Epoch of Hughes
- Ana De Archuleta
- Sep 20, 2024
- 2 min read
Music by: Jasmine Barnes
Libretto by: Langston Hughes
Duration: 25 min
Commissioned: Seattle Choral Company.
Premiered: Seattle's historic St. Mark's Cathedral.
This piece is inspired by the poetry of Langston Hughes, one of America’s most celebrated Black poets, and uses Hughes’ reflections on the four seasons as its foundation.
FORCES
Singers:
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass- Baritone
(Chorus)
Orchestration:
Strings
Percussion
Project Statement
Growing up in Baltimore Maryland’s public school system, I spent many years learning Langston Hughes’ poetry. I was always intrigued by the meaningful and poignant text he’d write. Poems like “Mother to Son”, “I, Too”, “Dreams”, and so many others, but I wasn’t privy to the poems of EPOCH OF HUGHES — “Poeme d’Automne”, “Winter Moon”, “An Earth Song”, and “Summer Night” — in my childhood. I learned of Margaret Bonds’ setting of “Poeme d’Automne” and “Winter Moon” a few years ago, both from her song cycle with Hughes,“Songs of the Seasons”. I’d like to say I created my own interpretation of these poems, and as a fellow Black Woman composer, I’m proud to follow in her footsteps and create my own setting of this gorgeous text.
“These poems collectively tell a story of an epoch, or a passage of time, in Hughes’ life, serving as an homage. Each poem reflects the world around the poet. I chose to immerse myself in the soundscape of Hughes’ life while incorporating elements of my own musical language. Overall, I believe this piece captures the vastness and complexity of American music.”
Reviews
"Jasmine Barnes brings Langston Hughes’ poetry to life in Epoch of Hughes as she takes the listener on a dynamic journey from season to season. Her writing is rich with meaning and illustrates with both precision and vibrancy.."- Seattle Choral Company
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