FORTUNE’S BONES: THE MANUMISSION REQUIEM
WWW.FORTUNESTORY.ORG
www.waterburysymphony.org
Many of you have heard me talk about “The Requiem” for the bones of the slave, Fortune, who died in Waterbury, CT in 1798 and whose skeleton was preserved intact for generations until given to the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury in 1930. Marilyn Nelson’s masterfully written poem recounts Fortune’s story with profound eloquence and it is this poem that I was commissioned to set for the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra, chorus and 7 soloists. The REQUIEM premiered in Waterbury, CT on May 9, 2009 with one performance only. The role of Fortune was sung by baritone Stephen Salters and the role of Dinah, Fortune’s wife, was sung by contralto Shannon Finney.
Two additional performances are being discussed: one at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland (2011) and a second in Waterbury, CT in 2012 as the culmination of a broad outreach project in the schools in 5 major cities in Connecticut. I am eager to explore other opportunities to present FORTUNE’S BONES: The Manumission Requiem.
NEW COMMISSIONS
- THE KING’S SINGERS (England)– My composition Don’t Let Go has been commissioned to appear on the King’s Singers next recording. www.kingssingers.com
- The KINGSWOOD OXFORD SCHOOL in West Hartford, CT has commissioned a choral work for their SSAB Choir – CANTABILE which will premiere in March 2010. www.kingswood-oxford.org