This downloadable video is 1 hour and 22 minutes. It is the complete performance of my masters thesis recital for my degree in music composition at Tufts University, which took place on May 3, 2022 at the Immaculate Conception Church in Salem, MA.

Songs of Juana Borrero (Canciones de Juana Borrero) is a niney-minute song cycle setting the poetry of the eponymous 19th century Cuban poetess and painter. It utilizes 19 of her poems for a total of 23 performative segments. The segments are either accompanied art song (soprano and piano; soprano, piano and chimes; or soprano, cello, and piano), electronics with pre-recorded vocals and narration; solo cello; a cappella singing; spoken recitation accompanied by cello; or unaccompanied spoken recitation. The thesis concert includes 17 sung art songs and poetry readings, but does not include the three electronic music pieces. The poetry pertaining to those pieces is however, read aloud as part of the performance.

This project illuminates the life of an extraordinary young woman who died at the age of 18 from tuberculosis while in political exile during Cuba's war for independence from Spain. Borrero's name and contributions remain largely unknown today, even by the Cuban people.

This digital product is a .txt file which contains the link and password for accessing the video. Once accessed, you may download the video.