Larry Thomas Bell
Nine Variations on We Shall Overcome
Duration: 8'
Solos:
piano
Nine Variations on We Shall Overcome
Translation, reprints and more
Larry Thomas Bell
Nine Variations on We Shall Overcome
Available digitally
Type: Noten
Sample pages
Video
Work introduction
Written in response to the horrible killing of nine parishioners in the AME church in Charleston, South Carolina in the United States in 2015. Each variation represents the death of one person who was killed in the middle of a prayer service. In variation 9 the tragic ending of these individuals is depicted in the score by nine brief falling clusters. These short moments are surrounded by fragments of the theme in slow disintegration.
The music was first performed by the composer at First Church Boston (UU) for Martin Luther King Day in 2016. The work was recorded in 2022 by Deborah Nemko for an album titled Thoughts and Prayer
What is necessary to perform this work?
Solo piano