Scenes from the Life of a Martyr

Scenes from the Life of a Martyr (1981), is a 16-part oratorio composed by Undine Smith Moore in memory of Martin Luther King Jr. Moore wrote the libretto, which includes passages from the Bible, quotations and poetry excerpts.[1] It is written for a mixed choir, with solo parts for soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, a spoken-word narrator, and orchestra.[1] The work takes about 40 minutes to perform and has sixteen different movements.[2]

History

Smith began work on the composition in November 1975 and spent about four years working on it.[2] Parts of Scenes were performed in 1979 by the Harry Savage Chorale and with Moore accompanying the choir by piano.[2] Orchestration was done by Donald Rauscher, and the work on Scenes was completed by 1980.[2] The score was published by Carl Fischer Publishing Company, who nominated it for a Pulitzer Prize in 1981.[2]

The official premiere of the work was complicated by scheduling difficulties, so Scenes was performed first in New Jersey in December 1981.[2] It was later performed at Carnegie Hall on January 15, 1982 and "officially" premiered by the Richmond Symphony Orchestra on April 19, 1982.[2]

Story and composition

Moore's oratorio is meant to "comment on the private life of King," starting as far back as his childhood.[2] The work is divided into four sections, each covering four different stages in King's life.[3] The work starts out with the narrator's prologue and then segues into a contemporary-sounding movement which includes African-American rhythmic motives.[2] In a similar way, the narrator "prepares" the listener for the next movements. The second section includes the first songs that Moore wrote and uses text from the Song of Solomon.[2] The third section uses text from the gospel of Luke and then follows the "most memorable movements of the entire work," I Never Felt Such Love in My Soul Before.[2] The final movement includes a lament and a climatic work, They Tell Me Martin Is Dead, which eventually ends with "frenzied screams and moans."[2] The final song is a chorale, Tell All My Father's People, based on the spiritual, "Angels Waiting at the Door."[2]

Moore had stated that she chose to write Scenes "as a way to make tangible my feelings about Dr. King."[4] She also felt that everyone could feel a sense of "kinship" with King.[4] She also stated that she did not want to strive for a "consistency of style," but instead wanted the music to reflect his life at the time.[5]

Critical response

Scenes received a good response from the public.[2] Will Crutchfield of The New York Times felt that the score sounded like "background music for a documentary film," however, the finale was "suitably stirring."[6] Bernard Holland, also of The New York Times, felt that Scenes could be compared to Krzysztof Penderecki's St. Luke Passion.[7] John Rockwell called Scenes "conservative."[8]

See also

References
  1. "A Commemorative Concert In Memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.". 1988-1989 Programs Presented by Guest Artists, Faculty, and Students (Program). University of Michigan. 1989. pp. 25–31 – via Google Books.
  2. Walker-Hill, Helen (2007). From Spirituals to Symphonies: African-American Women Composers and Their Music. University of Illinois Press. pp. 73–76. ISBN 9780252074547.
  3. "Scenes from the Life of a Martyr". NPR. 20 January 2003. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  4. Kozinn, Allan (13 January 1989). "Art and Conscience Mix In King Observances". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  5. Hudson, Herman (1986). "The Black Composer Speaks: An Interview with Undine Smith Moore". Helicon Nine. 14/15: 172–185. Retrieved 1 February 2016 – via EBSCO.
  6. Crutchfield, Will (19 January 1989). "The Voices In Honor of Dr. King". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  7. Holland, Bernard (18 January 1982). "Collegiate Chorale Offers Premiere and Revival". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  8. Rockwell, John (7 November 1985). "Five Works by Black Composer". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 February 2016.


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