Brooklyn native Kelijah Dunton (b. 1999) began serious music study in high school as an alto saxophonist, and he continued to play with the ensembles of the Metropolitan Music Community. He is a self-taught composer who has been shaped by the diversity of the neighborhoods he has lived in (Williamsburg, Bushwick, and Crown Heights) and his memorable experiences in his high school band. See more at his website, as well as …And We Were Heard and the Wind Repertory Project.
Dunton wrote Poseidon’s Wrath in 2026 on a commission from Robert Morales and the Arthur E. Wright Middle School Wind Ensemble. His program notes tell us all about it:
The piece Poseidon’s Wrath plunges the listener into the power and fury of the sea god himself. Thunderous rhythms and bold fanfares depict waves crashing and storms rising as Poseidon unleashes his legendary anger. Sudden dynamic changes and swirling melodies capture the rather unpredictable, uncontrollable force of the ocean. In quieter, flowing passages, the calm before the next surge reminds us of the sea’s mysterious depths. The piece ends with a triumphant and dramatic climax, leaving the audience in awe of Poseidon’s unstoppable power. Through melody, rhythm, and dynamic contrast, Poseidon’s Wrath transforms ancient myth into a vivid musical journey, allowing listeners to experience the grandeur, danger, and raw power of one of Greek mythology’s most legendary deities.
Dunton has a bit about this piece at his website. You can also see the score at Murphy Music. But Poseidon’s Wrath is brand new! So no live performances have made it out into the world yet. Here his Dunton’s MIDI rendering: