Reference Recordings
To Awaken the Sleeper
$16.99
Details
- Composer
- Joel Thompson
- Artist
- Kansas City Symphony, Exigence Vocal Ensemble, Joyce DiDonato, Yo-Yo-Ma, Joel Thompson
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Reference Recordings
- Released
- Aug 21, 2026
- Catalog #
- FR-768
- UPC
- 030911176822
About
REFERENCE RECORDINGS proudly presents a landmark recording, the first commercial project to feature Joel Thompson's music exclusively, which brings together this ascendant composer and the Kansas City Symphony led by Michael Stern. The career of composer Joel Thompson has seen a meteoric rise since the premiere of his breakout choral work Seven Last Words of the Unarmed in 2015. Each of it's seven movements sets to music the last words of an unarmed Black man before he was killed. Joining them are some of the most important performers of today focused on the same crucial topics: cellist Yo-Yo Ma, mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, and the Sphinx Organization's vocal ensemble Exigence, led by Eugene Rogers. This is powerful music of profound insight and uncompromising conviction, brought to life by the passion and artistry of eminently skilled collaborators.
Tracklist 11 tracks
-
1 I. Officers, why do you have your guns out? 02:02
- Track
- 1
- Title
- I. Officers, why do you have your guns out?
- Duration
- 02:02
- Composer
- Joel Thompson
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, Kansas City Symphony
- Conductor
- Michael Stern
-
2 II. What are you following me for? 01:22
- Track
- 2
- Title
- II. What are you following me for?
- Duration
- 01:22
- Composer
- Joel Thompson
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, Kansas City Symphony
- Conductor
- Michael Stern
-
3 III. Mom, I'm going to college 03:15
- Track
- 3
- Title
- III. Mom, I'm going to college
- Duration
- 03:15
- Composer
- Joel Thompson
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, Kansas City Symphony
- Conductor
- Michael Stern
-
4 IV. I don't have a gun! Stop shooting! 00:59
- Track
- 4
- Title
- IV. I don't have a gun! Stop shooting!
- Duration
- 00:59
- Composer
- Joel Thompson
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, Kansas City Symphony
- Conductor
- Michael Stern
-
5 V. You shot me! 01:16
- Track
- 5
- Title
- V. You shot me!
- Duration
- 01:16
- Composer
- Joel Thompson
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, Kansas City Symphony
- Conductor
- Michael Stern
-
6 VI. It's not real 02:04
- Track
- 6
- Title
- VI. It's not real
- Duration
- 02:04
- Composer
- Joel Thompson
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, Kansas City Symphony
- Conductor
- Michael Stern
-
7 VII. I can't breathe 03:32
- Track
- 7
- Title
- VII. I can't breathe
- Duration
- 03:32
- Composer
- Joel Thompson
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE, Kansas City Symphony
- Conductor
- Michael Stern
-
8 To Awaken the Sleeper 18:57
- Track
- 8
- Title
- To Awaken the Sleeper
- Duration
- 18:57
- Composer
- Joel Thompson
- Ensemble
- Kansas City Symphony
- Conductor
- Michael Stern
-
9 The Places We Leave 11:41
- Track
- 9
- Title
- The Places We Leave
- Duration
- 11:41
- Composer
- Joel Thompson
- Performer
- Joyce DiDonato
- Ensemble
- Kansas City Symphony
- Conductor
- Michael Stern
-
10 breathe/burn: an elegy 07:48
- Track
- 10
- Title
- breathe/burn: an elegy
- Duration
- 07:48
- Composer
- Joel Thompson
- Performer
- Yo-Yo Ma
- Ensemble
- Kansas City Symphony
- Conductor
- Michael Stern
-
11 The Caged Bird Sings for Freedom 07:18
- Track
- 11
- Title
- The Caged Bird Sings for Freedom
- Duration
- 07:18
- Composer
- Joel Thompson
- Performer
- Raymond Santos, Ruben Reyes
- Ensemble
- EXIGENCE
- Conductor
- Eugene Rogers