Five Moments in Color: Soul of Remembrance

Program Note: "'Five Movements in Color' is about the African-American experience. Soul of Remembrance is the collective moan of a profound grief felt by the newly-arrived Africans, who found themselves in a strange land, dealing with the loss of the only life they had known and leaving behind the comforts of family and friends.

A melody floats over a march in 'Soul of Remembrance.' I saw my own people in their long march to express themselves as fully human. In spite of the trauma of enslavement, dehumanization, degradation, and oppression, they carried the ancestral wisdom and spiritual knowledge deep within their souls. 'Soul of Remembrance' is my tribute to the way my ancestors found calm in the eye of the storm, and held onto hope by remembering that deep knowledge of the soul."  - Mary D. Watkins

Melody / Phrase: Listen to the floating melody played by the violins, to track where the musical phrases start and stop. The harp keeps a quarter note pulse underneath the violins (ex. The first phrase is roughly 3.5 measures long). 

Suggested Activity: Gently and slowly trace each phrase in the air with your hand. If you run out of space before the phrase is over, make gentle circles until the next phrase starts. Can you follow along with all of the phrases?

Rhythmic Duration: A steady, marching quarter note pulse heard throughout the movement. This begins in the harp, and gradually from other instruments as well. Can you hear the quarter note pulse?

Discussion: Read the program note above. Discuss:

• What part of the music represents marching?
• What part of the music represents remembering, and holding onto hope?

How does the composer use the following musical elements to communicate what she discusses in the program note? Check them off as you discuss:

• Articulation (Legato)
• Dynamics
• Phrasing
• Range
• Tempo