Sincerely Yours, Pauli Murray

Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray: civil rights activist, lawyer, poet and ordained priest. Pauli was born in 1910 and today would have likely identified as transgender or nonbinary. Learn more about Pauli. GALA Choruses has brought Pauli’s story to life with a 10-movement dramatic cantata by composer Steve Milloy, libretto by Kim Hines, and Jane Ramseyer Miller as dramaturg.

• 60 minute ten-movement work scored for SATB or SSAA chorus
• 2 soloists/narrators (Mezzo and Alto), piano and optional band: bass, drums, guitar, synth, clarinet/sax.
• Musical styles of the 10 movements follow the periods of Pauli’s life starting with music of the 1920s, including references to Civil Rights songs and some of Pauli’s favorite Classical works, up to music of the 1970s and ‘80s.

1. Pauli Murray: you think you know? – perusal score
Chorus. Intro to Pauli Murray character and story

2.  My Boy-Girl (1910 Pauli born) – perusal score
Chorus, Narrator 2 as Aunt Pauline

3. Ridin’ the Rails (1931)
Chorus, Narrator 1 and soloist as Pauli & Peg

4. Off the Rails (1937) – perusal score
Chorus, Narrator 1 solo

5. Hold On (1940) – perusal score
Chorus

6. Brown Vs Board of Education (1944 & 1954) – perusal score
Chorus, Narr 1 as Pauli, Narr 2 as Spotswood and narrator

7. Soulmates (1957 – year that Pauli and Irene Barlow met)
Love duet with Pauli and Renee
Based on Paradox poem by Angelina Weld Grimké

8. Jane Crow (mid-1960s)
Chorus, both narrators and solos

9. Grief & Rebirth (1973)
Chorus, Narrator 2 as Pauli on solo

10. Be a Spark: what cha gonna do? (1977 ordained)
Chorus, solos & narration

Premiere Performance with the River City Mixed Chorus, Omaha Apr 6, 2025 - VIDEO