Piano,Vocal,Voice - Level 5 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.845954
Composed by Maria Thompson Corley/William Steffe. Arranged by Maria Thompson Corley. Concert,Contemporary,Holiday,Patriotic. Score. 24 pages. Maria Thompson Corley #6679339. Published by Maria Thompson Corley (A0.845954).
Commissioned by Julia Carey and Juventas Ensemble, this duet was premiered in early July of 2021 by Kelley Hollis, soprano, James Dargan, baritone, and Julia Carey, piano as a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King. The title of the concert was Yearning to Breathe Free. Julia conceived of the idea of combining Dr. King's I've been to the mountaintop speech with Julia Ward Howe's Battle Hymn of the Republic, however, the rights to Dr. King's speech weren't made available in time. As a result, the composer wrote a poem based on the portion of Exodus to which King alluded in his famous speech, in which Moses is giving a final speech to the Israelites from Mount Nebo. He knows he won't be allowed to cross over, and so he urges his people to be courageous as they continue on without him.
The opening is very dissonant, because the images of a terrible swift sword unleashing fateful lightning struck me as terrifying. After commanding the heavens to let him speak, Moses also acknowledges his fear, as well. As the piece progresses, the familiar Battle Hymn Melody appears, as does Go Down Moses.
James Dargan, for whom the piece was written, has an unusual range. Alternate notes are provided, as a result.
The piece starts at about 1:18:10 of the concert, which can be found on the Juventas website.
