Naxos
Okoye: When the Caged Bird Sings
$19.99
Details
- Composer
- Nkeiru Okoye
- Artist
- Rita Coburn, Angela Brown, Christie Dashiell, Issachah Savage, Jubilant Sykes, Cyrus Chestnut, EXIGE
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Naxos
- Released
- Apr 10, 2026
- Catalog #
- 8559953
- UPC
- 636943995327
About
Nkeiru Okoye's When the Caged Bird Sings is a 'musical celebration' whose compositional voice, though rooted in the African American church, also embraces minimalism and improvisational elements. Delivering a message of adversity turned to triumph, it celebrates the transformative ability of African American women, partly evoking the experiences of the author and activist Maya Angelou. The work functions as a communal ritual that, like oratorio, opera, and theatre, brings together vocal soloists, chorus, and orchestra in an experience that both commemorates and celebrates hope and possibility.
Tracklist 17 tracks
-
1 Part I, "Gather Together in My Name": Who am I supposed to be? (Soli, Celebrant, Congregants, Choir) 05:13
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Part I, "Gather Together in My Name": Who am I supposed to be? (Soli, Celebrant, Congregants, Choir)
- Duration
- 05:13
- Composer
- Nkeiru Okoye
- Performer
- Angela Brown, Christie Dashiell, Issachah Savage, Jubilant Sykes, Rita Coburn, Cyrus Chestnut
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, University of Michigan Chamber Choir, University of Michigan Orpheus Singers, University of Michigan University Choir, University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Kenneth Kiesler
-
2 Part I, "Gather Together in My Name": Devotions (Soli, Choir) 00:38
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Part I, "Gather Together in My Name": Devotions (Soli, Choir)
- Duration
- 00:38
- Composer
- Nkeiru Okoye
- Performer
- Angela Brown, Christie Dashiell, Issachah Savage, Jubilant Sykes
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, University of Michigan Chamber Choir, University of Michigan Orpheus Singers, University of Michigan University Choir, University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Kenneth Kiesler
-
3 Part I, "Gather Together in My Name": Shine your light upon us (Celebrant, Congregants, Choir) 07:29
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Part I, "Gather Together in My Name": Shine your light upon us (Celebrant, Congregants, Choir)
- Duration
- 07:29
- Composer
- Nkeiru Okoye
- Performer
- Lenora Green-Turner, Tyrese Byrd, LaVonté Heard, Rita Coburn, Cyrus Chestnut
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, University of Michigan Chamber Choir, University of Michigan Orpheus Singers, University of Michigan University Choir, University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Kenneth Kiesler
-
4 Part I, "Gather Together in My Name": The Beatitudes (Soprano, Celebrant, Congregants, Choir) 06:11
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Part I, "Gather Together in My Name": The Beatitudes (Soprano, Celebrant, Congregants, Choir)
- Duration
- 06:11
- Composer
- Nkeiru Okoye
- Performer
- Nicole Joseph, Rita Coburn, Cyrus Chestnut
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, University of Michigan Chamber Choir, University of Michigan Orpheus Singers, University of Michigan University Choir, University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Kenneth Kiesler
-
5 Part II, "Now Sheba Sings the Song": Cerise's Story, Part 1: You gave me a baby girl (Soprano, Celebrant, Congregants, Choir) 06:13
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Part II, "Now Sheba Sings the Song": Cerise's Story, Part 1: You gave me a baby girl (Soprano, Celebrant, Congregants, Choir)
- Duration
- 06:13
- Composer
- Nkeiru Okoye
- Performer
- Angela Brown, Rita Coburn
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, University of Michigan Chamber Choir, University of Michigan Orpheus Singers, University of Michigan University Choir, University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Kenneth Kiesler
-
6 Part II, "Now Sheba Sings the Song": He Saw Her Beauty (Tenor) 02:43
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Part II, "Now Sheba Sings the Song": He Saw Her Beauty (Tenor)
- Duration
- 02:43
- Composer
- Nkeiru Okoye
- Performer
- Issachah Savage
- Ensemble
- University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Kenneth Kiesler
-
7 Part II, "Now Sheba Sings the Song": I am Thine, O Lord (Soprano, Celebrant, Congregants, Choir) 02:50
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Part II, "Now Sheba Sings the Song": I am Thine, O Lord (Soprano, Celebrant, Congregants, Choir)
- Duration
- 02:50
- Composer
- Nkeiru Okoye
- Performer
- Angela Brown, Rita Coburn, Cyrus Chestnut, David Wang
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, University of Michigan Chamber Choir, University of Michigan Orpheus Singers, University of Michigan University Choir
- Conductor
- Kenneth Kiesler
-
8 Part II, "Now Sheba Sings the Song": Sometimes life gets ugly (Mezzo-soprano, Celebrant, Congregants, Choir) 08:55
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Part II, "Now Sheba Sings the Song": Sometimes life gets ugly (Mezzo-soprano, Celebrant, Congregants, Choir)
