Voice & Visions Concert Series: The Wailing Woman

The Wailing Woman

Thursday, February 12, 7:30pm

Celebrating the impact of African American musical tradition in the second concert in the Voices & Visions Performing Arts Series. Join us as we celebrate the power of sound and community! All concerts are free and open to all. Doors open at 6:30 pm, and seating is first-come, first-served.

Featuring:
Lenora Anop, violin
Brandie Sutton, soprano
Salem Chamber Orchestra & Chancel Choir
Webster University Chamber Singers
Trent A. Patterson, conductor

Free Concert – Open to All

On February 12, our Voices & Visions series continues as we celebrate the profound and enduring impact of the African American musical tradition. From the newly unearthed musical treasures penned in the early 20th century to the soulful echoes of the civil rights movement, this program explores the "Voices" that shaped the American sound and the "Visions" that guided a nation toward justice.

The evening begins with the St. Louis premier of Florence Price’s Violin Concerto No. 2, a masterpiece marking a distinct change of musical direction for the composer. Sadly, Price died in 1953 before the work was ever premiered.

We continue our journey with world-renowned soprano Brandie Sutton performing William Grant Still’s hauntingly beautiful Wailing Woman, based on a poem of the same name by the composer’s wife, Vera Arvey. This is a work of deep emotional gravity and spiritual release, exploring themes of prejudice and connecting the Jewish and Black experience.

The second half of the program includes Moses Hogan’s stirring tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., His Light Still Shines. This choral tour de force serves as a reminder that the songs of the past continue to light our path forward.

This isn’t just a concert; it’s a journey through history, hope, and the light that still shines within us all.