I Hear the Drum was inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 1968 Drum Major Instinct speech, sometimes called the Drum Major for Justice. This powerful choral setting includes a rap that can be led by a soloist or performed by a select group. It was commissioned for the annual Let Freedom Sing Concert in Nashville, TN, which honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. With a message that addresses social justice, it is a timely anthem for the 21st century.