Presented By: School of Music, Theatre & Dance (SMTD)
"Don't Let The Sun": Chamber Choir & University Choir
A new oratorio inspired by Sundown Towns by James Loewen
WORLD PREMIERE
Composer Theodore Wiprud and librettist Richard Wesley have created an oratorio examining a widespread expression of racism in America, documented in the landmark book Sundown Towns by the late sociologist and historian James Loewen.
Conducted by Director of University Choirs Eugene Rogers, Don’t Let the Sun, for chorus, vocal soloists, and orchestra, will run approximately 90 minutes (plus intermission). It tells the story of “sundown towns” where residents drove out or actively excluded specific groups from residing there (from being in a town after sunset) through ordinances, signs, and acts of violence. Sundown towns excluded Black people, and in some cases, Chinese Americans, Jewish people, Native Americans, Latinas/os and other racialized groups. Since the 19th century these towns have been prevalent throughout the U.S. and especially in the Midwest, West, and East.
These policies did not completely disappear over time. The attitudes that drove them morphed into housing “covenants,” redlining, discrimination within the post-war FHA and discrimination in the granting of bank loans. The results of these decisions and policies haunt our country to this very day. Don’t Let the Sun will shine a light on this difficult chapter in America’s ever-expanding history, and help audiences engage productively with “hard” histories.
Mr. Loewen’s Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism is the definitive history of these phenomena. Another source is the “History and Social Justice” website launched by Dr. Loewen, which has had nearly one million visitors over the last three years, and continues to amass cases and first-hand accounts. Librettist Richard Wesley’s text is inspired by the voices of individuals impacted by sundown towns and more recent policies, examining the harm experienced by both the excluded and the excluders; and recent efforts by many sundown towns to reckon with their past and shape a better future.
ABOUT THE GUEST ARTISTS
THEODORE WIPRUD is a composer, an educator, and a researcher on the musical community’s work toward equity and inclusion. Many of his works address social issues, including vocal works like American Journal (Robert Hayden) and A Georgia Song (Maya Angelou); and orchestral works like his Violin Concerto “Katrina”; Wind of Many Voices, responding to the troubled history of South Dakota; and a second Violin Concerto “on the brink” exploring climate grief and climate action.
RICHARD WESLEY is a playwright and screenwriter whose many plays deal with social-historical moments. He wrote the libretto for Anthony Davis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Central Park Five. Mr. Wesley has received numerous awards including the NAACP Image Award for Best Picture (for Uptown Saturday Night) and the National Black Theater Festival’s August Wilson Playwright Award. He teaches at New York University.
Composer Theodore Wiprud and librettist Richard Wesley have created an oratorio examining a widespread expression of racism in America, documented in the landmark book Sundown Towns by the late sociologist and historian James Loewen.
Conducted by Director of University Choirs Eugene Rogers, Don’t Let the Sun, for chorus, vocal soloists, and orchestra, will run approximately 90 minutes (plus intermission). It tells the story of “sundown towns” where residents drove out or actively excluded specific groups from residing there (from being in a town after sunset) through ordinances, signs, and acts of violence. Sundown towns excluded Black people, and in some cases, Chinese Americans, Jewish people, Native Americans, Latinas/os and other racialized groups. Since the 19th century these towns have been prevalent throughout the U.S. and especially in the Midwest, West, and East.
These policies did not completely disappear over time. The attitudes that drove them morphed into housing “covenants,” redlining, discrimination within the post-war FHA and discrimination in the granting of bank loans. The results of these decisions and policies haunt our country to this very day. Don’t Let the Sun will shine a light on this difficult chapter in America’s ever-expanding history, and help audiences engage productively with “hard” histories.
Mr. Loewen’s Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism is the definitive history of these phenomena. Another source is the “History and Social Justice” website launched by Dr. Loewen, which has had nearly one million visitors over the last three years, and continues to amass cases and first-hand accounts. Librettist Richard Wesley’s text is inspired by the voices of individuals impacted by sundown towns and more recent policies, examining the harm experienced by both the excluded and the excluders; and recent efforts by many sundown towns to reckon with their past and shape a better future.
ABOUT THE GUEST ARTISTS
THEODORE WIPRUD is a composer, an educator, and a researcher on the musical community’s work toward equity and inclusion. Many of his works address social issues, including vocal works like American Journal (Robert Hayden) and A Georgia Song (Maya Angelou); and orchestral works like his Violin Concerto “Katrina”; Wind of Many Voices, responding to the troubled history of South Dakota; and a second Violin Concerto “on the brink” exploring climate grief and climate action.
RICHARD WESLEY is a playwright and screenwriter whose many plays deal with social-historical moments. He wrote the libretto for Anthony Davis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Central Park Five. Mr. Wesley has received numerous awards including the NAACP Image Award for Best Picture (for Uptown Saturday Night) and the National Black Theater Festival’s August Wilson Playwright Award. He teaches at New York University.
Cost
- Free - no tickets required
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