Four months ago, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra became intertwined with the national conversation regarding the Ferguson protest movement by serving as the surprise setting of “A Requiem for Michael Brown.”
Protesters interrupted a performance at Powell Hall to ask patrons, the conductor and the orchestra, “Which side are you on?” and to declare, “Justice for Mike Brown is justice for us all!” just after the second act of an October presentation of Brahms’ “German Requiem.”
As part of its 2015 Black History Month program on Friday, February 13, the SLSO consciously commented on the events in Ferguson through a performance of Adam Maness’ composition “Divides That Bind.”
Maness’ offering was an unforgettable element to an IN UNISON Chorus program that blended Negro spirituals, contemporary gospel music and celebrity guest soloist Patti Austin, backed by the orchestra. Separated into three movements – “What We Want,” “What We Get” and “What We Need” – Maness used classical music to brilliantly capture echoes of the unrest.
Violins and violas set the tone of the first movement as they were feverishly bowed to illustrate the outbreak of protest. They played with a cadence that mimicked chants of protesters – though obscured just enough so that the pace could apply to more than one of the statements shouted in response to the death of Michael Brown Jr. at the hands of then-Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson on August 9.
Drums pounded (as did Maness on piano) and horns flared to mimic the feet of marchers pounding the ground and clashes between protestors and police.
The chord progressions evoked a collision between Tchaikovsky’s haunting expressions of tragedy and the soulful melodies of Tower of Power – with a taste of hip-hop staccato.
The first two movements managed to depict all parties involved in the unrest. There was the sadness of the family of the slain teen, the righteous rage of the protestors, clashes with police and local citizens caught in the crossfire.
A portion of “Divides That Bind” was performed during the #HealFerguson concert back in September, but Friday night’s presentation was the first time “Divides That Bind” was presented in its entirety.
The final movement of the piece was an encompassing call for unity that once again blended genres to reflect the diversity of Ferguson protests and the need for the community to unite and heal – reinforced by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., narrated by local soul singer Brian Owens.
“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality,” Owens recited King. “This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”
Owens’ soulful tenor singing voice was also put to good use. He brought the house down with vocal riffs in the closing moments of the performance, where classical music fused with gospel. The audience responded with a standing ovation so resounding that it ate into intermission time.
Typically, the guest soloist is how regular audience members log IN UNISON’s shows in their mental rolodex. But Grammy Award-winning Patti Austin will be an afterthought in memories of the 2015 Black History Month concert thanks to the premiere of “Divides That Bind” and its ability to define the movement through music.
