2014-2015 46TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON

WITNESS: LET FREEDOM RING Sunday, February 8, 2015 at 4 pm Orchestra Hall 1111 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN

Pre-Concert Conversation at 3 pm with Classical Minnesota Public Radio Host John Birge, Sounds of Blackness Director Gary Hines, and Don Shelby. VocalEssence Chorus Sounds of Blackness South High School Varsity Choir Talented Tenth Apprentices from Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church Philip Brunelle, conductor Gary Hines, director Laurie Meyers, conductor Charles Kemper, pianist SPECIAL THANKS DEDICATION Ta-coumba Aiken Today’s WITNESS concert is Christopher Aspaas dedicated to the memory of a Timothy Berry wonderful man who believed in the John Birge, Minnesota Public Radio VocalEssence WITNESS program Ginger Commodore from the very beginning: Dr. N. Joanna Cortright Judge King Jr. Judge encouraged us Melissa Dalluhn to promote the work of WITNESS Judy Drobek in the schools and in concerts Heritage Park Senior Services Center through his contributions, both Janine McQuillan financial and verbal, along with his Gail Skoglund wife, Reatha, and his family. We are Gary Hines indebted to the kind of inspiration Chris Johnson, Minnesota Orchestra that he gave VocalEssence for 25 Siri Keller years. He will be greatly missed! Georgia Marinkov-Omorean, Sabathani Community Center Drew Miller CHORAL PATHWAYS Sanford Moore, Fellowship Missionary AND VINTAGE VOICES Baptist Church VocalEssence would like to Vicki Olsen, Augsburg College welcome our special guests who Laura Olson are attending this afternoon’s Coral Sampson WITNESS concert through the Don Shelby VocalEssence Choral Pathways and South High School Vintage Voices programs, which Ray Aponte enrich the appreciation of choral Laurie Meyers music for older adults in the Unisys Twin Cities. Denise Anderson Judy K. Bornetun Open Circle at Heritage Park Kim Loskota Senior Services Center Tesfa Wondemagegnehu Sabathani Community Center Senior Center

Page 2 2014-2015 Season 2014-2015 Season Page 3 WELCOME TO WITNESS: LET FREEDOM RING

How amazing! This is the 25th anniversary of VocalEssence WITNESS, celebrating the contributions of African Americans to our shared American heritage through concerts, recordings and a comprehensive educational program. What began 25 years ago as a single concert (at the Basilica of St. Mary) and one school program (Central High School, St. Paul) now embraces 50 schools throughout the greater Twin Cities. And our WITNESS Teacher Resource Guide serves as a model nationwide, helping teachers to celebrate the African American experience through the arts.

We are very pleased to welcome the South High School Varsity Choir as participants today as well as young people from Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in our Talented Tenth Apprentice Program. And, of course, it is a joy to welcome Sounds of Blackness and their director, Gary Hines, as our guests—I cannot think of any more appropriate way to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. than by hearing this magnificent Minnesota treasure! – Philip Brunelle, Artistic Director and Founder, VocalEssence

VocalEssence would like to thank Reatha Clark King, Dr. N. Judge King III, M.D., Kristin N. King, MacKensey E. King, Kayla C. King, N. Judge King IV, and Scott C. King for the family’s memorial gift to WITNESS in honor of Dr. N. Judge King Jr.

Page 2 2014-2015 Season 2014-2015 Season Page 3 THE PROGRAM

VOCALESSENCE CHORUS Philip Brunelle, conductor Folks, I’m Telling You Elizabeth Alexander JoAnna Swantek, soprano, and Michael Fairbairn, tenor Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child arr. Rosephanye Powell My Good Lord’s Done Been Here arr. André Thomas

— PRESENTATION OF REATHA CLARK KING AWARD —

SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY CHOIR Laurie Meyers, conductor Sit Down Servant arr. Linda Twine

