Double mixed chorus (SATB/SATB) a cappella (with body percussion), 6'15"
Voices is a journey through six iconic spirituals that became anthems of the civil rights movement. Call-and-response interplay between choirs, interlocking percussive rhythms, and dynamic tempo shifts cast new light on these timeless (and still highly relevant) songs. Commissioned by the Concert Choir of Sunset High School, Portland, OR, Chris Rust, director. World Premiere March 20, 2018 in Portland.
Voices is a journey through six iconic spirituals that became anthems of the civil rights movement. Call-and-response interplay between choirs, interlocking percussive rhythms, and dynamic tempo shifts cast new light on these timeless (and still highly relevant) songs. Commissioned by the Concert Choir of Sunset High School, Portland, OR, Chris Rust, director. World Premiere March 20, 2018 in Portland.
Chris Rust and I met at the Choral Chameleon Institute in June 2017, and I was honored that he asked me to write a piece for his students.
In deciding what to write, Chris mentioned that his students love pieces with body percussion. As it happened, I was beginning to research African-American spirituals—where body percussion has historically featured prominently—for my upcoming commission for the Oakland Symphony Chorus. We agreed that a mash-up of spirituals would not only be fun to sing (and stomp, and clap), but also quite relevant from a historical and social perspective.
Full text (traditional)
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Nobody knows my sorrow
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Glory, glory, Hallelujah
Come by here, come by here
Come by here, Oh Lordy, come by here
Come by here, Oh Lord, come by here
Oh Lord, come by here
Someone's cryin', Lordy, come by here (x3)
Oh Lord, come by here
Woke up this mornin' with my mind stayed on freedom (x3)
Hallelujah
I'm walkin' and talkin' with my mind stayed on freedom (x3)
Hallelujah
We shall not be moved (oh, Lord)
We shall not be moved
Just like a tree that's planted by the water
Oh, we shall not be moved
Black and white together
We shall not be moved (oh, Lord)
Black and white together
We shall not be moved
Just like a tree that's planted by the water
Oh, we shall not be moved
Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round, oh Lord,
Turn me 'round, oh Lord, turn me 'round
Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round
I'm gonna keep on a-walkin'
Keep on a-talkin'
Marchin' into freedom land
We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome someday
Oh, deep in my heart
I do believe
Oh, we shall overcome someday
We'll walk hand in hand
We'll walk hand in hand
We'll walk hand in hand someday
Oh, deep in my heart
I do believe
Oh, we shall overcome someday
In deciding what to write, Chris mentioned that his students love pieces with body percussion. As it happened, I was beginning to research African-American spirituals—where body percussion has historically featured prominently—for my upcoming commission for the Oakland Symphony Chorus. We agreed that a mash-up of spirituals would not only be fun to sing (and stomp, and clap), but also quite relevant from a historical and social perspective.
Full text (traditional)
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Nobody knows my sorrow
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Glory, glory, Hallelujah
Come by here, come by here
Come by here, Oh Lordy, come by here
Come by here, Oh Lord, come by here
Oh Lord, come by here
Someone's cryin', Lordy, come by here (x3)
Oh Lord, come by here
Woke up this mornin' with my mind stayed on freedom (x3)
Hallelujah
I'm walkin' and talkin' with my mind stayed on freedom (x3)
Hallelujah
We shall not be moved (oh, Lord)
We shall not be moved
Just like a tree that's planted by the water
Oh, we shall not be moved
Black and white together
We shall not be moved (oh, Lord)
Black and white together
We shall not be moved
Just like a tree that's planted by the water
Oh, we shall not be moved
Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round, oh Lord,
Turn me 'round, oh Lord, turn me 'round
Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round
I'm gonna keep on a-walkin'
Keep on a-talkin'
Marchin' into freedom land
We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome someday
Oh, deep in my heart
I do believe
Oh, we shall overcome someday
We'll walk hand in hand
We'll walk hand in hand
We'll walk hand in hand someday
Oh, deep in my heart
I do believe
Oh, we shall overcome someday
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