“Montgomery takes a multilayered approach to her interpretation of the anthem, stitching its melodies into a patchwork of a dozen other work songs, folk songs, freedom songs and anthems of nearby nations. A solo bass girds the center of the piece with a theme from “Lift Every Voice and Sing” — often referred to as the Black national anthem.

Throughout, “The Star-Spangled Banner” remains present, its unfamiliar tonal settings suggesting that we’re seeing it from an inhospitable angle, hearing it despite it addressing someone else.”