Chamber Music Piano, soprano voice SKU: PR.411411690
Composed by Nkeiru Okoye. 32 pages. Duration 25 minutes. Theodore Presser Company #411-41169. Published by Theodore Presser Company (PR.411411690). UPC: 680160686032.
The four name arias in HARRIET TUBMAN: When I crossed that Line To Freedom, portray stages in the title character's transformation from slave to freedom-fighter. First, as a child, she introduces herself as Araminta, who is often called, Minty. Her naive prattlings establish a dramatic contrast between childhood's contentment and the harsh realities of slave existence. My name is Harriet, now. Don't call me Minty any more, declares the teenaged heroine. Having survived a series of abusive masters and a debilitating injury, she asserts her rites of womanhood through the shedding of her childhood moniker. The grown Harriet Tubman reintroduces herself as a free woman, recounting the harrowing tale of escape from slavery. Confronted by bittersweet poignancy at having crossed the line to freedom without family to welcome her, she is inspired towards a new goal: returning home to rescue loved ones. In the final aria, Tubman, a seasoned conductor on the Underground Railroad, embraces the folkloric title given to her by escapees and aspiring runaways. I am 'Moses, the Liberator,' she proclaims. Her transformation is complete.
The four “name” arias in HARRIET TUBMAN: When I crossed thatLine To Freedom, portray stages in the title character's transformationfrom slave to freedom-fighter.First, as a child, she introduces herself as “Araminta,” who is oftencalled, “Minty.” Her naïve prattlings establish a dramatic contrastbetween childhood's contentment and the harsh realities of slaveexistence.“My name is Harriet, now. Don't call me Minty any more,” declares theteenaged heroine. Having survived a series of abusive masters and adebilitating injury, she asserts her rites of womanhood through theshedding of her childhood moniker.The grown Harriet Tubman reintroduces herself as a free woman,recounting the harrowing tale of escape from slavery. Confronted bybittersweet poignancy at having crossed the line to freedom withoutfamily to welcome her, she is inspired towards a new goal: returninghome to rescue loved ones.In the final aria, Tubman, a seasoned conductor on the UndergroundRailroad, embraces the folkloric title given to her by escapees andaspiring runaways. “I am 'Moses, the Liberator,'” she proclaims. Hertransformation is complete.
