A Note from the Artistic Director
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
English and Spanish
800-273-8255
One morning in Asheville, NC, I was approached by a police officer while on my way to retrieve some things from my car. The officer stopped and questioned me, and he asked for my identification. After he dismissed me, I was left confused and embarrassed, and I struggled to figure out the reason why I was approached by the officer. I did not do anything wrong. It became obvious to me that it was because I am a man of color.
This type of incident occurs far too often in our society, and it has to stop. Based on that experience, I knew that I needed to do something. No more racism, no more exclusion, no more discrimination. I decided to do what I do best: make music. I decided to form a choir whose purpose is to increase awareness through music. After meeting every member of Tonality, I realized that I was not alone, that many others possess a passion for unity, for bringing people together.
Since its formation a short time ago, Tonality has received support from artists who also value diversity and social justice through their music. India Carney from U.S. Season 8 of The Voice says, “Tonality is going to broaden horizons for music and show a diverse array of faces for classical music as we know it.” Grant Gershon, Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, states, “Choral singing is about sharing our voices, our traditions, and our experiences. Tonality has the potential to bring the amazingly diverse voices, traditions, and experiences of Los Angelenos together in a powerful new way.”
Tonality, now a Grammy award-winning ensemble, has grown immensely since that first rehearsal on June, 6, 2016. The singers come from a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities and countries. They are professional singers from Los Angeles who care about the future of our country and our world, and we sing in unity to actively demonstrate the beauty of diversity.
We hope that this concert offers a safe space for those who are dealing with mental illness and friends and loved ones who support. While this concert speaks of challenges of mental health and suicide prevention, we also hope that this concert will serve as a reminder that each of you are loved, appreciated, and valued in our community. Thank you for coming and sharing your hearts with us.
Concert Program
At War With Ourselves: 400 Years of You
At War With Ourselves: 400 Years of You
1. At War With Ourselves
At war, at war, at war with ourselves!
At war with ourselves,…
At war with, at war with ourselves,…
At war with ourselves,…
At war, at war, At war with ourselves,
At war with ourselves, At war with ourselves!
2. Ten Square Feet of Space
You are given 10 square feet of space to live,
and 3 vertical inches of air to breathe.
Ankle iron is ordained for your frontal and temporal lobes.
Their one desire: your black body in endless service and performance.
You are given ten square feet of space to live,
and three inches of air to breathe,
ten square feet of space to live, and three inches of air to breathe,…
ten square feet of space to live, and three vertical inches of air to breathe.
To breathe, of air to breathe, of air to breathe,
to breathe, to breathe, to breathe!
Ankle iron, ankle iron,
Ankle iron is ordained for your frontal and temporal lobes.
Their one desire,
Their one desire: your black body, your black body,
Their one desire, their one desire: your black body,
your black body in endless, endless, endless service, service,
service and performance.
3. Newest Moving Picture Show
You are the country’s newest moving picture show.
They will never be disinterested in what your arms, legs, and lips can do
on their well-lit screens.
You are the country’s newest moving picture show,
the country’s newest moving picture show.
You are the young country’s newest moving picture show,
you are the country’s newest picture show.
You are the country’s newest moving picture show, the country’s newest moving picture show.
You are the young country’s newest moving picture show,
you are the country’s newest picture show.
They will never be disinterested, will never be disinterested,
will never be disinterested in all that you can do.
They will never be disinterested, will never be disinterested,
will never be disinterested in all that you can do.
They will never be, never never never be, never be,
never never never be,…
disinterested in what your arms,
in what your legs, in what your lips,
in what your arms, your legs, your lips can do
on their well-lit screens.
4. The Rest of You
Kion Heidari and Mariah Rae, soloists
The rest of you,
the ravishing wondrous veiled interior:
your vermillion quiet, your indigo jar of morning whispers,
the midnight calculations of your mother,
every smokey algorithm your father ever dreamed,
will, right from the start, be thrown overboard with the sharks.
