Geter | Symphony No.1: The Justice Symphony

PERUSALSCORE

e Justice Symphony was composed in 2019-20 as a commission from e University of Michigan and e Washington Chorus. e primary thematic material is aributed to music from the Civil Rights era, which was the vehicle that helped shepherd many protests toward the cause of equal rights for Black Americans. e ﬁrst movement is a fantasia on Keep Your Eyes on the Prize, which is derived from the gospel hymn Keep Your Hand on the Plow. e mixed meters and extended phrases give the listener the sense of being on a ride in which they must grab on to something to stay in place. e second movement, Take My Hand Precious Lord, is a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His favorite hymn, it was sung at King’s funeral by gospel singer Mahlia Jackson. e last movement, Ego Trippin’, speaks to the power of believing in one’s self. Songs from the Civil Rights era that are included in this movement are, Oh Freedom, We Shall Overcome (with slightly altered, updated text), We Shall Not Be Moved, and culminates in James Weldon Johnson’s Li Every Voice and Sing just aer the choir shouts, “No Justice, No Peace!”

Text

I. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

Paul and Silas bound in jail, Had no money for to go their bail. Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.

Paul and Silas began to shout. Doors popped open and they walked out. Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.

II. Precious Lord

…and lead me home. When the darkness appears, And the night draws near, And the day is past and gone. At the river I stand. Guide my feet, hold my hand. Take my hand precious Lord and lead me home.

Hear my cry, hear my call. Hold my hand lest I fall. Take my hand, precious Lord and lead me home.

III. Ego Trippin'

Oh, freedom! Oh, freedom over me.

PERUSALSCORE

Free!

We shall overcome. Right now.

We shall not be moved. Like a tree that’s standing by the water; We shall not be moved.

On the road to justice, We shall not be moved. Just like a tree that standing by the water; We shall not be moved.

Freedom’s name is mighty sweet, And soon we’re gonna meet. Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.

Got my hand on the gospel plow, Won’t take nothing for my journey now. Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.

Precious Lord, take my hand. Lead me on, let me stand. I am tired. I am weak. I am worn. rough the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the light. Take my hand precious Lord and lead me home.

No justice; no peace!

Li every voice and since, ‘Til earth and Heaven ring. Ring with the harmonies of liberty. Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies. Let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us. Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us.

Facing the rising sun, Of our new day begun. Let us march on ‘til victory is won.

—Damien Geter 2021

Instrumentation

Piccolo

2 Flutes

Oboe

English Horn

2 Clarinets in B

4 Horns in F

2 Trumpets in C

2 Trombones

Tuba

Timpani Percussion 1

Snare Drum, Xylophone, Tam-Tam Percussion 2

Bass Drum, Suspended Cymbal, Tambourine, Snare Drum, Tam-Tam Percussion 3

Tam-Tam, Bass Drum

[All percussion instruments may be shared between the players.]

Soprano Solo SATB Chorus

Strings

Duration: c. 20-25 minutes

PERUSALSCORE

Percussion 1

Snare Drum, Xylophone, Tam-Tam

Percussion 2 Bass Drum, Suspended Cymbal, Tambourine, Snare Drum, Tam-Tam

Percussion 3 Tam-Tam, Bass Drum SOPRANO SOLO

I. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

To B. Dr.

cresc. poco a poco

col legno battuto

B. Dr.

To Sus. Cym.

cresc. poco a poco

cresc. poco a poco cresc. poco a poco cresc. poco a poco cresc. poco a poco

(melody)

Sn. Dr.

To Sn. Dr.

We shall not, we shall not be moved. We shall not, We shall not be moved just like

We shall not be moved. We shall not be moved.

We shall not be moved.

We shall not be moved. We shall not be moved.

We shall not be moved.

Short and Precise = 72

Still rhythmically precise, but heavier in approach

we shall not be moved.

we not be moved.

we shall not be moved.

we not be moved.

we shall shall not we shall not be moved.

With Reverence = 65

= 65

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