VOCALESSENCE CHORUS, SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY CHOIR, AND TALENTED TENTH APPRENTICES There Is a Balm in Gilead arr. William Dawson Elwyn Alexander Fraser Junior, baritone

— READINGS BY COLUMBIA HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS — Jada Bell and Elijah Vanderpoel

Page 4 2014-2015 Season 2014-2015 Season Page 5 SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS Gary Hines, director Love Train Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff arr. Gary Hines Harambee Gary Hines Odunde’ arr. Gary Hines Kingdoms arr. Gary Hines Hold on Just a Little While Longer arr. Gary Hines March Song Medley arr. Gary Hines (Eyes on the Prize, Turn Me ‘Round, Oh Freedom, My Soul Is Rested, Free at Last)

VOCALESSENCE CHORUS AND SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS Martin Luther King Gary Hines

VOCALESSENCE CHORUS, SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS, SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY CHOIR, AND TALENTED TENTH APPRENTICES Hold On (Change Is Comin’) Billy Steele, Levi Seacer

AUDIENCE SING We Shall Overcome arr. Uzee Brown, Jr.

Page 4 2014-2015 Season 2014-2015 Season Page 5 TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS My good Lord’s done been here, blessed my soul and gone. FOLKS, I’M TELLING YOU When I get up in heaven and my work Elizabeth Alexander (1992) is done, Folks, I’m telling you, Goin’ to sit down by Sister Mary and birthing is hard chatter with the darlin’ son. and dying is mean— so get yourself Hold up the Baptist finger, hold up the a little loving Baptist hand, in between. When I get in the heaven, going a-join Langston Hughes the Baptist band.

You may be a white man, white man as SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A the drifting snow, MOTHERLESS CHILD If your soul ain’t be converted, to hell arr. Rosephanye Powell (2003) you’re sure to go. Sometimes I feel like a motherless child, A long ways from home. SIT DOWN, SERVANT Sometimes I feel like I’m almost gone, arr. Linda Twine (1999) Way off in the heavenly land. Bokaya kaya. (Something terrible has Sit down, servant! happened.) I can’t sit down! My soul’s so happy, Nu wo vinowo. (Something has Lord, I can’t, caina sit! happened to mothers.) Sit down, sit, you better sit down. No! I can’t sit. No! I can’t quit. I’ve got to sing Hallelujah Glory Hallelu. MY GOOD LORD’S DONE No! I can’t rush. No! I can’t hush. BEEN HERE I’ve got to sing Hallelujah Amen. No! No! No! I can’t eat. No! I can’t sleep. arr. André Thomas (2009) I’ve got to sing Hallelujah Glory Hallelu. O my good Lord’s done been here, No! I can’t grouch. No! I can’t slouch. blessed my soul and gone away, I’ve got to sing Hallelujah Amen.

Page 6 2014-2015 Season 2014-2015 Season Page 7 Sit down, servant! And let this train keep on riding, I can’t sit down! riding on through Well, well

