Reasons for the Perpetuation of Slavery
A compelling look at the timeless institution of human slavery
by Elizabeth Alexander
SSAA - Sheet Music

SSAA choir, a cappella - medium-advanced

SKU: SF.SEA-091-00

A compelling look at the timeless institution of human slavery. Composed by Elizabeth Alexander. Secular, Genre-Benders. Choral Score. Duration 7 minutes. Published by Seafarer Press (SF.SEA-091-00).

Text by: Elizabeth Alexander.

A compelling look at the timeless institution of human slavery -- in the past, present and foreseeable future.  This dramatic work pours forth with ferocity, urgency, wry humor and compassion, in a powerful litany of temptations, rationalizations and justifications.  An unforgettable concert experience, and a rare opportunity for a choir to engage with a challenging, contemporary social issue.

Composer's note: My interest in slavery as an economic and cultural institution began with my desire to understand a dark chapter in United States history, but inevitably it led far beyond that.  As this piece unfolds, its images and musical references make their way more and more into our own time, touching on our own passive participation in an economic system which is inherently dependent on human exploitation.  Just as slavery is both ubiquitous and hidden, tucked into the corners of this piece you'll find echoes of music from many different times and places, including our own.

Commissioned by the ACDA Women's Choir Commissioning Consortium

Themes: Freedom, Social Justice, Slavery.