Beloved by Meredith Brammeier
World premiere performance by Choral Arts Initiative
Conducted by Brandon Elliott
St. Mark Presbyterian Church
Newport Beach, California
June 14, 2019
On October 27, 2018, I awoke to reports of yet another mass shooting in the United States, this time at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Feeling distraught, angry, and helpless, I sat down at the keyboard and began composing “Beloved.”
As a Christian, I have heard 1 John 4:7-8 quoted frequently, but it seems that the lesson these words try to teach still eludes us, as evidenced by the continued acts of violence and hatred that we perpetrate against one another. “Beloved” reflects this dichotomy, juxtaposing the Biblical text with the names of multiple places in the United States that have suffered mass shootings since 1998.
The piece opens quietly with the words, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” As the work progresses, the sopranos and altos repeat these words while an undercurrent of indistinguishable text begins to murmur in the tenors and basses. This litany of places in which mass shootings have occurred – first as city and state names, then as names of businesses, festivals, concerts, schools, and places of worship – gradually drowns out the simultaneous Biblical text, creating a cacophony of sound that crescendos to an anguished cry followed by sudden silence. The piece concludes with a crucial phrase from 1 John, “They that loveth not knoweth not God, for God is love,” followed by a return to the opening plea: “Beloved, let us love one another.”
Most composers hope that their pieces will continue to be performed for many years into the future; my hope is that this piece will soon become obsolete, a mere historical artifact to be looked upon with sorrow and regret.
Beloved is dedicated to the memory of all those who have lost their lives to gun violence, in the United States and across the world.
Text (1 John 4:7-8 [KJV] and Meredith Brammeier):
Beloved, let us love one another:
for love is of God,
(Tampa, Florida,
Las Vegas, Nevada,
Atlanta, Georgia,
Honolulu, Hawaii,
Irving, Texas,
Melrose Park, Illinois)
and everyone that loveth is born of God,
and knoweth God.
(Allegheny County, Pennsylvania,
Wakefield, Massachusetts,
Sacramento, California,
Oldtown, Idaho,
Rifle, Colorado,
South Bend, Indiana,
Huntsville, Alabama)
Beloved,
(Meridian, Massachusetts,
Birchwood, Wisconsin,
Dallas, Texas,
Kansas City, Kansas,
Goleta, California)
let us love
(Seattle, Washington,
Salt Lake City, Utah,
Crandon, Wisconsin,
Omaha, Nebraska,
San Bernardino, California)
one another.
(Tucson, Arizona,
Mount Airy, North Carolina,
Antioch, Tennessee,
Henderson, Kentucky,
Binghamton, New York,
Skagit County, Washington,
Kirkwood, Missouri)
Beloved,
(Fort Hood, Texas,
Yuma, Arizona,
Manchester, Connecticut,
Buffalo, New York,
Parkland, Washington,
San Francisco, California,
Los Angeles, California,
Hialeah, Florida,
Menasha, Wisconsin,
Grand Prairie, Texas,
Herkimer County, New York,
Norcross, Georgia,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
let us love
(Carson City, Nevada,
Baton Rouge, Louisiana,
Minneapolis, Minnesota,
Isla Vista, California)
one another:
(Route 91 Harvest Festival,
Borderline Bar and Grill)
for love is of God,
(Excel Industries,
Weis Market,
Fiamma, Inc.,
Advanced Granite Solutions)
and everyone that loveth
(Club 66,
Pulse nightclub,
Marathon Savings Bank,
Cracker Barrel,
IHOP,
Pine Kirk Care Center,
Westroads Mall)
is born of God, and knoweth God.
(Henry Pratt Company,
T & T Trucking,
Ed’s Car Wash,
Cascades Mall,
Salon Meritage,
Black Road Auto,
Sun Trust Bank)
Beloved,
(Pinelake Health and Rehab Center,
Capital Gazette,
Century Sixteen movie theater)
let us love
(Thurston High School,
Columbine High School,
Sandy Hook Elementary School,
Northern Illinois University,
Santa Monica College,
Youth with a Mission School,
Umpqua Community College,
Oikos University,
Virginia Tech,
Westside Middle School,
Marysville-Pilchuck High School,
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School,
Santa Fe High School,
University of North Carolina,
Red Lake Senior High School,
Rancho Tehama Elementary School,
West Nickel Mines Amish School,
Sikh Temple of Wisconsin,
The Ministry of Jesus Christ,
Sash Assembly of God,
Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church,
New St. John Fellowship Baptist Church,
Living Church of God,
First Baptist Church,
Wedgwood Baptist Church,
New Life Church,
Tree of Life.)
They that loveth not knoweth not God,
for God is love.
Beloved,
let us love
one another.