'A Ride On The Underground Railroad'

Photo Credit: Wikipedia and Phil Marino for the New York Times | Harriet Tubman and composer, Dr. Nkeiru Okoye.

Sunday, Hofstra University's Department of Music invited their audience to experience A Ride On The Underground Railroad, a production which featured a collaboration between local music talents of students of Hempstead High School and members of the Hofstra Symphony Orchestra, combined with that of professional musicians and singers. The performance also featured Songs of Harriet Tubman, excerpts from the original opera Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed That Line To Freedom, composed by Hofstra Music Professor Dr. Nkeiru Okoye. 

Let's journey through time, all the way back to nineteenth century America, and listen to the stories of slaves who escaped the oppressive slave-state-South into freedom. The history of a people in bondage―the diary of their escape to freedom―was encoded through hymn and spiritual, to be sung bearing tidings of hope. The opening songs, 'Wade in the Water', which featured contralto Nichole Mitchell, and 'Gospel Train', presented dark, spirited-soulful arrangements which gave way to bright undertones of promise. These established the emotion for the performances that followed. Tenor, Robert Mack's rendition of 'Runagate, Runagate' was thrilling. It was a most exciting and suspenseful account of the perilous journey for the slave trudging along steadily, "meaning to be free."

After a brief intermission, the "sounds of liberty" returned with spirituals sung by the Hofstra Chamber Choir. They were later joined by the illustrious Hempstead High School Select Chorale for a powerful performance of 'Soon-ah Will Be Done'. Samuel Nathan, a sophomore at Hofstra, debuted his arrangement of 'Go Down Moses' which was simple and elegant.

The last few selections of the program were the Songs of Harriet Tubman―the seeming evolution of Harriet Tubman. Her journey began as a little girl (Araminta) when she was young and tolerant, but she would soon become defiant, denouncing slavery in the second-of-four songs, 'My Name Is Harriet, Now'. Eventually, she had legitimized her identity as Harriet Tubman, one who attained infamy as a vigilante for freedom in the song, 'I Am Moses, the Liberator'. Soprano Diana Solomon Glover delivered a stunning performance for the finale with her portrayal as the Underground Railroad "conductor." The program was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Related Links:


1. http://www.hofstra.edu/Community/culctr/
2. http://www.nkeiruokoye.com/Nkeiru_Okoye_Home_Page/Harriet_Tubman.html