Composer

:

Anthony Davis

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Compose Date

:

1983

Average_duration

:

7:30

Middle Passage is a contemporary opera composed by Anthony Davis, with a libretto by Thulani Davis. The opera premiered on May 7, 1990, at the American Music Theater Festival in Philadelphia. The opera is divided into three acts, with each act consisting of several scenes. The first act of Middle Passage is titled "The Capture." It begins with the capture of the protagonist, Rutherford Calhoun, a free black man who is kidnapped and forced into slavery. The act explores the horrors of the Middle Passage, the journey across the Atlantic Ocean that brought millions of Africans to the Americas as slaves. The music in this act is characterized by dissonant harmonies, complex rhythms, and a sense of chaos and confusion. The second act of Middle Passage is titled "The Crossing." It follows Rutherford Calhoun and his fellow slaves as they endure the brutal conditions of the slave ship. The music in this act is characterized by mournful melodies, slow tempos, and a sense of despair and hopelessness. The third act of Middle Passage is titled "The Arrival." It follows Rutherford Calhoun and his fellow slaves as they arrive in America and are sold into slavery. The act explores the psychological and emotional impact of slavery on the slaves and their descendants. The music in this act is characterized by a mix of African and American musical styles, reflecting the cultural fusion that occurred during the slave trade. Overall, Middle Passage is a powerful and moving opera that explores the legacy of slavery in America. The music is characterized by a mix of African and American musical styles, reflecting the cultural fusion that occurred during the slave trade. The opera is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable cruelty and oppression.

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