Lawrence Brownlee’s new album, Rising, is out tomorrow
Rising, Lawrence Brownlee‘s new album, sees the tenor commission six of today’s leading African American composers to set poetry from the Harlem Renaissance to song. Warner Classics releases the album on 2 June to celebrate Black Music Month.
The programme will be toured throughout the United States with pianist Kevin J. Miller.
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 like 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 says,
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.
Brownlee has also collaborated closely with Dr Louise Toppin, soprano and vocal professor at the University of Michigan, to revive select works from well-known composers Margaret Bonds and Robert Owen, in addition to works from composer Jeremiah Evans.
Toppin says,
I hope this project inspires other performers, scholars and students to give African American art song full consideration for concerts and recording as there is much variety, breadth and depth found within this body of work and yet to be explored. I am honoured to have been asked by Larry to suggest some of the composers that now appear on this album and it is thrilling to hear the work of our modern day concert hall “griots” who continue to carry forward stories from the Black experience for years to come. Bravo to Larry, the composers, and the poets for such a wonderful project.
Brownlee and pianist Kevin J. Miller will tour the Rising programme throughout the United States in March and April 2024 with tour stops for the Celebrity Series in Boston, Carnegie Hall in New York City, the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, and the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, among others.
Rising
Robert Owens – Desire Song Cycle (6 min)
Desire
Dream
Juliet
Man
Jeremiah Evans
April Song
Lost Illusions
Southern Mansion
Robert Owens – Silver Rain Cycle. (9 min, 33 sec)
In time of silver rain
Fulfillment
Night Song
Silence
Carolina Cabin
Songs
Sleep
Margaret Bonds – “Songs of the Seasons” Cycle
Poeme d’Automne
Winter Moon
Young Love in Spring
Summer Storm
Carlos Simon
Vocalise I
Jasmine Barnes
Peace
Invocation
Brandon Spencer
I Know My Soul
Dance of Love
Carlos Simon
Vocalise II
Damien Sneed
Beauty That Is Never Old
The Gift to Sing
To America
Shawn E. Okpebholo
Romance
Carlos Simon
Vocalise III
Joel Thompson
Supplication
Compensation
My People
Rising Tour Dates
March 5, 2023
Boston, MA
Celebrity Series of Boston
March 8, 2023
Princeton, NJ
Princeton University
March 17, 2023
Atlanta, GA
Schwartz Center for Performing Arts
March 19, 2023
Wilmington, NC
Opera Wilmington
March 23, 2023
New York, NY
Carnegie Hall
March 26, 2023
Washington, DC
Kennedy Center
March 29, 2023
Philadelphia, PA
Kimmel Center
April 1, 2023
Ithaca, NY
Ithaca College
April 4, 2023
Mucie, IN
Ball State University
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Italian ballerina Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.
