Composer Notes and Musical Content
We all have a role to play if we want to improve the quality of life for all citizens. To me, these final lines of the
poem signal a spirit of unity and resolve. The one-word sentence “Peace” shifts the mood from themes of despair,
discrimination, and disorder to those optimism and hope.
I chose to set this concluding section of the poem in a lilting 6/4 gospel style. Measures 265-279 mark the only moment in piece where all voices are singing in unison. This material is later repeated in harmony (mm. 281-295). At measure 296, the text becomes a bit more declamatory and sermonic as the Stand the Storm theme returns in the accompaniment. Now in the key of C major, the last line of the poem (mm. 315-327) is set to music reminiscent of the opening 4-measure, 27-beat passage.
Suggested Questions for Discussion
Listen to Claudia Rankine's reading of the poem. What is your interpretation of her reading of "Peace. We're out to repair the future"? Is there a sense of being on a cusp? What is the role of individual responsibility in repairing our future?
What is the role of hope in repairing the future? What does hope in action look like?