On Feb. 26, the Redfern Arts Center hosted a concert that explored the music of “African Diaspora” in the program known as “Roots” for Black History Month.
The concert was performed not only by Keene State’s Concert band, but also with guest Euphonium Artist Bente Illevold, as well as tubist and composer Dr. Jasmine Pigott.
Together, under the direction of Associate Professor of Music Dr. John Hart, the band performed an over-hour-long program showcasing music combined with lyrical performances covering the identity and history of African Americans through sound.
“The idea for this performance was planned further back during the start of the year,” Hart said. “I knew part of my mission here is to program music by underrepresented populations. So I started what I was calling ‘The Music of Social Justice series.’ We started doing the program by commissioning a new work by a woman composer every other year.”
The composer for this year, Dr. Jasmine Pigott, was someone Hart knew prior to the performance.
“It worked out that I had a friend who was writing a piece about black migration over the last 400 years and black excellence today,” Hart said. “It worked out perfectly that she was going to be on tour.”
The performance showcased noteworthy works such as Ilevold’s “Concerto for Euphonium and Concert Band” and Pigott’s “Roots Torn, Roots Chosen: A Story of Black Migration.” Pigott wrote the poetry spoken for their song as well.
“After I had the poetry and kind of sat with it for a while, I figured out what would go with the words and the story I was trying to tell,” Pigott said.
Pigott will continue traveling to different universities to deliver their compositions and storytelling.
The Concert Band will continue The Music of Social Justice Series with its next concert on April 23 with their Reflections of America performance. KSC students who bring their Student IDs to the box office will be given free admission to the event, so do not forget it if you plan to attend this performance.
Michael Ardita can be contacted at
