Commission Story: The Geter Commissions
Radical collaboration is core to who we are at Resonance Ensemble. This year marks 15 seasons, made possible in part by the deep partnerships we’ve cultivated with living artists across a variety of disciplines. Leading up to our season finale concert (MISSION 15), we go beyond the music to share the stories that brought this work to the concert stage.
Today, we dive deeper into the incredible work of composer, conductor, vocalist, and
Resonance artistic advisor, Damien Geter
One of our most frequent collaborators, favorite artists, and dearest friends is composer-conductor-vocalist Damien Geter. Now serving as artistic advisor, Damien is an integral part of Resonance, conjuring pieces, concerts, and entire seasons alongside Artistic Director Katherine FitzGibbon, who still affectionately refers to Damien as her “artistic soulmate.”
We share a few of the many collaborations we've enjoyed with Damien Geter as a composer.
Artistic Director Katherine FitzGibbon with Damien Geter at a Resonance fundraising event. | R. Hadiashar
The Talk (2019)
Damien singing with Resonance at the premiere of The Talk (2019) | R. Hadiashar
One of the first major commissions from Damien was in 2019 for our Intensive Care program. Performed on June 9th at the Historic Alberta House, Intensive Care 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 crafting the program for this concert, the absence of perspectives from parents of color, particularly Black parents, in the choral repertoire struck me deeply." said FitzGibbon. "Damien and I dug deeply into works 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 said, ‘You know what? I'm going to write that piece. We need it.’" In a matter of days, Damien returned with The Talk: Instructions for Black Children When They Interact with the Police.
About the work, Damien shares:
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
Under the Overpass (2019)
Damien on the set of Under the Overpass | R. Hadiashar
In 2020, plans were underway for Damien’s seminal composition, ' An African American Requiem. However, the pandemic forced us to postpone the premiere until 2022. Recognizing the importance of continuing to foster creativity and enable artists like Damien to continue making music, we conceived Under the Overpass.
Under the Overpass is a 5-episode film series that celebrates Resonance’s hometown of Portland, Oregon, and the space it provided for Resonance artists to still be able to sing together during the pandemic. Starting in the summer of 2020, singers met in acoustic spaces around the city - six feet apart, masked, yet together. Viewers were able to still experience live music performed in these gritty, hauntingly beautiful spaces.
The culminating episode featured the world premiere of a new commission by Damien Geter for 16 voices, piano, and flute: After Time Has Gnawed Away the Shield of Dreams. Flutist Adam Eccleston joined Resonance Ensemble musicians for this debut.
Geter sets a poem about memory and hope for a phoenix rising by the beloved late American conductor and honored laureate music director of the Oregon Symphony, James DePreist. We are deeply honored that Maestro DePreist's wife, Ginette DePreist, not only granted us permission to utilize her husband’s poignant poetry but also joined us during the filming. Our profound gratitude extends to Ginette DePreist for her graciousness and to Damien Geter and all the musicians for crafting something of profound beauty with Maestro DePreist’s words.
In addition to marking that pivotal moment, this work also pays homage to the victims of the 1921 Tulsa Massacre. It serves as a poignant reminder of the tragic violence that occurred a century ago.
AN AFRICAN AMERICAN REQUIEM (2020-2022)
Damien and Kathy at rehearsal for An African American Requiem (2022) | R. Hadiashar
Commissioned by Resonance Ensemble in 2017, An African American Requiem is a pivotal work memorializing the lives of Black Americans lost to racial violence in the United States—the first requiem of its kind. Geter approached Resonance Ensemble about his idea for the work following the results of the 2016 election. Working closely with FitzGibbon, Geter composed a fully-realized requiem—including SATB soloists, a large choir, narration, and full orchestra.
In addition to commissioning Geter, Resonance Ensemble supported the commissioning of Dr. S. Renee Mitchell to craft original text for the final movement, narrated live over the orchestra. Drawing from texts of victims of racial violence, Black rights activists, and traditional spirituals and Latin mass texts, the completed work comprises 19 movements, including two movements previously commissioned by Resonance ('There’s a Man Going ‘Round' and 'Agnus Dei'). One of the largest pieces ever commissioned by Resonance Ensemble, the project received additional amplification through partnerships with The Oregon Symphony and All Classical Radio, which broadcasted the premiere live and offered significant support for syndicated broadcasts nationwide in the months that followed.
The advisory council for An African American Requiem, bringing together over a dozen organizations to maximize the premiere’s reach and impact
Originally slated for a 2020 premiere, the global COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rescheduling to May 2022, affording Resonance Ensemble an extended period to augment the impact of the Requiem with a comprehensive education initiative. Developed by Resonance Ensemble, the curriculum provided both print and digital components to students, providing them with essential context, vocabulary, and local history and enriching their understanding of the culminating field trip to witness the world premiere.
Following its premiere in Oregon, the commissioned work garnered acclaim with successful performances at the Kennedy Center (for its east coast premiere) and with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Geter himself). Notably, it was hailed as “Best in Classical” by the Washington Post in 2022.
To see a full list of resources—including videos, interviews, full programs, the curriculum, click the link here.
WHAT STILL RESONATES
Kathy and Damien preparing the Requiem for rehearsal (2020)
Damien has grown and gained widespread recognition, becoming even more celebrated in his roles as a composer, conductor, and performer. We are honored to have him as part of our origin story and we couldn’t imagine hosting a 15th anniversary program without him—his vision has shaped so much of who Resonance Ensemble is today.
For MISSION 15, Damien will join us to conduct his commissioned pieces with Resonance Ensemble, including Agnus Dei, There’s a Man Goin’ Round, After Time Has Gnawed, and The Talk. We can't wait to have Damien with us, making music together again.
SEE DAMIEN AT MISSION 15
Join us for an unforgettable evening at the Winningstad Theatre on June 8th, celebrating 15 years of Resonance Ensemble. This exclusive one-night event promises a tapestry of meaningful music, compelling stories, and thrilling in-person appearances by the artists we love, including Damien Geter.
The music of tomorrow is being written by the voices of today.
Dinah Dodds
Help support the creation of new works.
The Dinah Dodds Fund for the Creation of New Art memorializes Dinah Dodds, President of the Board of Directors of Resonance Ensemble, who served on the board from 2014 until her death in 2019. Under Dinah’s devoted leadership, the organization developed its social justice focus and commissioned multiple major new choral works.
In tribute to Dinah, contributions to this fund shall support the creation of new art (music, visual art, and poetry), as prioritized by the artistic leadership of Resonance Ensemble. “Creation of New Art” can include commissioning and co-commissioning, premiering, and/or professionally recording (audio/video) works by living artists.