, RZA has unveiled a performance clip of “A Ballet Through Mud” as well as a snippet of “Soft Footsteps” exclusively on Variety.
“I have been composing my whole life, although I didn’t know initially that was what I was doing,” explains RZA of the project. “The inspiration for ‘A Ballet Through Mud’ comes from my earliest creative output as a teenager, but its themes are universal—love, exploration, and adventure. I hope people use it to score their own lives, to transform a drive to the grocery store or sharing a meal with loved ones into something magical, to be inspired and let their imaginations take them into a different chamber, if only for a moment.”
RZA started developing his idea for the project during the pandemic when he discovered old lyrical notebooks from his teenage years. The resulting piece, featuring spoken word and orchestration, debuted as a ballet in 2023 with characters named for Greek musical scales and tracing his own journey from Staten Island to concert halls. The performance took place at Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver, CO, and was conducted by Christopher Dragon. RZA was on hand to perform along with the orchestra.
Check out the performance clip of “A Ballet Through Mud” below:
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