Requiem for the Enslaved
“Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the hope and dream of a slave.”
about
Infusing spirituals with the form of a liturgical mass, Carlos Simon’s evening-length work, Requiem for the Enslaved, tells the story of 272 slaves sold to pay the debts of Georgetown University, where the composer currently serves as Assistant Professor of Music. Featuring hip-hop artist Marco Pavé, trumpeter Jared Bailey, and Simon on piano, Requiem for the Enslaved explores the sacred and historical, and honors the lives of those bought and sold. Original text by Marco Pavé.
“Requiem for the Enslaved” was commissioned by Georgetown University with support from the President’s Office and the committee for Slavery, Memory and Reconciliation.
notes from carlos simon
Almost an entire year has passed since I first set foot on the Georgetown University campus as a candidate for professorship in the Performing Arts Department— a hope and dream of my ancestors. Since being hired as an Assistant Professor, I have grown to love the Georgetown University community and culture. It is a community that is steeped in a tradition of excellence and a rich history. In learning of the university’s involvement in slavery, I am deeply grateful for the collective efforts taken to understand and attempt to reconcile its tainted past. Now as a member of the Georgetown University community, I wish to join in the journey of expanding the discussion.
This musical piece honors the men, women, and children owned and sold by the University. requiem for the enslaved features music that evoke the spirit of those in captivity featuring the internationally known new music ensemble, the Hub New Music ,rapper and spoken word artist, Marco Pave ́and trumpeter, Jared Bailey. Using the musical structure of a liturgical mass, “Requiem for the Enslaved” artistically explores the sacred and historical ideology of the sale of those enslaved by Jesuits by infusing of the music of the Catholic Church and African American Spirituals into an original composition.
