February 13-14, 2025: Songs from Inside

In 1940, Italian composer Luigi Dallapiccola channeled his concern about rising fascism into a choral work, “Canti di Prigionia” (“Songs of Imprisonment”). He wrote the work for a choir to reflect the importance of the voice in resisting totalitarian regimes, using the composition to reflect historically oppressed and imprisoned voices. 

In 2024, conductor Juliano Aniceto and In the Stacks curator Sam Bessen commissioned a new work by acclaimed composer Elijah Daniel Smith, based on texts by incarcerated author Brian Fuller, whose writings first appeared in the American Prison Writing Archive in 2019. This performance, supported by the American Prison Writing Archive, The Winston Tabb Special Collections Research Center, and the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, will feature the premiere of Smith’s new work alongside Dallapiccola’s masterpiece to bring a new perspective to voices from within the present-day prison system in the United States. 

In describing his motivation for composing “Canti di Prigionia,” Dallapiccola claimed, “Only by means of music would I be able to express my indignation.”  

This project amplifies what connects us as humans, no matter our past or systems that fail us—humanity. 

NEXT Ensemble with icarus Quartet

• Juliano Dutra Aniceto, conductor
• Beth Willer, director of choral studies
• Will Myers, assistant conductor

Program

 

Luigi Dallapiccola (1904-1975): Canti di Prigionia

1. Prayer of Mary Stuart
2. Invocation of Boethius
3. Farewell to Girolamo Savonarola

Elijah Daniel Smith; poetry by Brian D. Fuller: Neither Persons nor Property (World Premiere)

 

Panel Discussion, February 13

• Brad Balliett, moderator
• Brittany Porter
• Chanell Burnette

Panel Discussion, February 14

• Vesla Weaver, moderator
• Nicole D. Porter
• Arlando “Tray” Jones

Program Notes

 

Luigi Dallapiccola (1904-1975): “Canti di Prigionia” (Songs of the Imprisoned) 

Composed between 1938 and 1941, “Canti di Prigionia” draws texts from three historically imprisoned figures: Mary Stuart, Boethius (imprisoned in ancient Rome), and Girolamo Savonarola (a Dominican friar persecuted in Florence). The work was composed as a direct response to the rise of racism and mass incarceration in Mussolini’s Italy. The work is scored for chorus, two pianos, two harps, and percussion. 

Elijah Daniel Smith: “Neither Persons nor Property” world premiere  

“Neither Persons nor Property aims to capture the sense of remorse, regret, and the opposing optimism expressed in Brian D. Fuller’s poetry. His writings, and my written communications with him, demonstrate not only the human aspect of incarcerated individuals, but also the inhumanity and injustice of the American prison system. The music not only attempts to do justice to Brian’s poetry and experiences as a white inmate, but the music also attempts to convey my own contempt for the American criminal justice system, and convey the sense of monotony, desolation, and subjugation expressed in the writings of Black men in captivity for centuries in this country.” -Elijah Daniel Smith 

Program Notes from Brian Fuller, author:

“In this world of concrete, steel, and mayhem, my heart longs for the colors which will make it sing! I suppose that’s why I gravitated toward abstract art. As an artist, it’s none of my business to try and persuade anybody else of what to interpret or perceive. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And these old eyes will forever long for that beautiful muse of inspiration.” 

“The poem ‘Never Far Away’ was written for the lady who stole my heart and I never got to say goodbye to. I won’t delve too far into that. It hurts too much. If any of you have ever been fortunate enough to find somebody that you KNOW is ‘the ONE’– then I’m sure you’ll understand.” 

“Now in the poem ‘To say goodbye to maybe,’ THAT was more of a declaration of perseverance. I’m NOT EVER going to give up on THAT HOPE which is the fuel behind ‘that good old college TRY!’ And I mean THIS applies to EVERYTHING. SURVIVAL, CREATIVITY, FREEDOM, EXPLORATION, LEARNING; Deep down in my very core I know we have to hang on to that elusive ‘IT’ that keeps us going.” 

 

Texts and Translations

 

Canti di Prigionia

I. Prayer of Mary Stuart (sent to Paul Collaër)

O Lord God! I have hoped in Thee.
O my dear Jesus! Now deliver me.
In hard chains, in miserable punishment,
I long for Thee,
Lamenting, groaning and bending the knee,
I adore, I implore Thee to deliver me.

II. Invocation of Boethius (from Ernest Ansermet)

Happy is he who could see the bright fountain of good,
happy is he who could loose the bonds of the earth.

