J’Nai Bridges (mezzo soprano), Piotr Gajewski (conductor), Norman Shankle (tenor), and Kenneth Overton (baritone) perform “America’s Requiem A Knee on The Neck'” with the National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale, and members of the Washington Chorus and the Howard University Chorale at Strathmore. Photo credit: Elman Studios.
‘America’s Requiem: A Knee on The Neck” is an intense and moving tribute to George Floyd. It honors the anger and sorrow surrounding his loss and the senseless loss of so many black men, while providing hope and a respite for those who continue the struggle for racial justice in America.
Rich with imagery and infused with African American Spirituals, the piece is written for symphony orchestra and a massive chorus of more than 100 singers—powerfully reminiscent of the enormous crowds that gathered in cities nationwide to demand justice in the wake of Floyd’s violent death. Recurring African drumming is a haunting reminder of centuries of racist oppression, silenced voices, and justice denied in America.
…intense and moving tribute to George Floyd.
Composer Adolphus Hailstork’s score conjured the chaos and confusion of brutality on the streets of Minneapolis, but also moments of ethereal, otherworldly peace. In the midst of such affecting music, librettist Herbert Martin’s text asks the audience to contemplate the desperation in a mother’s words, “laws that govern white men and their attitudes; those laws and attitudes will not consider you in any way; they will take no notice of your heart…,” but later those same mothers are heard again in hope, with the proclamation, “Our mothers raised us in the shadow of love. They infected us with the stamina of strength. They gave us the words of determination.”
Washington-area musical institutions, the National Philharmonic under Piotr Gajewski’s baton and the National Philharmonic Chorale joined by members of the Washington Chorus and the Howard University Chorale under chorus master Eugene Roger’s direction delivered a spectacular performance of this new American treasure. The depth and brilliance of soloist J’Nai Bridges’ mezzo soprano voice filled the hall, together with Norman Shankle’s rich tenor and Kenneth Overton’s captivating baritone.
Following the audience’s powerful immersion into the contemporary world, the program’s second half featured a return to Mozart’s era. Seemingly a period quite different from our own, Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor, K. 626 reminds us that humanity’s struggles remain largely unchanged. Individually and as a society, we continue to wrestle with life, death, fear, longing, and the need for redemption. Conducted by Gajewski, singers Bridges, Shankle, and Overton returned to the stage with the addition of Janai Brugger whose glorious soprano was a highlight of the evening.
Running Time: Approximately 2 hours including a 15-minute intermission.
“America’s Requiem: A Knee on The Neck” played for one night on March 26, 2022 at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852. The program will be performed again on Monday, March 28, 2022, at 7:30 pm at Capital One Hall, 7750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons, Virginia 22102. For more information, click here.
