Is This America?

(2020)

libretto by Diana Solomon-Glover; concept by Beth Greenberg

Is This America? is an adaptation of This Little Light of Mine, the story of Fannie Lou Hamer commissioned by Opera for All Voices. Santa Fe Opera presented a workshop performance on the ship Mary A. Whalen at PortSide New York in Red Hook, Brooklyn on October 10, 2020 in a performance directed by Beth Greenberg.

Students of the opera workshop from the Florida International University School of Music presented the staged premiere at the North Beach Bandshell in Miami on February 27, 2021.

Part 1. "Go Tell it on the Mountain"

Part 2. "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn me 'Round"

Part 3. "Freedom's On Its Way

ca. 35 minutes (with narration)

Personnel:

Fannie Lou Hamer; 45-50 (alto)

Tanya Racine; 25 (mezzo-soprano)

June Johnson; 16-18 (light soprano)

Youth ensemble (SAB)

Ensemble:

single strings, steel-stringed guitar, piano, drumset