The rest of you,
the ravishing wondrous veiled interior of you,
Your vermillion quiet, your indigo jar of morning whispers,
your mother’s midnight calculations,…
The rest of you,
the ravishing wondrous veiled interior of you,
Your vermillion quiet, your indigo jar of morning whispers,
your mother’s midnight calculations,…
Every smokey algorithm
your father ever dreamed,…
Will be thrown overboard,
Right from the start!
Right from the start,
Thrown overboard,
with the sharks.
5. Yet It Will Always Rise
And yet, it will always rise up through the waves.
Your one desire: to stand beyond their brutality,
in the same calendar of stars in which your mother once stood.
Yet it will always rise,…
Yet it will always rise, rise, rise!
Rise, rise, rise!
Rise, rise, rise up through the waves.
Your one desire, your one desire:
to stand beyond their brutality,
in the same calendar of stars,
calendar of stars where your mother stood.
6. In a Flash of Moonlight
Kion Heidari, Gracie Laboy, Angelica Rowell, soloists
In a flash of slave schooner moonlight,
In a cotton field peculiar,
Alongside the invention of the television,
of the automobile, the camera, the lie…
In a flash of slave schooner moonlight,
In a cotton field peculiar,
Alongside the invention of the television,
of the automobile, the camera, the lie…
The thirteenth amendment, the washing machine,
the basketball, the blackface,
The thirteenth amendment,
the washing machine, the basketball, the blackface,…
Alongside the invention of the television, the automobile,
the camera, the lie,
the television, the automobile,
the camera, the lie,…
The thirteenth amendment, the washing machine, the basketball, the blackface,…
The thirteenth amendment, the television, the washing machine, the automobile,
the basketball, the camera, the blackface,
The thirteenth amendment, the television, the washing machine,
the automobile, the basketball,
the camera, the blackface, the blackface,
the lie.
7. They Will Dismiss You
Alongside (despite) these contributions,
They will dismiss your wailing, inventive mouth,
Abolish any projects for your wind and solar capacities,
Proclaim your blood to not be human,
And call for more federal studies to trumpet
how your eyes possess no tear ducts.
They will dismiss your mouth,…
they will dismiss your wailing, inventive mouth,
They will abolish any projects for your wind and solar capacities,
Proclaim your blood not human,
Call for federal studies to trumpet how your eyes possess no tear ducts,
how your eyes possess no tear ducts,…
and they will dismiss you.
They will dismiss, they will dismiss you,…
they will dismiss, they will dismiss,
They will dismiss, they will dismiss you,…
they will dismiss, they will dismiss,
They will abolish any projects for your wind and solar capacities,
Proclaim your blood not human, call for more federal studies,
Abolish any projects for your wind and solar capacities,
Proclaim your blood not human, call for studies to trumpet how
your eyes possess no tear ducts, your eyes possess no tear ducts,…
no tear ducts, they will dismiss you,
They will dismiss, they will dismiss you,…
Ooh—.
8. Yes, Your Heart Beats
Yes, your heart beats,
but with only three-fifths of the necessary four chambers.
Your neck is believed to be made of leather, and
will be stretched and tested before the eyes of their children.
Yes, your heart beats, but with only three-fifths of the needed chambers,…
Your neck is believed to be leather,…
and will be stretched and tested,
and stretched and tested,
and stretched,…
and stretched before the eyes of their children.
Before the eyes
of their children,…
Before their eyes.
Yes, your heart beats,
but with only three-fifths of the needed chambers,…
Yes, your heart beats,
but with only three-fifths of the necessary four chambers.
9. Before the Eyes of Their Children
Anna Crumley, David Morales, Becca Tomasko, soloists
Oh,…
Before the eyes of their children,…
Oh,…
Before the eyes of their children,…
Before the eyes,…
before the eyes of their children,
Before the eyes,…
before the eyes of their children,
their children,…
Oh,…
Before the eyes of their children,…
10. Skin Is the Largest Organ
“Skin is the largest organ in the body
— and the most erotic.”
