Today at the International Tuba and Euphonium Association's 2021 virtual conference a new work from Benjamin Horne was performed for the first time! "Listen..." for Euphonium, Tuba, and Electronic Track was premiered by Jason Casanova (euphonium) and Bernard Flythe (tuba). This new work is the culmination of a consortium managed by Casanova for a piece commemorating the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. The work features influences from spirituals, hip hop, and jazz. Click the YouTube link below to view the premiere video from the international conference. The following note is from the composer:
"Listen..." is about our failure as a society to listen to one another. It is about our failure to educate. It is about the notion that we can no longer accept these bandages for larger social issues particularly in regards to racism. So many times, we are taught that we conquered racism at different points in history (whether it was the end of slavery or the Civil Rights era of the 1960s, etc.). The modern-day protests and particularly the death of George Floyd in 2020 was a reawakening to the fact that racism still persists. Racism has never been defeated. "Listen..." depicts the cycle of loss and mourning to false victory and return to the status quo without meaningful change only t revert back to the same patterns. The piece opens with a nod to seemingly our most relevant victory of the Civil Rights era with speeches and depictions of rallies that led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Snap to the modern-day however, and we find that we are mourning. We are equal, but we are still struggling, weeping, protesting, marching. An eulogizing theme plays. This theme becomes prominent throughout the entire work. A hip hop influenced section then begins as we move back to the status quo. Change is minimal at best, so we still chant "No Justice, No Peace". Eventually tensions rise a new event of struggle ensues building up to a climatic gunshot. Another life is lost, and we are left once again mourning another as the cycle continues. Comments are closed.
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