Montgomery: I Have Something to Say

Description

Commissioned by the Cathedral Choral Society and the Cincinnati May Festival

PROGRAM NOTE:

I Have Something To Say portrays an imagined interaction between Sojourner Truth and Greta Thunberg during a timeless public forum. The text is inspired by quotes from both of their historic speeches: Truth's famed "Ain't I a Woman" speech during the First National Women's Convention in 1850, and Thunberg's gripping speech about climate justice during the UN Climate Change summit in 2018. Robbie McCauley, playwright, performer, and activist (and mother to yours truly), wove sentiments from each speech together to create the lyrics.

Special features include a musical depiction of a courtroom gathering, and a children's protest rising to the final chorus. We created this work together to highlight and celebrate the efforts of the elder and younger generations of women who have fought and continue to fight "the ongoing struggle for us and all people to be free".

— Jessie Montgomery

PERFORMANCE NOTE:

In the very first gesture of the piece, oboe and bassoon note head indicates means to play up to the highest note possible using the reed only.

During the opening section until official m. 1, all figures inside the repeats are to played at each individual players own pace in relation to a general suggested pulse of ♩ = 60; however the players can feel free to stray from the pulse if desired to create more variety within their section.

Strict time begins at official measure 1.