African Queens: A Recital by Karen Slack soprano and Kevin Miller piano
ALSO AVAILABLE
DAVE RAGLAND: Precatio (AMFS Co-commission)
CARLOS SIMON: Behold, The Queen (AMFS Co-Commission)
DAVE RAGLAND: The Queen of Sheba (AMFS Co-commission)
COLERIDGE-TAYLOR: A Starry Night, from A Prayer from African Romances, op. 17, no. 3
JESSIE MONTGOMERY: The Song of Nzingha
FRED ONOVWEROSUOKE: Luwah (Bitter Tears)
PRICE: Night
SHAWN OKPEBHOLO: A Letter From Queen Ufua
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FRED ONOVWEROSUOKE: Duniya (Mystic Universe)
JASMINE BARNES: I Am Not Your God (AMFS Co-commission)
JESSIE MONTGOMERY: The Song of Nzingha (AMFS Co-commission)
WILL LIVERMAN: Incantation
JOEL THOMPSON: Queen Nanny (AMFS Co-commission)
DAMIEN GETER: Amanirenas (AMFS Co-commission)
This brilliantly curated program featuring music by both African and American composers, strikingly represents vocal works of the past and present. Each song reflects the beauty, humility, passion and power of each Queen being celebrated. The evening centers eight new songs written for Karen by some of today’s most acclaimed composers—Jasmine Barnes, Damien Geter, Jessie Montgomery, Shawn Okpebholo, Dave Ragland, Carlos Simon, and Joel Thompson with text by Lorene Cary, Alicia Haymer, Tsitsi Ella Jaji, Deborah D.E.E.P Mouton and Creative Collaborator for the African Queens project Jay Saint Flono.