I came across an extraordinary and powerful work by contemporary composer Joel Thompson:
The Seven Words Of The Unarmed.
It takes what amounts to found poetry and adds music.
The structure evokes the classical work of Joseph Haydn's
"Seven Last Words of Christ on The Cross". It is inspired by the dying words of seven unarmed black victims shot and killed by authority figures:
1. "Why do you have your guns out?" - Kenneth Chamberlain, 66
2. "What are you following for?" - Trayvon Martin, 16
3. "Mom, I'm going to college." - Amadou Diallo, 23
4. "I don't have a gun. Stop shooting." - Michael Brown, 18
5. "You shot me! You shot me!" - Oscar Grant, 22
6. "It's not real." - John Crawford, 22
7. "I can't breathe." - Eric Garner, 43
https://youtu.be/zdNXoqNuLRQ
This doesn’t come from a political place where hidden agendas lurk and facades mask dishonesty. It is something a friend shared with me whose son sings in the chorale performing in this piece. And it’s art.