Additional Recources
Program Notes From the Composer
“What We Do—Now” sets the stage for this major work as its first choral movement. I created the libretto and lyrics for the remaining movements of “Lifting As We Climb” after doing a great deal of research over a period of several months. My biggest challenge was to cull all the information I had gathered into a coherent story arc. I wanted the suffragists to come alive in the music – and so much of the lyrics are crafted from quotes of key players like Susan B. Anthony, Frances E.W. Harper, Sojourner Truth and Carry Chapman Catt.
I encourage anyone singing or listening today to dive into the story of women’s suffrage and to current reporting on voter suppression. Engrossing and shocking, celebratory and encouraging, this history and history-in-the-making alerts us to just how important it is to stay present and awake to the forces that endanger liberty and democracy. As Coretta Scott King said—“the struggle is never ending, freedom is never really won; you earn it and win it in each generation.”
—Joan Szymko
I encourage anyone singing or listening today to dive into the story of women’s suffrage and to current reporting on voter suppression. Engrossing and shocking, celebratory and encouraging, this history and history-in-the-making alerts us to just how important it is to stay present and awake to the forces that endanger liberty and democracy. As Coretta Scott King said—“the struggle is never ending, freedom is never really won; you earn it and win it in each generation.”
—Joan Szymko
Performance Recordings
See notes below about the general form of the piece. There are three main choral movements and one choral interlude/underscore.
Underscore: We Are All Bound Up TogetherPortland Lesbian Choir
No. 3: We Shake We ShinePortland Lesbian Choir
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No. 2: Organize, Agitate, Educate!Denver Women's Chorus
Underscore: We Are All Bound Up TogetherPortland Lesbian Choir
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Full Performance with Narration
Portland Lesbian Choir
General Form of Lifting As We Climb
The full work of Lifting As We Climb has the following musical components.
They are woven together with narration.
No. 1: What We Do – Now
Underscore A (Seneca Falls) - piano only
No. 2: Organize, Agitate, Educate
Underscore B (We Are All Bound Up Together) - piano and voice
Underscore C (Terrell Speech) - piano only
Underscore D (What We Do - Now: Reprise) - piano and alto sax
Underscore E (We Are All Bound Up Together #2) - piano only
No. 3: We Shake We Shine
They are woven together with narration.
No. 1: What We Do – Now
Underscore A (Seneca Falls) - piano only
No. 2: Organize, Agitate, Educate
Underscore B (We Are All Bound Up Together) - piano and voice
Underscore C (Terrell Speech) - piano only
Underscore D (What We Do - Now: Reprise) - piano and alto sax
Underscore E (We Are All Bound Up Together #2) - piano only
No. 3: We Shake We Shine