Julia Bullock: 'History's Persistent Voice'

Grammy Award-winning American soprano Julia Bullock brings her versatile artistry, probing intellect, and commanding stage presence to her multimedia ensemble program History’s Persistent Voice. The program’s focus is on the influence of pre-Emancipation voices across generations, emphasizing that era’s poetic musical traditions while centering the multifaceted identities of the Black American experience, realized through art. These works are given new life through Bullock's powerhouse vocal renditions, far-ranging connective research, and a quintet of newly commissioned compositions crafted by an esteemed roster of American women of color that features Jessie Montgomery, Tania León, Allison Loggins-Hull, Pamela Z. and Yale School of Music alumna Carolyn Yarnell ‘89. Additional collaborators for Bullock’s Schwarzman Center performance include fellow Grammy Award-winning conductor Christian Reif, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, and the Tony Award-winning designer and immersive visual artist Hana S. Kim. Produced in partnership with Tony-nominated producer ArKtype / Thomas O. Kriegsmann as part of a multi-year residency and commission series with Bryce Dessner.

History’s Persistent Voice, curated by Julia Bullock

• Christian Reif conductor
• Julia Bullock singer and curator Hana S. Kim video installation
• Members of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra

Freedom Songs (2017 - 2021) by Jessie Montgomery (b. 1981) Inspired from songs developed by enslaved people in the United States

“My Lord What a Morning”
“I Want to Go Home”
Reading poem excerpt from “The Words Would Not Come” by Craig Anthony Ross
“Lay This Body Down”
“My Father How Long”
Reading of “The Storm” by Joe Sullivan
“The Day of Judgement”

Reading of “AT THE PRISON GATES” by Una Marson (1905—1965)

blue skies, bluer seas (2023 – world premiere) by Cassie Kinoshi (b. 1993) Inspired by the words and work of poet Una Marson (1905 – 1965)

Reading poem excerpt from “INVOCATION” by Una Marson

Mama’s Little Precious Thing (2018) by Allison Loggins-Hull (b. ?) Inspired by words of Louise Williams, granddaughter of quilter Willie “Ma Willie” Abrams (1897 - 1987), and Ma Willie’s quilts

— INTERMISSION (15 minutes) —

Reading from interview of Sue Willie Seltzer (1921-2010)

I Come Up The Hard Way* (2022) by Carolyn Yarnell (b. 1961) Inspired by words of visual artist Sue Willie Seltzer (1921-2010)

ain’t my home* (2022) by Carolyn Yarnell (b. 1961) Inspired by words of visual artist Nellie Mae Rowe (1900 - 1982)

Featured portrait of Nellie Mae Rowe Vinings, Georgia 1971 © Melinda Blauvelt All Rights Reserved

Reading from interview of Nellie Mae Rowe (1900-1982)

Quilt (2022) by Pamela Z (b. 1956) Based on the film “While I Yet Live” directed by Maris Curran and inspired by the Alabama quilters of Gee’s Bend. Features the voices of Mary Lee Bendolph, Essie Pettway, China Pettway, Rita Mae Pettway and Lucy Mingo

Green Pastures (2018) by Tania Léon (b. 1943) Inspired by words and visual art of Thornton Dial

The February 7 performance will be followed immediately by a post-show conversation.