Resonance Commission | The Talk: Instructions for Black Children When They Interact with the Police
Video recording of The Talk premiere at our Intensive Care concert program
Commission information
Composer: Damien Geter
Text: Damien Geter
Conductor: Dr. Katherine FitzGibbon
Duration: ca. 10’00”
Instrumentation: SATB + narration
Performances:
MISSION 15 (June 8th, 2024)
Intensive Care (June 9th, 2019) - world premiere
Commission story
Intensive Care, performed on June 9th at the Historic Alberta House, was a program curated by Katherine FitzGibbon to encapsulate the experiences of those whose early days of parenthood are different than envisioned—with babies born early, babies sick, babies lost. Often invisible stories, they are also stories mixed with hope and transformational love.
“When Resonance was planning the repertoire for our concert Intensive Care, I was struck by the absence of the perspectives of parents of color, especially Black parents, in the choral repertoire," said Artistic Director Katherine FitzGibbon. "Artistic Advisor Damien Geter and I dug deeply into repertoire by many composers we admire, and we kept saying to each other, we wish we could find a piece of music about the talk that Black parents have with their children about how to stay safe when they encounter the police. Damien just said, ‘You know what? I'm going to write that piece. We need it.’"
From the premiere of The Talk at Alberta House
About The Talk
There comes a time in every child’s life when they will have “the talk” with a trusted adult. That talk is usually centered around topics relating to sexual maturation – the birds and the bees. However, in the life of a black child, there’s an additional talk that needs to happen; what to do if they are pulled over or have an encounter with the police.
It boils down to four basic principles with the fourth being the ultimate goal:
1. Pull over. Don’t run. Keep calm
2. Keep your hands where they can see them
3. Be polite. Save your rage
4. Get home safely.
The instructions and the music are succinct. A narrator speaks instruction before the singer begins each section. Starting in C minor, the piece wanders through a myriad of tonal centers until it arrives “home” in the end in C major.
program note by Damien Geter
The phrase “save your rage” is credited to former Resonance board member, Jasmine Love.