THERE IS A BALM IN GILEAD People all over the world (you don’t arr. William Dawson (1949) need no money) Join hands (come on) Refrain: Start a love train, love train (don’t There is a balm in Gilead to make the need no ticket, come on) wounded whole, People all over the world (join in, ride There is a balm in Gilead to heal the this train) sin-sick soul. Join in (ride this train, y’all) Start a love train (come on, train), Sometimes I feel discouraged and love train think my work’s in vain, But then a gentle spirit revives my All of you brothers over in Africa soul again. Refrain: Tell all the folks in Egypt, and Israel, too Please don’t miss this train at the LOVE TRAIN station Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff (1972), ’Cause if you miss it, I feel sorry, sorry arr. Gary Hines (1988) for you Well People all over the world (everybody) Join hands (join) People all over the world (sisters and Start a love train, love train brothers) People all over the world (all the Join hands (join, come on) world, now) Start a love train (ride this train, y’all), Join hands (love ride) love train (come on) Start a love train (love ride), love train People all over the world (don’t need no tickets) The next stop that we make will be soon Join hands (come on, ride) Tell all the folks in Russia, and China, too Start a love train, love train Don’t you know that it’s time to get on Ride, let it ride board Let it ride Page 6 2014-2015 Season 2014-2015 Season Page 7 Let it ride The joy of children, showers and People, ain’t no war blessings People all over the world (on this Glory, glory train) Join in (ride the train) Start a love train, love train (ride the KINGDOMS train, y’all) Gary Hines (1994) People all over the world (come on) Join hands (you can ride or stand, Kingdoms—Ghana, Mali & Songhai yeah) Royal Kingdoms whose names the Start a love train, love train (makin’ history books passed by. love) Glorious Kingdoms—their greatness People all over the world (‘round the no one can deny. world, y’all) Mighty Kingdoms—we’ll never let Join hands (come on) your memory die. Start a love train, love train Kingdoms—Ethiopia and Egypt land. Builders of The Pyramids—Four HARAMBEE thousand years and still they (“LET US ALL PULL TOGETHER,” stand. Knowledge of The Universe. Knew SWAHILI) the stars in the heavens above. Gary Hines (1991) All the people of the Earth, need to Harambee, harambee, harambee know who we’re singing of. Imani (Faith) to uhuru (Freedom) Harambee, harambee. Kingdoms—Wealth beyond imagination. Zimbabwe, Timbuktu and Ashanti Nation. ODUNDE’ Birthplace of Humanity. Cradle of (“HAPPY NEW YEAR,” YORUBA) Civilization. arr. Gary Hines (2007) Africa The Motherland—since The Dawn of Creation. Odunde’, odunde’ The birth of a new year Kingdoms—Power and Majesty yet remain.

Page 8 2014-2015 Season Bountiful Kingdoms, their Royal But I’ll meet you on the other side blood flows through our veins. Beautiful Kingdoms, alive in us Turn Me ’Round waiting to ascend. Ain’t gonna let nobody Marvelous Kingdoms, call for us to Turn me ’round build them again— We’re gonna keep on a-walkin’ Kingdoms Keep on a-talkin’ Marchin’ till the day is done

HOLD ON JUST A LITTLE Oh Freedom WHILE LONGER Oh freedom, oh freedom arr. Gary Hines (1993) Oh freedom over me And before I’ll be a slave Hold on just a little while longer, I’ll be buried in my grave Everything is gonna be alright. And go home to my Lord and be free.

Sing on just a little while longer, They’ll be singin’ Everything is gonna be alright. They’ll be singin’ over me And before I’ll be a slave Fight on just a little while longer, I’ll be buried in my grave Everything is gonna be alright. And go home to my Lord and be free. They’ll be prayin’ They’ll be prayin’ MARCH SONG MEDLEY And before I’ll be a slave (EYES ON THE PRIZE, TURN ME I’ll be buried in my grave ’ROUND, OH FREEDOM, MY SOUL And go home to my Lord and be free. IS RESTED, FREE AT LAST) arr. Gary Hines (1987) My Soul Is Rested Gary Hines (1988) Eyes on the Prize Keep your eyes on the prize, Oh Lord Well my feet is tired but my soul is The River Jordan is chilly and cold rested, Chilled my body, but not my soul My soul is rested, gonna journey on. Keep your eyes on the prize, Oh Lord The River Jordan is deep and wide We been ’buked and we been scorned,

2014-2015 Season Page 9 We been talked about sho’ as you born. Thank God almighty But we’re marchin’ down the freedom I’m free at last, road, Thank God. and we’re on our journey home.

My body is achin’ and my feets is tired, MARTIN LUTHER KING but we can’t get housing and we can’t Gary Hines (1987) get hired. I wanna tell you ’bout a man I know, But we’re marchin’ on cause we’ve who walked among us not long ago. been inspired, He lived for peace down here below, and we’re on our journey home. his name is Martin.

