Concert: A Four-Century Musical March Toward Equality & Understanding

Join Eudaimonia for a concert capturing parallels among peoples experiencing and rising out of persecution from 1624 to 2024, lifting up initiatives that pursue justice within these communities. This innovative musical experience takes place on Sunday, May 19 at the First Parish Church in Cambridge at 3 Church Street. The concert begins at 7:30 pm.

Connecting contemporary choral works with earlier musical portraits of oppression and redemption, the program includes: Dave Brubeck's jazz-infused "Gates of Justice."

Salamone Rossi's prayer of remembrance (Kaddish), Horace Silver's Peace, instrumental works by Joseph Bologne Saint-Georges (Mozart's Black contemporary), as well as choral and solo Baroque works portraying biblical heroines

The ensemble is excited to introduce Eudaimonia Voices, a new vocal group project.

Soloists for this program are Monty Hill, Maverick, Molly McGuire, Laura Thomas, David Smyth. Other ensemble vocalists include Cameron Dobson, Nathan Halbur, Jocelyn Limmer, Eva Montgomery-Morrison, Iris Pfrommer, and Ryan Spilker, joined by singers from across the Boston community.

As always, a stellar core of Eudaimonia instrumentalists featuring Diane Heffner as clarinet soloist and on chalumeau, Na’ama Lion on baroque flute, Sylvia Schwartz and Nelli Jabotinsky on violin, Elisabeth Westner on viola, Rebecca Shaw on cello, and Vivian Montgomery, director and keyboardist.

Dave Brubeck’s oratorio "Gates of Justice" is an attempt to heal the rift between the Jewish and American Black people that emerged after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968. This choral work highlights commonalities through histories of enslavement and migration, similarities in musical texts and heritage, and an ongoing yearning for understanding and peace.

This concert is funded by a generous grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council as well as Kavod, A Tzedakah Collective. Admission is Pay What You Decide ($20 suggested) and further information can be found at eudaimonia-music.org.