Be Alarmed: The Black Americana Epic, Movement III - The Triple Deities is the third movement in the Be Alarmed series. Movement III – The Triple Deities is a multimedia installation, and performance that merges art song, exhibition, film, and sculpture to examine the intersubjectivity of Black women within the context of American society and the Diaspora. The Triple Deities draws its inspiration from the art song “Songs To The Dark Virgin” composed by Florence B. Price in 1941 —the first African American woman to have a composition performed by a major American symphony orchestra. The composition takes its name and lyrics from Langston Hughes poem which was written in 1926. The work considers how African American classical musicians historically used the art song form as a critical tool while examining present-day perspectives.
McClodden has collaborated with composer and pianist Courtney Bryan, who has created an original composition for piano as the film’s score that references to Price’s original composition, as well as a range of traditional African American And Diasporic musical genres and styles. Vocalist Joel Dyson performs both the work in its traditional form and alongside Bryan’s new compositions in a live performance that will take place within the installation of the film.
Featuring Performances by;
Danielle Deadwyler
Linda Harris
Ashley Tai
Tiona Nekkia McClodden
Stylist: Pamela Shephard
Composer + Pianist: Courtney Bryan
Vocals: Joel Dyson
Score Recorded at St. Luke's Episcopal Church and Mixed by LaTasha Bundy in New Orleans, LA
Written, Directed, Edited + Produced by Tiona Nekkia McClodden
***Major support for 'Be Alarmed: The Black Americana Epic, Movement III - The Triple Deities' has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, with additional support from The Astraea Global Art fund, and the Ossian Fellowship.
