Program Note

Thomas said, “Music is akin to an infinite alphabet.” Weaving together two texts, originally written in two different alphabets (about 800 years apart) FREEDOM: To be Free and Sky Bound unfolds and develops an elegant, resonant, graceful dialogue between Parks’ “Freedom” and Rumi’s “Love.” Textual and musical braids embody Thomas’ notion of “infinite alphabet.”

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On the process of composition, Thomas has said that “it's like living inside of a poem . . . I think of myself, and have been described as, a poet-composer. I sculpt my music akin to how poets create, refine, and polish their poems." Such a statement might be seen as the key to entering the sound-world of a work such as FREEDOM (indeed, it is a key to all of her music).

Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African-American activist in the civil rights movement, best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott. The United States Congress has honored her as "the first lady of civil rights" and "the mother of the freedom movement." Parks received countless recognitions, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Rumi was a 13th-century Persian poet, Hanafi faqih, Islamic scholar, Maturidi theologian, and Sufi mystic. Like other mystic and Sufi poets of Persian literature, Rumi's poetry speaks of love which infuses the world. This is made explicit in Rumi’s verse (not included in this composition) that describes love as "that flame which, when it blazes up, burns away everything except the Everlasting Beloved."

In Memoriam Rosa Parks.

PROGRAM BOOK LISTING

FREEDOM: To Be Free and Sky Bound (2022)      Augusta Read Thomas (b. 1964)
In Memoriam Rosa Parks

Text

Rosa Parks

[Soloist(s)] – Either one singer, or 3 singers, or 1/3 of the chorus

I would like to be remembered as a
person who wanted to be free…
so other people would be also free.

 

Jalāl ad-Dīn Mohammad Rūmī

[Treble chorus] – In two parts (S.A.) with very occasional divisi

Only from the heart can you touch the sky.
Love calls – everywhere and always.
We’re sky bound.

 

VOCAL RANGES

The work is composed for three vocal parts in order to allow for an elegant, musical "braid" of the Parks and Rumi texts. Each part is of equal importance.

PART RANGES: TREBLE VERSION

Soloist(s): C#4 to F#5
Median and average pitch is A4; most common notes: A4, B4 and D5

Soprano: B3 to F#5
There is only one B3 and it is doubled in AltosMedian and average pitch is A4; most common notes: D4, A4, and B4

Alto: A3 to E5
Median and average pitch is D#4; most common notes: C#4, D4, and E4

PART RANGES: TENOR BARITONE VERSION

Soloist(s): E3 to A4
Median and average pitch is C4; most common notes: C4, D4 and F4

Tenor: D3 to A4
There is only one D3 and it is doubled in Baritones
Median and average pitch is Bb3; most common notes: F3, C4, and D4

Baritone: C3 to G4
Median and average pitch is F#3; most common notes: E3, F3, and G3

Care and thought were given to not pressing the outer-limits of the vocal-ranges and to limiting large interval-leaps.

From time to time, a lower voice is singing notes that are higher in register than a higher voice.

This is done on purpose to imbue the text-braiding with a rich, varied, and animated inner life and to give principal, lead material to each part and thus to each singer.

commissions

This piece is jointly commissioned by a consortium of choruses to benefit the programs and services of Chorus America.

Boston Gay Men's Chorus
Reuben M. Reynolds III, Music Director

Cache Children's Choir
Jaron Putnam, Artistic Director

Cantabile Chamber Chorale
Rebecca Scott, Artistic Director and Conductor
In Memory of Marilyn Wilt

Central Illinois Youth Chorus
Dr. Andrea Solya, Artistic Director

Children's Chorus of Washington
Margaret Nomura Clark, Artistic Director

Cincinnati Youth Choir
Robyn Lana, Managing Artistic Director

Indianapolis Symphonic Choir
Dr. Eric Stark, Artistic Director

Peninsula Women's Chorus
Dr. Anne Hege, Artistic Director

Pensacola Children's Chorus
Alex Gartner, Artistic and Executive Director

Tacoma Youth Chorus
Ms Judith Hereington, Founder and Artistic Director

Texas Lutheran University Choirs
Dr. Douglas R. Boyer, Director of Choral Activities

University of Notre Dame Glee Club
Daniel Stowe, Director

The West Texas Children's Chorus, Bella Voce and BroVoce
Dr. Susan Brumfield, Artistic Director and Conductor

Wisconsin Chamber Choir
Robert Gehrenbeck, Artistic Director

Youth Pro Musica Fund
Carol T. Robbins, Founder

To obtain examination or performance material for this
Augusta Read Thomas work, please contact Nimbus Music Publishing.