III. Farewell to Girolamo Savonarola (by Sandro and Luisa Materassi)

Let the world oppress, let enemies rise, I fear nothing
Because in You, Lord, I have hoped,
Because You are my hope,
Because You have placed Your refuge in the highest.
(from: Meditation on the psalm In You, O Lord, I have hoped, which death prevented him from fulfilling)

Neither Persons nor Property
(Poetry by Brian Fuller selected from “Never far away”; “To say goodbye to maybe”)

Hate me if you need to
Love me if you can
But I hope you don’t expect too much
After all, I’m just a man
I used to know just what to say
Or even what to do
But I know I’m not forgotten
Because I remember you
Time can play some evil tricks
And make things hard to find
Am I really going crazy?
Or did I just lose my mind?
I never meant to hurt you
And I did not want to go
So no matter how I say it
I think you already know
Hope tells me there will come a day
When I see you again
For now I just don’t have a clue
About how, or where, or when
Within the moon come find me
It’s in your dreams I stay
It doesn’t matter what you think
I’m never far away
To say goodbye to maybe
To shed a tear for why
I can’t give up on crazy
I refuse to even try
So return to me in silence
Your thoughts I’ve always shared
I go again into that place
Where once me used to care
Avarice meanders slowly
Capricious in its lust
I’m lost again in folly
Searching for that misplaced trust
If I ever get to handle
Something precious as before
I will try hard to respect it
And to cherish all the more
So venture once again with me
That thought to which I cloy
I will never be apart from you
My hope, my peace my joy

About the Artists

 

American Prison Writing Archive

The mission of the American Prison Writing Archive (APWA) is to replace misrepresentation of prisons and imprisoned people with first-person witness by those living in legalized confinement. 

By soliciting, preserving, digitizing and disseminating the work of imprisoned people and volunteers, the APWA hopes to ground national debate on mass incarceration in the lived experience of those who know prisons best. 

The Archive is built on the belief that incarcerated people are always the leading experts on practices and policy of legal confinement’s effects. They can offer a generative index of state and civil society’s (mis)managing of criminal legal systems and public safety. APWA writers are spokespeople for the challenges, aspirations, hopes, and enduring resistance and resilience of imprisoned people. 

Many thanks to APWA staff Vesla Weaver, Doran Larson, Hannah Young, Maura Cheney, and Abigail Glasgow for helping bring this project to life.  

https://prisonwitness.org/  

NEXT Ensemble

Peabody’s premiere mixed vocal ensemble (16-24 voices) of advanced graduate and undergraduate musicians committed to the expansion of the vocal ensemble art. Specializing in the performance of new, early, x-disciplinary, and transformative repertoire, NEXT Ensemble is reimagining what it means to be a collaborative, creative vocal artist in the 21st century.

icarus Quartet

Winner of the 2019 Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition, icarus Quartet has given new life to old masterpieces as well as the future of their instrumentation. The quartet was chosen as Chamber Music Northwest’s 2020 Protégé Project Ensemble and was subsequently the first ensemble to hold the Klinger ElectroAcoustic Residency at Bowling Green State University. Past engagements include appearances at the Kennedy Center’s REACH, the Vienna Summer Music Festival, the Horowitz Piano Series, the Queens New Music Festival, the Adalman Chamber Series, and at Princeton University for a Lansky tribute concert held in honor of the emeritus professor’s 75th birthday. 

Larry Weng, Max Hammond, Matt Keown, and Jeff Stern are all celebrated soloists in their own rights, and together they have found a special chemistry and inimitable joy playing chamber music. They are dedicated to the discovery, creation, and performance of new music, but what distinguishes their approach to contemporary music is a strong training and background in the classical genre. icarus Quartet is committed to performing new works with a studied and convincing interpretation that mirrors the validity of works with performance practices developed over centuries. 

https://icarusquartet.org/  

Juliano Dutra Aniceto, conductor

A rising star among his generation of Latin-American conductors, Juliano Aniceto is known for his versatile musical depth and passionate stage presence. He is the Director of Orchestras at the New England Conservatory Preparatory, Conductor of the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, and Artist-in-Residence at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, where he is currently a doctoral candidate under the mentorship of conductor Marin Alsop. Juliano also serves as assistant/cover conductor for the Ravinia Festival, the summer residence of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  

https://www.julianoaniceto.com  

Brian Fuller, author

Brian Fuller is an author and contributor to the American Prison Writing Archive, currently incarcerated in Texas. “My hope is that the artistic side of this can transcend the barriers that have existed for far too long . If the legislators and legal professionals can see the ‘ humanity‘ – instead of the sheer numbers – perhaps we can prevent travesties of justice such as mine... Art has the power to bring attention to issues in ways politics and legislation can only dream of.” 

If you would like to connect with Brian to provide legal assistance, mental health support, or creative collaboration, please contact In the Stacks curator Sam Bessen at sbessen@jhu.edu.

