Coming to Boston: From Haiti at First Church Cambridge

Curated by Francesca McNeeley Musical Program: Werner Jaegerhuber: Plainte Nocturne #1 Robert Durand: String Quartet No. 1 Jean “Rudy” Perrault: Movements from String Quartet No. 2 Z.O.E. (Zombie Origin and Evolution) Daniel Bernard Roumain: String Quartet No. 1 “X” With additional music by Ludovic Lamothe and Dickens Princivil Coming to Boston spotlights the stories of those who have shaped—and been shaped by—this city. In From Haiti, music, history, and cultural identity converge in a powerful program celebrating Haitian artistry, resilience, and diasporic connection. Werner Jaegerhuber’s Plainte nocturne draws from Haitian folk melodies and nocturnal songs of lament, while Robert Durand’s String Quartet No. 1 blends echoes of Dvořák and Smetana with the rhythms and spirit of Haitian méringue. Haitian American composer Daniel Bernard Roumain’s electrifying String Quartet No. 1, “X” channels the urgency, anger, and transformational power inspired by Malcolm X, while Jean “Rudy” Perrault’s music explores the cultural origins and deeper meaning behind the Haitian zonbi tradition. This program will be presented in collaboration with Charlot Lucien—Haitian poet, educator, visual artist, and cultural activist—helping weave together music, storytelling, and reflection into an afternoon centered on cultural exchange, memory, and community.