Black skin is the largest organ in the American body
— and the most erotic.
The ravishing, wondrous, innermost black islands of you never sunk,
no matter the number of cannonballs sent to sink them.
The skin,…
the skin is the largest organ in the human body.
Black skin,…
black skin is the largest organ in the American body,
and the most erotic,…
The ravishing, wondrous,
innermost black islands of you were never sunk,
No matter the number
of cannonballs sent to sink them.
The skin,…
The skin, black skin is the largest organ,
the largest organ, the largest organ, in the American body.
Doo doon,…
Doot, doot, doot, doot,
doot, doo wah,..
Doo-doon,…
Doot, doot, doot, doot,…
Doo doon,…
The skin,…
The skin, black skin is the largest organ,
the largest organ, the largest organ, in the American body.
11. Swirling at the Bottom of the Sea
Kim Dawson, soloist
You have re-attached the legs and implanted
the flying cells of millions just like you,
implanted them back into your own.
You have run, marched and fought on behalf of the bones,
the cerebellums, the spit, the eyelashes of the
60 million or more swirling in the bottom of the sea.
You have reattached the legs and implanted the flying cells
of millions just like you, right back into your own.
You have reattached the legs and implanted the flying cells
of millions just like you, right back into your own.
You have reattached the legs and implanted the flying cells
of millions just like you, right back into your own.
You have run, you have marched, you have fought,
on behalf of the bones, the cerebellums, the spit.
the eyelashes of the sixty million or more
swirling at the bottom of the sea,…
You have run, you have marched, you have fought,
on behalf of the bones, the cerebellums, the spit.
the eyelashes of the sixty million or more
swirling at the bottom
of the sea,…
You have run, marched and fought,
on behalf of the bones, the cerebellums, the spit,
the eyelashes of the sixty million or more
swirling at the bottom of the sea,…
12. Your Indefatigable Zest
Hannah Abrahim and Jamal Moore, soloists
Your indefatigable zest and quiet
has a heartbeat and pulse four centuries strong.
Your indefatigable zest has a heartbeat,
your inexhaustible zeal has a pulse,
Your indefatigable zest has a heartbeat and pulse,
four centuries strong.
Your indefatigable zest has a heartbeat,
your inexhaustible zeal has a pulse,
Your indefatigable zest has a heartbeat and pulse,
four centuries strong.
Four centuries strong, four centuries long,…
Four centuries strong, four centuries long,
strong, not gone!
Your indefatigable zest has a heartbeat,
your inexhaustible zeal has a pulse,
Your indefatigable zest has a heartbeat and pulse,
four centuries strong.
Bah-bee dah-bee dah-dah
doo-bee dah-bah doo-bah,…
Dot dah-bee doo-wah.
Your lush vermillion quiet, Your innermost black islands,
Your indigo jar of morning whispers,
Your lush vermillion quiet, Your innermost black islands,
Your wondrous veiled interior,
Long, strong, not gone!
Bah bop, bop, bop,
doo-wah,…
bop, bop, bop!
Your luscious quiet, your inner islands,
your indigo jar of morning whispers,
Your luscious quiet, your inner islands,
Your wondrous veiled interior,
Grit and gut, and spark and pluck,
Your indefatigable zest has a heartbeat,
your inexhaustible zeal has a pulse,
Your indefatigable zest has a heartbeat and pulse,
four centuries, four hundred years!
One, Two, Three, Four centuries strong!
Four centuries strong.
13. You Are the Real McCoy
Kion Heidari, Gracie Laboy, Jamal Moore, Angelica Rowell, soloists
With the laws and codes meant to eradicate you,
you invented a clock, a better ironing board,
a third traffic light, a golf tee, and a
blood bank that everyone but you could use.