Free at Last He marched and suffered for you and arr. Gary Hines (1987) me, he fought and died for liberty, So we can have dignity, I thank you Free at last, free at last, Martin. Thank God Almighty, I’m free at last. And although I never met you, no, I One of these mornings, it won’t be never shall forget you, no never, long, never. You’re gonna look for me and I’ll be gone. Refrain: Oh-oh-oh-oh Martin, Reverend Dr. I’m goin’ up to heaven to sing and Martin Luther King, shout, We have not forgotten, how you said One of these mornings, for all let freedom ring. Be nobody there to put me out. Ring throughout the nation, brotherhood from sea to shining sea, One of these mornings, bright and fair No discrimination, only justice and I’m gonna put on my wings and cleave equality. the air. So I remembered his name and I If you get to heaven before I do, remember it well, for his is a story to Tell all my friends I’m comin’ too. forever tell.

Page 10 2014-2015 Season 2014-2015 Season Page 11 Then everyone can ring the freedom A change is coming (Change is coming) bell, because of Martin. Hold on (Hold on) Don’t you worry (Don’t worry ‘bout a Drum major for justice, and a warrior thing) for peace, With a message from heaven to make Hold on (Hold on) the hatred cease. You can make it (You can make it) Hold on (Hold on) Gave your life for freedom (thank Everything (Everything will be you) and you truly showed us the alright) way, People had you lead them to a Some people like to worry brighter day. Refrain: Some people like to hide Some people like to run away From the pain inside HOLD ON (CHANGE IS COMIN’) Now it’s your business Billy Steele, Levi Seacer (1997) Do whatever you wanna’ do But if it don’t work out Alright, ooh yeah, well, oh yeah, here Here’s what you oughta’ do. Refrain: we go y’all Singin’ out the message for those of When the troubles of life weigh you y’all down Who feel like you’re strugglin’ Just lift your head up, yeah, yeah It’s a simple song When the love you seek is hard to find Don’t give up, just keep strong, keep Yesterday, a man stepped to me the faith. Refrain: He said, “How can you smile When your world is crumbling down?” Here’s the little simple song, y’all I said, “Here’s my secret, when I When the troubles seem like they just wanna cry won’t go away I take a look around and I see that I’m Friends let you down, things gettin’ getting by” bounced around Here’s the little lullaby we like to sing Refrain: And it goes a little like this, come on, And hold on (Hold on) listen Page 10 2014-2015 Season 2014-2015 Season Page 11 WE SHALL OVERCOME arr. Uzee Brown, Jr. (2007) We shall overcome, We are not afraid, We shall overcome, We are not afraid, We shall overcome some day. We are not afraid today, Oh deep in my heart, I do believe, Oh deep in my heart, I do believe, That we shall overcome some day. That we shall overcome some day.

We’ll walk hand in hand, We shall overcome, We’ll walk hand in hand. We shall overcome, We’ll walk hand in hand some day, We shall overcome some day, Oh deep in my heart, I do believe, Oh deep in my heart, I do believe, That we shall overcome some day. That we shall overcome some day.

Page 12 2014-2015 Season 2014-2015 Season Page 13 FEATURED ARTISTS Endeavors under the direction of Director Gary Hines have included performances on five continents, including the World Music Awards, the White House, the Grammy Awards, the 1994 World Cup and the 1996 Olympics. The group has participated in worldwide benefit Since 1971, the Grammy Award- concerts and recordings for such winning Sounds of Blackness causes as the United Negro College have performed and proclaimed the Fund, Scholarship America, and music, culture and history of African Hurricane Katrina and Tsunami Americans to audiences all over the Fundraisers. Their theatrical world. From jazz to rock and roll, productions, master classes, rhythm and blues, gospel, spirituals, workshops on African American hip-hop, reggae and soul, the group music, culture and history are offered colors each “sound of blackness” with for pre-school to post-graduate levels, uplifting messages of hope, unity, love from the Smithsonian Institute to the and peace—and works to achieve it. Kennedy Center.

