“Promises” – from Promised Land: a Voting Rights Folk Opera
Format: Octavo (manuscript)
Soprano Solo, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass, Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Violoncello, String Bass
($2 per singer + $35 for accompaniment)
This product includes manuscript versions of the full score, piano-vocal score, string section scores, and individual string scores.
Anna takes stock of the promises she has made to husband, her God, and her nation while reflecting on the promises made to her. This musical conversation between Anna and the choir mirrors our individual dialogue with the institutions and big ideas that guide our lives.
Promised Land: a Voting Rights Folk Opera –
In the 1850s, abolitionist Gerrit Smith (with John Brown, Frederick Douglass and others) gave away over 120,000 acres of Adirondack farmland to 3,000 free blacks in an attempt to fulfill New York State’s onerous property requirement necessary for blacks to vote. This opera brings this complex struggle to life with deeply emotional melodies, driving 19th century dance rhythms and the dramatic struggle for racial equality and inclusive democracy.
Audio Recording –