You are the Real McCoy among other McCoys,
though other names have stuck to your black skin instead.
With the laws and codes meant to eradicate you,
you invented a clock, a better ironing board,
a third traffic light, a golf tee,
and a blood bank everyone but you could use,
a blood bank for everyone but you.
With the laws and codes meant to eradicate you,
you invented a clock, a better ironing board,
a third traffic light, a golf tee,
and a blood bank everyone but you could use,
a blood bank for everyone but you.
You are the Real McCoy, among other McCoys,
you are the Real McCoy, though other names have stuck
to your black skin instead, other names have stuck instead.
With the laws and codes meant to eradicate you,
you invented a clock, a better ironing board,
a traffic light, a golf tee,…
a clock, a better ironing board,
a traffic light, a golf tee,…
A clock and a golf tee,
a third traffic light, an ironing board,
a blood bank,…
A clock and a golf tee,
an ironing board, a third traffic light,
a golf tee, ironing board,
a traffic light,
a blood bank,
You are the Real McCoy,
you are the Real McCoy, among other McCoys,
But other names stuck to your skin instead.
Other names have stuck, instead.
14. Senator or President
Kion Heidari, soloist
Refusing to halt their haunting laughter and Wall Street minuets,
they reach for the chokehold of their muskets
to march you back into place and position and performance
every time you write “Senator”or “President” or “Gold Medalist”
or “thundering original musician” in front of your name.
Refusing to halt their haunting laughter and Wall Street minuets,
they reach for the chokehold of their muskets to march you back into place,
Every time you write Senator, Gold Medalist, or groundbreaking musician in front of your name.
Refusing to halt their haunting laughter and Wall Street minuets,
they reach for the chokehold of their muskets to march you back into place,
Every time you write Senator, Gold Medalist, or groundbreaking musician in front of your name.
Senator, President, groundbreaking original musician, Gold Medalist!
Senator, President, groundbreaking original musician, Gold Medalist!
Senator, President, groundbreaking original musician, Gold Medalist!
Back into place, into position,
Back into place, back to performance,…
Every time you write Senator, Gold Medalist, or groundbreaking musician in front of your name.
Back into place! Senator,
Back into place! President,
Back into place! Groundbreaking musician,
Back into place! Gold Medalist!
Back into place! Senator,
Back into place! President,
Back into place! Groundbreaking musician!
Back into place! Gold Medalist!
Back into place! Senator!
Back into place! President!
Back into place! Groundbreaking musician!
Back into place! Gold Medalist!
Back into place!
(Names of Black People Killed by Police)
15. Now is the Great Anniversary
Now is the great 400th anniversary
of your presence in the Republic:
You, four feet tall in a kerchief, with a shotgun,
headed back to the swamp to free more of you.
You, your black and balled leather fists splitting the Olympic air.
You, your majestic lunations and almanacs spilling from your pockets like gold coins.
Now, now is the great anniversary,
Now, now is the great, the great anniversary,
Four hundred years of your presence in the Republic:
Now, now is the great anniversary,
Now, now is the great, the great anniversary.
Four hundred years of your presence in the Republic:
You, four feet tall, with a shotgun,
headed back to the swamp to free more of you,
You, your balled leather fists rising,
splitting the Olympic air.
Your majestic lunations and almanacs
spilling from your pockets like gold coins, like gold coins.
The ravishing, wondrous, private inner bank of you,…
was never on the auction block,…
was never on the auction block!
The ravishing wondrous private inner bank of you
never was on the auction block.
16. Never on the Auction Block
Your soul never was, never never never was,
Never was, never never never was,…
Never was, never never never was on the auction block,
Your soul never was, never never never was,
Never was, never never never was,
Never was, never never never was on the auction block.
Never was, never never never was,…
Never was, never never never was on the auction block,
on the auction block, never on the auction block!
