Hands

2019 | SATB a cappella

Poem by Robinson Jeffers (1887-1962)

Commissioned by The Grant Park Music Festival to commemorate the 20^th anniversary of Carlos Kalmar as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor.

The Grant Park Chorus, under the direction of Christopher Bell, premiered this work on July 18, 2019, at the Columbus Park Refectory in Chicago, IL. This particular poem was written in response to Jeffers' visit to the ancient Esselen people's "Cave of the Hands" near Tassajara, CA. To Jeffers, the multitude of hands painted inside the cave was a reminder that we are part of a continuing chain of humanity and that artistic expression is central to the human experience.