Harriet’s Story for Soprano, Violin and Piano
I. Frontier Slave
II. No Reason to Learn
III. Sister Harriet Tubman
Harriet’s Story – remembering Harriet and Dred Scott
Harriet’s Story contributes to the rich historiography of Missouri and Midwest through music. The impetus for this dramatic song cycle was the 150th anniversary of the state’s entrance into the Civil War in 1862. Harriet’s Story was inspired by the life of Harriet and Dred Scott whose legal struggles to obtain their freedom helped catapult the nation into the Civil War. The lyrics of the first two movements were created in the voice of Harriet Scott, and the lyrics of the third movement are the inspirational quotes of Harriet Tubman, who led hundreds to freedom in the North as the most famous “conductor” of the Underground Railroad.