Negro Folk Symphony II. Hope in the Night

(Movement II is 11:06-20:56)

General Description: "On Nov. 20, 1934, a brand new symphony brought a Carnegie Hall audience to its feet. The concert featured the Philadelphia Orchestra, led by conductor Leopold Stokowski. William Dawson was called back to the stage several times to take bows after his symphony ended. 

One New York critic called it 'the most distinctive and promising American symphonic proclamation which has so far been achieved.' 

Dawson said he wasn’t out to imitate Beethoven or Brahms, but wanted those who heard it to know that it was 'unmistakably not the work of a white man.' He found inspiration for the piece in traditional spirituals, which he preferred to call 'Negro folk-music.'"-NPR

Program Note: “The second movement, entitled Hope in the Night, begins with three gong strokes intended by Dawson to represent the Trinity 'that guides the destiny of man.' 

Roughly in A-B-A form, with the A section marked Andante and the B section a much quicker Allegretto, it thus fulfills the roles of both a slow movement and a scherzo in a traditional four-movement symphonic structure. 

The A theme is a variant of the 'missing link' motif (with rising rather than descending intervals), which Dawson meant to suggest 'the monotonous life of the people who were held in bondage for 250 years.' The scherzando B theme symbolizes 'the merry play of children yet unaware of the hopelessness beclouding their future.' But the playful theme is interrupted by a return of the ominous 'missing link' motif and a fiery reprise of the opening idea. 

The A section returns with full orchestra and a heavy tread, marked by timpani and chimes. The movement closes with gloomy strings, growing from pianississimo to fortississimo and back again over a fatalistic drumbeat.” -Frank K. DeWald

Note on the Title: "The title of the 'Negro Folk Symphony' merits discussion. The word 'Negro,' uncomfortable to many today, was for Dawson and others of his generation a term of pride and respect. Although mainstream preferences had shifted by the time of his passing in 1990, Dawson remained committed to the old word. For him, 'Black' was a color, too limited to encompass his heritage." - Gwynne Kuhner Brown

Ternary Form: 
A Section: 11:08-13:23 
B Section: 13:23-17:21 
A Section: 17:21-21:08

Table of Contents:
Movement I. The Bond of Africa
Movement II. Hope in the Night
Movement III. O Let Me Shine!