NEW
ORCHESTRAL COLLABORATION SET FOR HARRIS THEATER IN CHICAGO, OCTOBER 4, 2012
September
24, 2012 (New York, NY) Iconic and
Grammy Award-nominated a cappella ensemble SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK will present
their first ever orchestral collaboration, “Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World,” with music
composed by William C. Banfield and lyrics written by the ensemble
members: Ysaye M. Barnwell, Carol
Maillard, Nitanju Bolade Casel, Aisha Kahlil, and Louise Robinson. The performance will be conducted by
Banfield, in collaboration with the Sphinx Virtuosi (America’s most celebrated
and influential African-American and Latino youth orchestra ensemble), and The
Chicago Children’s Choir (directed by Josephine Lee), at the prestigious Harris
Theater for Music and Dance, Millennium Park, Chicago, IL, on Thursday, October
4, 2012 at 7:30 PM.
In
addition, to “Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World, the Harris Theater
engagement will also feature individual performance sets by SWEET HONEY IN THE
ROCK and the Sphinx Virtuosi.
“Symphony
10: Affirmations for a New World,” was co-commissioned by the National Symphony
Orchestra (Christoph Eschenbach, Music Director), and the John F. Kennedy
Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC; the Minnesota Orchestra, (Osmo
Vänskä, Music Director), Minneapolis, MN; and the Harris Theater for Music and
Dance, Chicago, IL. The work premiered
with the National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Thomas Wilkins and the Morgan
State Choir, (directed by Eric Conway), at the Kennedy Center in Washington,
DC. The Minnesota Orchestra presented the work at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis,
which was conducted by Mark Russell Smith with the Vocal Essence Choir (directed
by Philip Brunelle). Both were presented
in late April 2012.
SWEET
HONEY IN THE ROCK and Banfield began collaborating on “Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World,” five years
ago. The final thirty minute work comprises five movements including: “A Higher Note” by Aisha Kahlil, ”Dreams,” by
Carol Maillard, “The Day the World Awoke,” by Nitanju Bolade Casel, “Discourse
of Change,” by Ysaye M. Barnwell and “Yes,” by Louise Robinson.
“Symphony
10: Affirmations for a New World”, is a
labor of love and one of the most challenging and adventurous projects we've
undertaken as a group," stated Ysaye Barnwell. "It has been a dream to one day blend
our unique sound, artistry, and lyrics with a symphony orchestra, and we're
very fortunate to have fulfilled it by partnering with such a gifted and
talented composer as Bill Banfield,” she added.
“We thank the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, the National Symphony
Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra, for co-commissioning, “Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World”, and we are
delighted to be performing it in Chicago.”
Banfield
cited some of the musical inspiration and concept for the score by offering,
"Symphony 10: Affirmations for a
New World," affirms every human power we have: love, imagination, fear and courage, will to
change, dreaming, to ask the question and to touch someone else's soul. It is stepping out as the text asks for ‘a
higher note,’ to redefine the traditions in our art that need new fueling.”
SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK
www.sweethoneyintherock.org
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment