S. Renee Clark puts the heart in Every Tongue Confess
Horizon Theatre’s upcoming musical Every Tongue Confess depicts the deep south in a whirl of mysticism, comedy, and honesty. S. Renee Clark, local composer and music director, took Marcus Gardley’s script and created all original works for this Atlanta production. Below, she talks about how her roots in Atlanta influenced this work, how the music amplifies the characters, and why this work is straight from the heart.
Q. Every Tongue Confess has very apparent roots when it comes to location, the entirety of the play is heavily fueled and inspired by the deep south. As a native of Atlanta, the tune and tone of this play must not have been hard to hear. How did your own life in the south come into play musically while working on this play?
A. I’ve been composing projects since the Jomandi days with Tom Jones. This is the first play that I just let my heart do the work without trying to be clever. The play takes place around 1996 therefore the sound of gospel music or any music that could have been playing on someone’s radio would have been pretty broad during that time. Not only am I from Atlanta but I’m a PK ( preacher’s kid ). Gospel music runs in my blood. There’s a lot of blues, some pop. My hope is that it helps the audience to take the journey.
Q. You worked on the music for Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood, a play that too, had a very distinct setting, culture, and feel. Did you draw any connections between the two works?
A. Well I would love to get entire credit for Petite Rouge but for the record I enhanced the vocal arrangements. That’s always fun for me. When the director says go for it Renee, do your thing. Then the sky is the limit. Every tongue Confess has a completely different sound.
Q. You have composed all original numbers for Every Tongue Confess, what moments in this play struck you as unforgettable and urged you to amplify them with music?
A. All of the solos were inspired by the cast members voice and style. In just the last week I realized the unforgettable Bernardine Mitchell did not have a solo so I called Tom (director) and said she’s got to have more so I put a song in the show. Deb Bowman (Bernadette) has a beautiful voice. There was no music in the show for her but Marcus Gardley’s writing is so poetic it’s not hard to set it to music. Her piece is one of my favorites.
Q. Although a southern lady, you have traveled the world. Does the influence and knowledge of the music in other countries influence a body of work that is inherently southern?
A. It’s coming from the heart. There is so much music in me. My roots are in gospel for sure. I went to a Jazz Conservatory. I’ve had the opportunity to work with a great choral instructor for the last four years. Yes I’ve traveled around the world. But it’s all mixed up in there. So I just wrote from the heart.
Q. Every Tongue Confess is filled with magic, drama, and myth. And yet it still has a huge element of humor. What was your favorite part on working on a show that has such dramatic changes and depth of reaction and emotion?
A. My favorite part would be giving my heart the permission to speak. Then listening to the cast sing a piece of my heart.
