Articles

Our Song, Our Story: A Reflection

By Madeleine Cerone

January 31, 2023

As I watched the opera performers, I became enrapt. Their clear, loud, glorious voices rang throughout Wellin Hall without the help of a microphone. Their faces showed the deep emotion of heartbreak, their bodies moving with conviction as they sang the dramatic tale of their music. But not just any music.

The music performed at "Our Song, Our Story" were written by African American artists and performed by African American talents. Damien Sneed, a world renowned composer, conductor, pianist, and musician, wrote this concert in honor of his godmother, a famous African American opera singer, and other musicians like her. "Our Song, Our Story" was a magical celebration of culture, featuring Janinah Burnett singing soprano and Justin Austin on baritone. These Metropolitan opera singers were accompanied by Damien Sneed on piano and by the Griot String Quartet.

These stars and musicians came together on Saturday, January 21st to share the history of many forgotten African American composers. Some of these operas included the famous Treemonisha, composed by Scott Joplin, Fire Shut up in My Bones, by Terrance Blanchard, and even some pieces by Damien Sneed himself!

Treemonisha was the first opera written by an African American to receive widespread praise, recognition, and respect. It was the first opera written by a black man to reach such success. Fire Shut up in My Bones was the first opera composed by an African American man to be performed on the renowned stage of The Metropolitan Opera. It premiered in 2019 at the Metropolitan and has received so much love from the opera community for its tragic story.

One of the most exciting pieces of the night was written by Damien Sneed, the writer of the program. Sneed wrote an opera telling the story of Scott Joplin, the first African American artist and composer to receive renowned recognition for his opera titled Treemonisha. The piece that Damien and Justin Austin performed from this new opera was titled "It is Done", and it sings the story of Joplin at the time that he finished his opera masterpiece. This piece not only encompasses the pride of Joplin, but also of Damien Sneed as the two professionals' talents combine. I got to hear the world premiere of this piece: "It is Done" had never been performed for an audience before that night.

Watching the legacies of these beautiful, black musicians play out on the faces of Damien Sneed, Janinah Burnett, and Justin Austin was awe inspiring. The Griot String Quartet elegantly opened the night and closed the program with a flourish. It was a privilege to be part of this cultural celebration of song and story. As Sneed closed the concert that night, he mentioned that he knew he wanted to be a musician when he realized that he could heal people with his music. As I left Wellin Hall and stepped into the cold snowy night, I felt as though Damien had done just that.