At war with ourselves,…
At war with ourselves!
Performers
Kronos Quartet
- David Harrington (violin)
- Gabriela Díaz (violin)
- Ayane Kozasa (viola)
- Paul Wiancko (cello)
Soprano
- Hannah Abrahim
- Anna Crumley
- Cassandra Duschane
- Gracie Laboy
- Mariah Rae
- Becca Tomasko
Alto
- Miriam Adhanom
- Kim Dawson
- Cara Zydor Fesjian
- Even Johnson
- Hannah Rose Lewis
- Angelica Rowell
Tenor
- Sammy Avila
- Isaiah Chacon
- Davon DeBerry-Martin
- Kion Heidari
- David Morales
- Rohan Ramanan
Bass
- John Berquist
- Dylan Gentile
- Aaron Jung
- Matthew Lewis
- Ian Gabriel Luna
- Jamal Moore
ASL Interpreters
- Bennie Barber
- Rorri Burton
Special Thanks
Tonality Board of Directors
- Dr. Alexander Lloyd Blake, Executive/Founding Director
- Dr. David Connors, Chairperson
- Caroline McKenzie, Vice-Chairperson
- Joe Trapanese, Secretary
- Dr. Kimberly Bradshaw, Treasurer
- Edward Enriquez-Cohen
- Roman GianArthur
- Kelci Hahn
- Ahmed Khater
- David Morales
- Rita Morales
- Jordan Reddout
- Anji Tan
- Daniel Tapetillo
Honorary Board Members
- Michael Abels
- Kris Bowers
- Lara Downes
- Dr. Melissa Dunphy
- Nikky Finney
- Scott Hoying
- Brian Lauritzen
- Kevin “K.O.” Olusola
- Joel Thompson
Advisory Board Members
- Dr. Derrell Acon
- Stacy Brightman
- Branden Chapman
- Melissa Denton
- Kristy Edmonds
- Ted Hearne
- Daniel Hurlin
- Stu Marks
- Luke McEndarfer
- Thomas Mikusz
- Jen Rogers
- Patrick Scott
- Sara Scott
- Dr. Tram Sparks
- Leslie Thomas
- Booker White
We Sincerely Thank:
- Alex Morales, Company Manager
- Julie Smith, Production Manager
- Abitha Nunis, Tonality Intern
- Ninette Ayala, Development Director
- Michelle Sorgen, Grant Writer
- Allen Moon, David Lieberman Artist's Representatives (www.dlartists.com)
- David Lieberman, David Lieberman Artist's Representatives (www.dlartists.com)
- Coy Middlebrook, Director of Programming, The Wallis
- Misha Riley, Programming Manager, The Wallis
- Samantha Else, Director of Production, The Wallis
- Corey McCarey, Production Manager, The Wallis
- Kayli Kimerer, Asst. Production Manager, The Wallis
- Hannah Burnett, Marketing and Communications Manager, The Wallis
Acknowledgments
2024 Supporters of Tonality
- California Arts Council
- California Community Foundation LA Arts Recovery Fund
- California Impact Grant
- City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs
- Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture Organizational Grant
- Michael and Irene Ross Endowment of the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles
- National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
- Tejemos Foundation
Support Affiliated Non-Profits
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Upcoming Events
Music @ The Wallis is generously made possible by Terri and Jerry Kohl Making their Wallis debut, GRAMMY-award winning vocal choir Tonality combines melodic harmonies to present concerts on themes of social justice in hopes to catalyze empathy and community activism. Put Your Guns Down discusses issues related to gun violence in the United States. Some of the selections will discuss mass shootings, police brutality, the effects on victims, school shootings, and suicide prevention. The concert also focuses on an active sense of peace as we come together to find solutions toward the epidemic of gun violence in this country. This evening’s performance will feature the world premiere of Alexander Lloyd Blake’s Running From, Running To: A Musical Reflection on Ahmaud Arbery.