Elijah Daniel Smith, composer

Elijah Daniel Smith is an American contemporary composer whose music has been described as “gnashing and relentless” (Chicago Tribune), “Seductive” (Gramophone), and as “an ingenious study in clarity and distortion” (San Francisco Classical Voice). His music ranges from orchestral compositions to multimedia and interdisciplinary collaborations and his affinity for dense and complex textures, rhythmic ambiguity and fluidity, and rich gravitational harmonies shines through in all of his creations. His music has been premiered and performed by world renowned ensembles including The Chicago Symphony Orchestra for MusicNOW, the American Composers Orchestra, the New England Philharmonic, the Peabody Symphony Orchestra, Alarm Will Sound, Contemporaneous, JACK Quartet, Mivos Quartet, Bergamot Quartet, Sō Percussion, Sandbox Percussion, ~Nois, TAK Ensemble, Hub New Music, Lorelei Ensemble, Yarn / Wire, DITHER, Copland House, Ensemble Linea, Ecce Ensemble, the Lea Mattson Collective, and Earspace.  

 Elijah is Instructional Faculty and the Manager of New Music Activities at The Curtis Institute of Music. He holds a PhD from Princeton University, a Master of Music degree from the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Boston Conservatory, all in Music Composition. Elijah’s music is published by Project Schott New York. 

https://www.elijahdanielsmith.com/

Beth Willer, conductor

Noted for her “directorial command” and “technical expertise,” conductor Beth Willer is recognized as a bold, 21st-century artist with her finger on the pulse of the vocal ensemble art. Her commitment to expanding and deepening the repertoire for vocal ensembles through creative collaboration and culturally-relevant programming can be seen in her work with professional and student ensembles alike. A champion of new music, Willer frequently collaborates with established and emerging composers, including significant projects with David Lang, Julia Wolfe, George Benjamin, Kati Agócs, Kareem Roustom, James Kallembach, Shawn Kirchner, and Jessica Meyer. Current positions include director of choral studies at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and artistic director of the critically-acclaimed Lorelei Ensemble. 

As associate professor and director of choral studies at the Peabody Conservatory, Willer leads the Institute’s vocal ensembles, including NEXT Ensemble, the Peabody Camerata, the Peabody Hopkins Conservatory Choir, and the Institutes first graduate degree in choral conducting. Prior to joining the Peabody faculty, Willer served as director of choral activities at Bucknell University, and led ensembles at Harvard University and The Boston Conservatory. A passionate music educator, Willer has led numerous young artist ensembles, including choruses at Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute, New England Conservatory’s Preparatory School, the Boston Arts Academy, and The Walnut Hill School. 

As Lorelei Ensemble’s founder and artistic director, Willer has led the octet to international acclaim, performing at celebrated venues nationwide, including Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tanglewood Music Center, and Boston’s Symphony Hall. She initiates collaborations with composers from the U.S. and abroad, premiering over 60 works. Willer has also conducted premier ensembles like Seraphic Fire, the Bang on a Can All-Stars, and Roomful of Teeth, as well as symphonic works with various orchestras including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra, among others. 

 

About the Panelists

 

Brad Balliett (moderator, February 13)

Brad Balliett is a New York City-based bassoonist, composer, poet, and educator. Brad is on faculty at The Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, Bard Prison Initiative, and The Juilliard School.  

An advocate for creativity as a human right, Brad regularly leads composition and song-writing workshops in correctional facilities throughout the country. This season he is working with musicians at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, Fishkill Correctional Facility, San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, Cheshire Correctional Institution, Lee Correctional Institute, and facilities on Rikers Island. His work is supported by organizations including Musicambia, Decoda, Project Music Heals Us, and Bard Prison Initiative.  

 In New York, Brad frequently performs with the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, the Knights, and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and has played seasons with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Houston Symphony Orchestra. He is a member of Signal and the Princeton Symphony and has appeared with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the International Contemporary Ensemble. During the summers, Brad has spent time at the Marlboro, Tanglewood, Stellenbosch, Newport Jazz, and Lucerne Festivals.

Brittany Porter (February 13)

Brittany Porter was incarcerated from 2010 to 2015 at the Maryland Correctional Institute for Women. After her release, she was determined to become a better person that walked in her purpose. Brittany faced many challenges in finding meaningful and gainful employment. However, her life changed when she was offered the opportunity to attend Turn Around Tuesday, a reentry program for ex-offenders. This program allowed her to become a Certified Community Health Worker. Brittany used the certification to help her build her career. From working in hospitals to transitioning to the nonprofit world, Brittany is passionate about helping her community and supporting individuals returning home from incarceration. She understands the challenges they face and wants to make a difference in their lives. As the Operations Manager, Brittany has the ability to touch hearts and make a positive impact on those in the carceral setting through mentoring and conducting sessions at correctional facilities. 

