PERUSALSCORE
String QuartetNo. 2: Reconstruction
DamienGeter
PERUSALSCORE
DamienGeter
PERUSALSCORE
String QuartetNo. 2: Reconstruction
ProgramNote
Tocommemoratethe250thanniversaryof thesigningof theDeclarationof Independence, Ichosetoreflectonapivotalperiod inAmerican historythatbeganwithgreatpromisebutended indisappointment.TheReconstructionEra(1865–1877) markedatimeof rebuildingand reunificationaftertheCivilWarand theabolitionof slavery. Itwascharacterized bysignificantpolitical,social,economic,and legaleffortsto establishBlackAmericansasequalcitizens,withthesamerightsandprotectionsastheirwhitecounterparts. During thisperiod, thenation witnessedremarkableadvancementsinvotingrightsandanunprecedentedriseof Black leadersinpoliticaloffice.Yet,despitethese achievements, Reconstruction’sprogresswasshort-lived.TheCompromiseof 1877effectivelybroughttheeratoanend,dismantling manyof its reformsandpaving thewayfortheoppressiveJimCrowerathatfollowed.
Mvt.I,1865:FacingtheRisingSun
1865 marksthebeginningof Reconstruction—atimefilledwiththepromiseof anewdawn. (Facing theRising SundrawsitstitlefromJames WeldonJohnson’spoemLiftEveryVoiceand Sing.)Themovementisbuiltaroundaseven-notemelody,whichshould beperformed brightlyand withasenseof anticipation.Thisthemereflectsthedeeplyrooted beliefsthatexistedpriortoReconstruction,whilealsoembodying thehope andpotential fortransformation.Asthepieceunfolds, themelodytraversesthroughmomentsof tensionandstruggle,symbolizing the challengesinherentinpursuing lastingchange.Theostinatoatmeasure26emphasizestherelentlesseffortandperseveranceneeded to implementnewpoliciesandachieveprogress. Inmeasure70,afterperiodsof unrest,wefinallywitnesstherisingsuninmusicalpassagesthat ascend higherand higherasweapproachthemesfromthefirstsection. However, thistime, theyareplayedwithgreaterspirit,astheostinato fromearliertransformsintoamarchtowardsfreedom.
Mvt.II,1867-1873:Emancipation
Theyearsspanning from1867 to1873,wastheheightof theReconstructionera.Thesecond movement, Emancipation,adoptsaverse-chorus form. Eachinstrumentfreely“sings” itsverse, narrating itsowntaleof liberation.Thisisfollowed byachorusreminiscentof thecongregational hummingorchantingof worksongsorspirituals,symbolizingsolidarityandunity. However,afewinstruments,particularlyviolinIIandcello, harbordoubts.Asthemovementprogresses, themusicfromtheirversesisgraduallyintroduced towardstheend,signaling theimpending declineof Reconstruction.
Mvt.III,1877:FreedomO(w)ed Reconstructionconcluded in1877.Thetitle, “FreedomO(w)ed,”suggestsadedicationorremembranceof thepastandadeclarationof whatwas promised.Tomusicallyconveythisloss, Ichosealamentbass, butplaced thelamentinthetenorvoice,orviola.Thismusical lamentation symbolizesthecountry’sand BlackAmericans’weeping,astheirpromiseof freedomandprogresswasabruptlyhaltedduetotheCompromise of 1877. Inmeasures21-22, thefirstviolin“sings” theword “remember”abovetheensemble,drawing inspirationfromamelodiclineborrowed fromPurcell’sDido’sLament,andalsofrommyself buildingonmusicfromthefirstsong inmysongcycle, Cotton.Thequartetconcludeswith thefirstviolinandcelloonseeminglyopposing harmonics,representing thecountry’sstark,emptystate,anduncertainfuture,dissolving intoa void.Theviolahasthefinalsay,echoing theword “remember,”amotif thatrecursthroughoutthemovement.
Instrumentation
Violin1
Violin2
Viola
Violoncello
Duration: 15 minutes
Firstprintingof thisedition, November2025
PERUSALSCORE
CommissionedbyTheBelvedereSeries
Copyright© 2025 DamienGeter.All RightsReserved.
sultasto,nonvib. sultasto,nonvib. sultasto,nonvib.
arco,sultasto,nonvib.
II.1867-1873:Emancipation
PERUSALSCORE
(approximatepitches;gliss.doesnothaveto reacheachnewharmonicperfectlyintime)