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Never Has Been Yet (2016)
Never Has Been Yet (2016)
Words by Langston Hughes
commissioned by Lara Downes
(Solo Piano, with spoken word by the pianist, or with a separate narrator)
6-7 minutes
The Langston Hughes poem "Let America Be America Again" balances the love of America and the hope that it will fulfill its promise someday, with the fact that America is far from fulfilling that promise to many. This fact does not make those of us critical of America not reaching its potential have any less belief that it's possible, despite the long history to the contrary. In particular those of us brown and black faces who often have the most reason to distrust or believe, often are the ones that continue to cling to the fervent hope that one day, that promise could fully include them/us as well. Emotionally in developing the music I focused on the line “Let it be that great strong land of love” as a way to show our hope and belief in America's ideals, however, the music is also tinged (I think) a bit with quiet sadness, resignedness, tension, and unfulfilledness as well (“America never was America to me”).
More About "Never Has Been Yet"
📸: Stephanie Mei-Ling
Words by Langston Hughes
commissioned by Lara Downes
(Solo Piano, with spoken word by the pianist, or with a separate narrator)
6-7 minutes
The Langston Hughes poem "Let America Be America Again" balances the love of America and the hope that it will fulfill its promise someday, with the fact that America is far from fulfilling that promise to many. This fact does not make those of us critical of America not reaching its potential have any less belief that it's possible, despite the long history to the contrary. In particular those of us brown and black faces who often have the most reason to distrust or believe, often are the ones that continue to cling to the fervent hope that one day, that promise could fully include them/us as well. Emotionally in developing the music I focused on the line “Let it be that great strong land of love” as a way to show our hope and belief in America's ideals, however, the music is also tinged (I think) a bit with quiet sadness, resignedness, tension, and unfulfilledness as well (“America never was America to me”).
More About "Never Has Been Yet"
📸: Stephanie Mei-Ling
Lara Downes album This Land (2024) features the world premiere recording of "Never Has Been Yet" and you can order at Lara's website http://www.laradownes.com/store "Never Had Been Yet" © 2016 Numen Music/BMI All Rights Reserved
Simone Dinnerstein www.simonedinnerstein.com (piano) & Taylor Freeman (narrator) perform "Never Has Been Yet" at Meany Center in Seattle January 2022 © 2016 Numen Music/BMI All Rights Reserved
Thanks and credit to all the original photos on this website to: David Andrako, Concrete Temple Theatre, Marcy Begian, Mark Elzey, Ed Lefkowicz, Donald Martinez, Kimberly McCollum, Geoff Ogle, Joseph C. Phillips Jr., Daniel Wolf-courtesy of Roulette, Andrew Robertson, Viscena Photography, Jennifer Kang, Carolyn Wolf, Mark Elzey, Karen Wise, Numinosito. The Numinous Changing Same album design artwork by DM Stith. The Numinous The Grey Land album design and artwork by Brock Lefferts. Contact for photo credit and information on specific images.