- Duration
- 08:55
- Composer
- Nkeiru Okoye
- Performer
- Christie Dashiell, Rita Coburn
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, University of Michigan Chamber Choir, University of Michigan Orpheus Singers, University of Michigan University Choir, University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Kenneth Kiesler
-
9 Part III, "And Still I Rise": Cerise's Story, Part 2: I thought this life would protect us (Baritone, Congregants, Choir) 09:30
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Part III, "And Still I Rise": Cerise's Story, Part 2: I thought this life would protect us (Baritone, Congregants, Choir)
- Duration
- 09:30
- Composer
- Nkeiru Okoye
- Performer
- Jubilant Sykes, Cyrus Chestnut
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, University of Michigan Chamber Choir, University of Michigan Orpheus Singers, University of Michigan University Choir, University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Kenneth Kiesler
-
10 Part III, "And Still I Rise": Pass me not, O Gentle Savior (Congregants) 02:15
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Part III, "And Still I Rise": Pass me not, O Gentle Savior (Congregants)
- Duration
- 02:15
- Composer
- Nkeiru Okoye
- Performer
- Cyrus Chestnut
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE
- Conductor
- Kenneth Kiesler
-
11 Part IV, "I Shall Not Be Moved": Cerise's Story, Part 3: It takes a village (Tenor, Congregants, Choir) 07:30
- Track
- 11
- Title
- Part IV, "I Shall Not Be Moved": Cerise's Story, Part 3: It takes a village (Tenor, Congregants, Choir)
- Duration
- 07:30
- Composer
- Nkeiru Okoye
- Performer
- Issachah Savage
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, University of Michigan Chamber Choir, University of Michigan Orpheus Singers, University of Michigan University Choir, University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Kenneth Kiesler
-
12 Part IV, "I Shall Not Be Moved": Interlude - She shall not be moved (Congregants, Choir) 04:33
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Part IV, "I Shall Not Be Moved": Interlude - She shall not be moved (Congregants, Choir)
- Duration
- 04:33
- Composer
- Nkeiru Okoye
- Performer
- Cyrus Chestnut
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, University of Michigan Chamber Choir, University of Michigan Orpheus Singers, University of Michigan University Choir, University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Kenneth Kiesler
-
13 Part V, "A Song Flung up to Heaven": Butterflies - Be Transformed (Soli, Celebrant, Congregants, Choir) 02:34
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Part V, "A Song Flung up to Heaven": Butterflies - Be Transformed (Soli, Celebrant, Congregants, Choir)
- Duration
- 02:34
- Composer
- Nkeiru Okoye
- Performer
- Angela Brown, Christie Dashiell, Issachah Savage, Jubilant Sykes, Rita Coburn
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, University of Michigan Chamber Choir, University of Michigan Orpheus Singers, University of Michigan University Choir, University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Kenneth Kiesler
-
14 Part V, "A Song Flung up to Heaven": Be Transformed (Celebrant, Congregants) 00:56
- Track
- 14
- Title
- Part V, "A Song Flung up to Heaven": Be Transformed (Celebrant, Congregants)
- Duration
- 00:56
- Composer
- Nkeiru Okoye
- Performer
- Rita Coburn, Cyrus Chestnut
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE
- Conductor
- Kenneth Kiesler
-
15 Part V, "A Song Flung up to Heaven": I'm so glad I found me (Soli, Celebrant, Choir) 01:50
- Track
- 15
- Title
- Part V, "A Song Flung up to Heaven": I'm so glad I found me (Soli, Celebrant, Choir)
- Duration
- 01:50
- Composer
- Nkeiru Okoye
- Performer
- Angela Brown, Christie Dashiell, Issachah Savage, Jubilant Sykes, Rita Coburn
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, University of Michigan Chamber Choir, University of Michigan Orpheus Singers, University of Michigan University Choir, University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Kenneth Kiesler
-
16 Part V, "A Song Flung up to Heaven": Cerise's Story, Part 4: You sheltered me (Mezzo-soprano, Celebrant) 04:23
- Track
- 16
- Title
- Part V, "A Song Flung up to Heaven": Cerise's Story, Part 4: You sheltered me (Mezzo-soprano, Celebrant)
- Duration
- 04:23
- Composer
- Nkeiru Okoye
- Performer
- Christie Dashiell, Rita Coburn, Cyrus Chestnut
- Ensemble
- University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Kenneth Kiesler
-
17 Part V, "A Song Flung up to Heaven": When a Caged Bird Sings - Night turns to day (Soli, Celebrant, Congregants, Choir) 04:37
- Track
- 17
- Title
- Part V, "A Song Flung up to Heaven": When a Caged Bird Sings - Night turns to day (Soli, Celebrant, Congregants, Choir)
- Duration
- 04:37
- Composer
- Nkeiru Okoye
- Performer
- Angela Brown, Christie Dashiell, Issachah Savage, Jubilant Sykes, Rita Coburn
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, University of Michigan Chamber Choir, University of Michigan Orpheus Singers, University of Michigan University Choir, University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra
- Conductor
- Kenneth Kiesler