Marlissa Hudson in Free Concert Premiere of Barbara Harbach's Song Cycle 'Harriet's Story' April 7 in Bel-Nor, Missouri

[Marlissa Hudson, soprano; Harriet Scott (St. Louis American)]

Jeffrey James Arts Consulting

“World Premiere of Chamber Music by Barbara Harbach on April 7 at Unity Lutheran Church in Bel-Nor, Missouri

“Barbara Harbach’s Harriet’s Story for soprano, violin and piano will be given its World Premiere on Thursday, April 7 – 7:00 PM at Unity Lutheran Church, 8454 Glen Echo Dr. in Bel-Nor, Missouri. This Missouri Celebratory Concert is presented by the University of Missouri-St. Louis Women Studies Program and Women in the Arts.

“Harriet’s Story is a song suite in three movements - I. Frontier Slave, II. No Reason to Learn and III. Sister Harriet Tubman. 'I consider “Harriet’s Story” to be a dramatic song cycle with large, sweeping gestures in the first two movements,' Harbach told The St. Louis American in a recent interview. 'The third movement has an edginess to it. I still use a lot of melodies, it’s still my own musical language, but it’s edgier, more intense-sounding than my other works.' Performers will be Marlissa Hudson, soprano, David Gillham, violin and Alla Voskoboynikova, piano. You can read the St. Louis American story at http://www.stlamerican.com/entertainment/living_it/article_7de96214-5b49-11e0-871c-001cc4c03286.html.

“The concert will also feature Ms. Harbach’s Freedom Suite for string quintet, performed by the Dickson String Quartet, with Charles Clements on bass, and The Mechanical Cat – a preview of a new St. Louis musical, with music by Gretchen Hewitt and lyrics by Janet Goddard. The concert introduction will be given by Ms. Lynne Jackson of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation, and the great-great-granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott.

“The historic Scott family that inspired Freedom Suite is best known for the 1846 suit Dred and Harriet filed in St. Louis in an attempt to obtain their freedom from slavery. 'I was inspired and fascinated with the story of Harriet and Dred Scott,' Harbach told the St. Louis American in another recent article. 'Although they could neither read nor write, their legal fight for freedom would eventually contribute to the Civil War and the end of slavery in America.'

"Read the article online at http://www.stlamerican.com/entertainment/living_it/article_2b7068d0-19b2-11e0-9109-001cc4c002e0.html The April 7 program is free and open to the public. For more information, call 314-382-4241 or visit http://blogs.umsl.edu/news/2011/03/31/dred-scott/."