Bonds: The Ballad of the Brown King & Selected Songs / Merriweather, The Dessoff Choirs & Orchestra
Details
- Composer
- BONDS, MARGARET
- Artist
- Merriweather, Jackson, Stewart, Mitchell, Bradford
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Avie Records
- Released
- Nov 01, 2019
- Catalog #
- AV2413
- UPC
- 822252241327
About
A WQXR-FM Best Classical Recording for 2019
Twentieth-century African American composer Margaret Bonds receives long overdue recognition with the world premiere recording of her crowning achievement, The Ballad of the Brown King. With an expressly written libretto by Bonds’ friend Langston Hughes, this Christmas cantata which focuses on Balthazar, the dark-skinned king who journeyed to Bethlehem to witness the birth of Jesus Christ, is beautifully interpreted by New York City-based The Dessoff Choirs and Orchestra, outstanding soloists soprano Laquita Mitchell, mezzo-soprano Lucia Bradford and tenor Noah Stewart, under the baton of their charismatic conductor, Malcolm J. Merriweather. Bonds authority Dr. Ashley Jackson contributes the inspired liner notes. This unique seasonal album also includes a selection of specially arranged songs, including a setting of Hughes’ seminal poem I, Too, Sing America, performed by baritone Merriweather and Jackson on solo harp.
REVIEW:
Nearly 60 years after its premiere, conductor Malcolm J. Merriweather and the phenomenal New York-based Dessoff Choirs have at last provided a way experience Margaret Bonds’ genius cantata, The Ballad of the Brown King. After luxuriating in this sumptuous setting of the Nativity story (with a libretto by Langston Hughes), be sure to listen to Bonds’ heart-rending Three Dream Portraits, sung forcefully by Merriweather himself.
–WQXR-FM (105.9 FM, NYC - Zev Kane)
Tracklist 14 tracks
-
1 Of the Three Wise Men 03:31
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Of the Three Wise Men
- Duration
- 03:31
- Composer
- Margaret Allison Bonds
- Performer
- Laquita Mitchell, Lucia Bradford, Noah Stewart
-
2 They Brought Fine Gift 02:33
- Track
- 2
- Title
- They Brought Fine Gift
- Duration
- 02:33
- Composer
- Margaret Allison Bonds
-
3 Sing Alleluia 00:46
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Sing Alleluia
- Duration
- 00:46
- Composer
- Margaret Allison Bonds
-
4 Mary Had a Little Baby 02:45
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Mary Had a Little Baby
- Duration
- 02:45
- Composer
- Margaret Allison Bonds
- Performer
- Laquita Mitchell
- Ensemble
- The Dessoff Choirs
-
5 Now When Jesus Was Born 02:09
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Now When Jesus Was Born
- Duration
- 02:09
- Composer
- Margaret Allison Bonds
-
6 Could He Have Been an Ethiope? 04:53
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Could He Have Been an Ethiope?
- Duration
- 04:53
- Composer
- Margaret Allison Bonds
- Performer
- Laquita Mitchell
- Ensemble
- The Dessoff Choirs
-
7 Oh, Sing of the King Who Was Tall and Brown 04:12
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Oh, Sing of the King Who Was Tall and Brown
- Duration
- 04:12
- Composer
- Margaret Allison Bonds
-
8 That Was a Christmas Long Ago 01:24
- Track
- 8
- Title
- That Was a Christmas Long Ago
- Duration
- 01:24
- Composer
- Margaret Allison Bonds
-
9 Alleluia 02:41
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Alleluia
- Duration
- 02:41
- Composer
- Margaret Allison Bonds
- Performer
- Laquita Mitchell
- Ensemble
- The Dessoff Choirs
-
10 To a Brown Girl Dead 02:06
- Track
- 10
- Title
- To a Brown Girl Dead
- Duration
- 02:06
- Composer
- Margaret Allison Bonds
-
11 Winter Moon 01:15
- Track
- 11
- Title
- Winter Moon
- Duration
- 01:15
- Composer
- Margaret Allison Bonds
-
12 No. 1. Minstrel Man 02:20
- Track
- 12
- Title
- No. 1. Minstrel Man
- Duration
- 02:20
- Composer
- Margaret Allison Bonds
- Performer
- Malcolm J. Merriweather, Ashley Jackson
-
13 No. 2. Dream Variation 02:38
- Track
- 13
- Title
- No. 2. Dream Variation
- Duration
- 02:38
- Composer
- Margaret Allison Bonds
- Performer
- Malcolm J. Merriweather, Ashley Jackson
-
14 No. 3. I, Too 02:02
- Track
- 14
- Title
- No. 3. I, Too
- Duration
- 02:02
- Composer
- Margaret Allison Bonds
- Performer
- Malcolm J. Merriweather, Ashley Jackson