Composer: Jasmine Barnes, Margaret Allison Bonds, Jeremiah Evans, Shawn Okpebholo, Robert Owens, Damien Sneed, Brandon Spencer, Joel Thompson
Performer: Lawrence Brownlee, Kevin J. Miller
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Warner
Catalogue: 5419756371
Release: 2023
Size: 1.12 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Sneed: Beauty That Is Never Old
02. Sneed: The Gift to Sing
03. Sneed: To America
04. Evans: April Song
05. Evans: Lost Illusions
06. Evans: Southern Mansion
07. Spencer: I Know My Soul
08. Spencer: Dance of Love
Bonds: Songs of the Seasons
09. Poeme d’Automne
10. Winter Moon
11. Young Love in Spring
12. Summer Storm
13. Thompson: Supplication
14. Thompson: Compensation
15. Thompson: My People
16. Barnes: Peace
17. Barnes: Invocation
18. Okpebholo: Romance
Owens: Desire Song Cycle
19. Desire
20. Dream
21. Juliet
22. Man
Owens: Silver Rain Cycle
23. In time of silver rain
24. Fulfillment
25. Night Song
26. Silence
27. Carolina Cabin
28. Songs
29. Sleep
Rising is the title of Lawrence Brownlee’s inspiring project for which he has commissioned six of today’s leading African-American composers to set poetry from the Harlem Renaissance to song.
Rising showcases new works from African-American composers Damien Sneed, Brandon Spencer, Jasmine Barnes, Joel Thompson, and Shawn E. Okpebholo. Inspired by poetry of the great African-American writers of the Harlem Renaissance – such as Alice Dunbar Nelson, Claude McKay, Langston Hughes, and James Weldon Johnson – the compositions revolve around themes of joy, empowerment, faith, love, and strength in the face of challenge.
Brownlee also collaborated closely with Dr. Louise Toppin, soprano and vocal professor at the University of Michigan, to revive select works by famed composers Margaret Bonds and Robert Owen, in addition to works by composer Jeremiah Evans.
He is accompanied by the American pianist Kevin J. Miller on the album and on tour.
Lawrence Brownlee: “These past years have been a trial, both for humanity as a whole, and the African-American population here in the United States. But through all these many challenges we have faced, I have also seen moments of strength, inspiration, hope, and great beauty. It is those themes of uplift, elevation, and rebirth that we have tried to focus on with this new project Rising, taking poems from the giants of the Harlem Renaissance, and working with some of today’s most talented African-American composers, to create something that speaks not just to our struggles, but to our triumphs.”