The premiere performance of this oratorio for chamber choir and piano trio will be preceded by a reading of the featured poems by poet Tracy K. Smith, as well as a brief conversation about the process for creating this piece.

I Will Tell You The Truth About This, I Will Tell You All About It is a ten- poem sequence by former United States Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith that describes in vivid details the lives of African American soldiers and their families during the Civil War. Derived entirely from historical record, the sequence includes the voices of a mother pleading with President Lincoln to release her son from the army, a soldier sending love his children back home, and deposition statements given by African American veterans, their widows, and descendants hoping to receive their rightful pensions. Set for 8-person chamber choir and the Longleash piano trio by Composer Aaron Siegel, this oratorio is a gripping tribute to these overlooked lives and stories at a pivotal time in American history.

Tracy K. Smith, Poet
Longleash (Pala Garcia, Violin; John Popham, Cello; Julia Den Boer, Piano)
Michele Kennedy, Soprano
Veronica Chapman-Smith, Soprano
Guadalupe Peraza, Mezzo-Soprano
AnnMarie Sandy, Mezzo-Soprano
Gregório Taniguchi, Tenor
Andrew Fuchs, Tenor
Dana Whiteside, Baritone
Wayne Arthur, Baritone

AARON SIEGEL – I Will Tell You The Truth About This, I Will Tell You All About It (poems by Tracy K. Smith)