Born in Washington, D. C. and raised in Atlanta, Carlos Simon is currently Composer-in-Residence at the Kennedy Center, where his opera it all falls down was premiered in March 2022. He also serves as a professor of composition at Georgetown University. His deep commitment to American, and specifically African-American themes is apparent from such recent works as his Requiem for the Enslaved, which has been recorded on the Decca label and nominated for a Grammy Award.
Simon has offered the following comments about This Land:

This piece is inspired by Emma Lazarus’ gentle, welcoming words in her poem “New Colossus”. Lush, bright harmonies in the strings are used to represent hope and unity. I’ve also incorporated the anthems of the many countries of the immigrants (State Anthem of the Russian Federation, Himno Nacional Mexicano, La Marseillaise, etc.) under a dissonant bed of pulsating harmonies. This piece was commissioned by Arizona State University Symphony Orchestra and ASU Gammage.

Notes By Peter Laki