DescriptionPart of the “Four Days in November” 2019 program series, this anniversary concert with the Sam Houston High School percussion ensemble, conducted by Jesus Martinez, premiered three works: “Metallic Origami,” “Stars in the Heart,” and the film score, “3 Hours in Dallas.” The performance was followed by a discussion and Q&A with composers Jesus Martinez, Dr. Michael Varner and Dr. Robert Frank.
Public program conducted at The Sixth Floor Museum, at Dealey Plaza on November 21, 2019. The program is 1 hour and 13 minutes long.
Curatorial Commentary
At sixteen and a half minutes, "Three Hours in Dallas" represents the longest compilation of historic motorcade footage ever produced by The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. Creating a lengthy, silent video for a yet-to-be-composed score was an interesting and exciting challenge. In selecting footage, we worked closely with Jesus Martinez to capture all of the familiar scenes while trying, at every turn, to view them from a slightly different angle to make "Three Hours in Dallas" a unique experience, almost like witnessing the events of that day firsthand. During development of the compilation, we recognized the need to humanize President Kennedy and decided to incorporate his own words on key issues throughout the Dallas parade to remind, or inform, audiences what he represented and why his death so deeply impacted the nation and the world.
After its premiere in November 2019, "Three Hours in Dallas" with a recorded studio score regularly played on a loop in the Museum's Seventh Floor Gallery until March 2020. This version of the film can be viewed in full on the Museum's YouTube channel: 3 Hours in Dallas - YouTube. -- Stephen Fagin, Curator
In addition to "Three Hours in Dallas," this November 2019 anniversary concert also served to premiere two other works: "Stars in the Heart" by Dr. Michael Varner and "Metallic Origami" by Dr. Robert Frank. Varner is Director of Percussion at the University of Texas at Arlington. His piece, "Stars in the Heart," was inspired by the Kennedy assassination. Frank is an associate professor composition and theory at Southern Methodist University. His parents named him in memory of Robert F. Kennedy. -- Stephen Fagin, Curator
