Evento

Dona Nobis Pacem

This concert will feature songs that cry for justice and peace. It is important that in these times of injustice and unrest that performing groups reflect and in their unique way implore audiences to consider and examine our human experience.

This musically diverse program will span many different styles and viewpoints. The first half of the concert will feature songs searching for justice such as Joan Syzmko's setting of Langston Hughes' poem, I Dream a World, where he imagines a world where all experience sweet freedom and also Hughes'evocative I Too Sing America set by Gwyneth Walker wherein he also sings the words to the patriotic song,'America' ('My Country, 'Tis of Thee,' lyrics by Samuel Francis Smith: 18081895). The text of this song has been adapted to include references to African-American experiences: 'Land where my fathers died, in bondage, in battle' (slavery, military service);''Land of my mothers' pride, with dignity and daring' (Rosa Parks). 'I, too, sing America. I am America.' This is my country!"

Songs longing for peace will make up the 2nd half of the concert including: the energetic Sisi ni moja by Jacob Narverud emphasizing that we are all one, the Sim Shalom (prayer for peace) by Will Lopes, Rosephanye Powell's Sorrida (African greeting which means peace or shalom), the African-American spiritual, "Yonder Come Day, Ulkuthula (an African prayer for peace) arranged by arr.Andre van der Merwe, the beautiful and haunting "Dona nobis pacem" of Frode Fjellheim, and works of Mendelssohn, Rossini and a few others.