We Wear the Mask

Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem is just as relevant now as when it was written in 1896. Rhythmic ostinatos in this a cappella setting with a notated djembe part heighten the intensity of the historic text that questions why people often hide their true emotions behind masks of our own making. With themes of mental wellness and identity, this accessible work can help explore what it means to take off one's mask in this social media age.