Elegy for the Time of Change

Composer Robert A. Harris wrote ‘Elegy for the Time of Change’ after being inspired by a sermon by Reverend Bishop Curry. The sermon presented a message of hope after the horrifying murder of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police, and was based on snippets of text from the spiritual ‘There is a balm in Gilead’. Harris’s organ work weaves in the melody of this spiritual as it explores the journey from darkness to light, from division and hatred to hope and unity. Organist David Eaton recorded the piece in Raleigh Cathedral, and shares some insight on this exploratory process, and some of his favourite moments in the piece.

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Robert A. Harris is Professor Emeritus at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music (Evanston, Illinois), and served as Professor of Conducting and Director of Choral Organisations from 1977 to 2012. He has been a visiting professor at Wayne State, the University of Texas in Austin, and the University of South Africa in Pretoria. He was also director of music and choirmaster at the Winnetka Congregational Church in Illinois.

David Danielson Eaton is an organist, educator, and church musician whose performances have been described as ‘world class,’ ‘dynamic and consummately musical,’ ‘meticulous and powerful,‘ and ‘the zenith of musical talent.’ He has attended the North German Organ Academy and holds degrees from Concordia College, New York, The New England Conservatory of Music, and The University of Iowa.

Music: ‘Elegy for the Time of Change’ by Robert A. Harris, recorded by David Eaton.

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