They have appeared with or recorded The Sounds of Blackness has for Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, won three Grammy Awards, for Prince, Sting, Santana, Eric Clapton, The Evolution of Gospel, Soulful Usher, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Celebrations, and The Apostle Elton John, Sir Andrew Lloyd Soundtrack, and has received seven Weber, Luther Vandross, Aretha Stellar Awards, five NAACP Image Franklin, Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Awards and the International Time Lyle Lovett, Bob Dylan, Earth Wind for Peace Award, among others. & Fire, Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, President Bill Clinton, Jay Leno, BB King, the Minnesota Orchestra, Robert Duvall, Maya Angelou and many others.

Page 12 2014-2015 Season 2014-2015 Season Page 13 Gary D. Hines COLLABORATORS is music director and producer of South High School Varsity Choir the three-time The mission of the choral program Grammy Award- at South High School is to cultivate winning Sounds the inner voice of each student and of Blackness. to provide the skills and knowledge Embracing a necessary to remain active in music- wide range of making for a lifetime. South offers the styles, Gary has Pop Singers, Varsity Choir, Women’s performed in every major city in the Choir, and Concert Choir. The Varsity United States, and abroad in Africa, Choir, created in 2007, has performed England, Holland, Switzerland, with Cantus, VocalEssence, and the France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Minnesota Youth Symphonies, and Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, is honored to perform in this year’s Bermuda, Jamaica, Martinique WITNESS Concert. and the Bahamas with Sounds of Blackness. Gary has also conducted countless music workshops and master classes across the United States and internationally about the history, impact and evolution of African American music and Laurie Meyers, director of choirs at culture. Gary has been the recipient South High School, has been teaching of such honors as a Grammy, an music since 1998 and holds an M.A. International Time For Peace Award, from Nova Southeastern University Minnesota Music Academy Awards, a and a Bachelor of Music Education Minnesota Music Hall of Fame Award, from Drake University. In addition to a Distinguished Citizen Award, the teaching in the Minneapolis Public Golden Scroll For the Promise of Schools, Laurie has taught in District Greatness Award and an Honorary 196 and in Jordan as a member of Doctor of Humane Letters from his the Peace Corps. She is a member alma mater, Macalester College in of the American Choral Directors St. Paul. Association and the Minnesota Music Educators Association.

Page 14 2014-2015 Season 2014-2015 Season Page 15 The Talented Tenth In partnership with Fellowship Apprentice Program Missionary Baptist Church, Sanford Moore has worked with this year’s Talented Tenth students, teaching them selected repertoire from the WITNESS concert. VocalEssence singers and the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church Choir also joined together at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church to sing with the students during their worship service on February 1st. Inspired by the principals of African American scholar W.E.B. DuBois, Through the generous support of the VocalEssence Talented Tenth Sanford Moore and Fellowship Apprentice Program offers urban- Missionary Baptist Church, area high school students the VocalEssence offers the program opportunity to receive professional free of charge. music and vocal training. The program includes: 2015 Participants • Group voice lessons with a Natalie Anderson professional singer Chanda Dennis Ireaia Machuca • Free tickets to VocalEssence Remaia Machuca concerts Jaeda Stubblefield • The opportunity to sing on stage Winston Ware with VocalEssence

Page 14 2014-2015 Season 2014-2015 Season Page 15 SPECIAL THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THIS CONCERT

PLATINUM

Katherine B. Andersen Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation Curtis L. Carlson Family Foundation

GOLD

SILVER

VocalEssence is a proud partner of Music Makes Us Whole.

Leland T. Lynch and Terry Saario Fund 2014-2015 SEASON SPONSORS of The Minneapolis Foundation

BRONZE

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, and a grant from the Walt McCarthy and Wells Fargo Foundation Minnesota. Clara Ueland

Page 16 2014-2015 Season 2014-2015 Season Page PB