 Chanell Burnette (February 13)

“After returning home from 19 years of incarceration, I am still struggling to piece my life back together. It is difficult, though not impossible, as I continue to rely on the very same things outside which brought me peace on the inside; my love for writing and music. My name is Chanell Burnette and I know I can always rely on those two things to provide a good sense of comfort for me.” 

Vesla Weaver (Moderator, February 14)

Vesla Mae Weaver, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Sociology at Johns Hopkins University, faculty affiliate of the Justice Collaboratory at Yale University, and co-director of the American Prison Writing Archive. A scholar of American politics, she writes about race, power, and political life.  Weaver has pioneered concepts to understand the role of incarceration and policing in structuring the political lives of race-class subjugated communities and the development and consequences of coercive institutions in American democracy. Weaver’s books include Arresting Citizenship and Creating a New Racial Order.  Her next book, The State From Below: Racial Authoritarianism in US Democracy, amasses the most extensive collection of first-hand accounts of the police—by those who are policed—to date, using a civic infrastructure called Portals. She is also working on the activism of Black police groups in the 1960s and 1970s, groups that posed insistent rebuttals to racial oppression and police brutality. She co-directs the American Prison Writing Archive, the largest and first fully searchable digital archive of imprisoned people writing about their experience inside confinement in four hundred prison and jail facilities.  Such projects unite a concern with positioning the unfree as central theorists of democracy. Weaver’s research has been supported by fellowships from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, Russell Sage Foundation, National Science Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Brookings Institution. She has written in the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Review, Marshall Project, and Slate, among others.  And she takes an active role in public debates about what it might mean to construct public space focused on civic health rather than surveillance. 

Nicole D. Porter (February 14)

Named a “New Civil Rights Leader” by Essence Magazine for her work to challenge mass incarceration, Nicole D. Porter manages The Sentencing Project’s state and local advocacy efforts on sentencing reform, voting rights, and confronting racial disparities in the criminal legal system.  Since joining The Sentencing Project, Porter’s advocacy and findings have supported criminal legal reforms in several states including Kentucky, Maryland Missouri, California, Texas and the District of Columbia. Porter’s areas of expertise include research and grassroots support around challenging racial disparities, felony disenfranchisement, in addition to prison closures and prison reuse. Her research has been cited in several major media outlets including Salon and the Washington Post, and she has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, and on National Public Radio and MSNBC. 

Arlando “Tray” Jones (February 14)

Arlando Jones III, more commonly known as Tray, was born in the turbulent year of 1968, on July 27, to the teenage couple Arlando Jones Jr. and Karen Re-nee Jones.  Tragedy struck Tray very early, for on January 16, 1970, his father, Arlando Jones Jr., was shot multiple times and murdered by the Baltimore City Police. Tray was a mere 18 months old at the time of his father’s death and has absolutely no memory of him. Tray’s mother, Karen, was unable to overcome the psychological challenges presented by her life circumstances. For she was pregnant at the age of 13, married at 14, and made into a widow at 15. She succumbed to alcoholism and died when Tray was 10 years old. Sadly, it was not a tremendous loss to Tray, for her alcoholism prevented her from ever forming a meaningful relationship with him. 

Tray was cared for by an assortment of loving relatives, but was not the primary concern of anyone. Thus, he was consigned to the streets and forced to navigate the asphalt jungle on his own. Tray developed a strong and powerful relationship with a genuine drug-dealer and the eventual consequence of that relationship was that at the tender age of 16, Tray was   accused of a murder that he did not commit and went to prison to serve the balance of his natural life. While experiencing all the hardships you’d associate with being wrongfully imprisoned at the age of 16, Tray studied diligently and secured his G.E.D. then went on to obtain a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Applied Psychology from Coppin State University. Moreover, Tray was able to develop into an intellectual via philosophy and political science courses offered through Loyola and Georgetown Universities.  Still, while imprisoned, Tray wrote 2 memoirs, Eager Street: A Life on the Corner and Behind Bars and Old Too Fast Smart Too Late: A Prisoner’s Foolish Journey Toward Wisdom, both reads were published by Loyola University’s Apprentice House. 

The Supreme Court ruled that it was cruel and unusual punishment to sanction a juvenile to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Hence, Tray was afforded a resentencing hearing and after 37 years, 2 months, and a day of being wrongfully imprisoned, he was released from prison. And immediately upon his release, via work at Georgetown University’s Prisons and Justice Initiative, Tray embarked upon his mission to fight for those impacted upon by an unjust criminal legal system that victimizes the most vulnerable among us.