An African American Requiem

Saturday, May 7th, 2022 6PM

Location: Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

Broadcast live on All Classical Portland and WQXR New York

The eagerly-anticipated world premiere of An African American Requiem by celebrated composer Damien Geter, (Resonance’s Artistic Advisor) commissioned by Resonance Ensemble and performed jointly with the Oregon Symphony.

Resonance Ensemble and Oregon Symphony join forces to present the world premiere of An African American Requiem, Portland composer Damien Geter’s bold, thought-provoking musical response to violence against African Americans in the United States. Combining traditional Latin Requiem texts with civil rights declarations, poetry, and the famous last words of Eric Garner and now George Floyd, “I can’t breathe,” this performance will honor past and present victims of racial violence and spur reflection on how to build a more hopeful future. Originally set to premiere in April of 2020, An African American Requiem will now debut at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on May 7, 2022.

**In addition to the Portland premiere of An African American Requiem, Resonance will travel to the nation's capital on May 23, 2022 to present the East Coast premiere of the work at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC - collaborating with the Choral Arts Society for both performance and the premiere recording.