Vox Holloway in association with St Luke’s Church, West Holloway, presents The Year of Jubilee The Story of the Fisk Jubilee Singers Sunday 26th June, 7.30pm St Luke’s Church, West Holloway

A musical work by Harvey Brough and Justin Butcher

Emily Dankworth soprano Melanie Marshall alto Ronald Samm tenor Michael Henry bass

Justin Butcher Mr George White Robin Aspland piano Alec Dankworth double bass Mike Bradley drums Tori Freestone sax & flutes Vox Holloway Directed by Harvey Brough

www.voxholloway.com St Luke’s Church Hillmarton Road, N7 9RE Design: Hannah Barton 1878 Singers, original Fisk Jubilee The Image: Vox Holloway in association with St. Luke’s Church, West Holloway presents The Year of Jubilee The Story of the Fisk Jubilee Singers

Words by Justin Butcher Music by Harvey Brough

With spoken slave testimonies taken from American Slave Narratives: An Online Anthology http://xroads.virginia.edu/~hyper/wpa/wpahome.html

Directed by Harvey Brough

The Partners and Staff at Gelbergs Emily Dankworth Soprano are proud to support Vox Holloway and Melanie Marshall Alto wish the choir every success with their Ronald Samm Tenor Michael Henry Bass ‘Year of Jubilee’ concert

Justin Butcher Mr George White

Robin Aspland Piano Alec Dankworth Double bass Mike Bradley Drums Tori Freestone Saxophone and flutes Cover image: The original Fisk Jubilee Singers, 1878 design by Hannah Barton Programme The Year of Jubilee

When Harvey and I decided, in 2012, to create a reception was lukewarm. Congregations in southern The première of The Year of Jubilee, in 2013, our suffering; Jesus descends to hell to set us free, gospel-and-blues concert for Vox Holloway, we US churches were moved by their performances, but coincided with the 150th anniversary of the etc. And, no less challenging, the spirituals claim found ourselves on the horns of a dilemma. Our little money was forthcoming. Many hotels refused abolition of slavery in the US Congress. In 1863, in and appropriate the gospel hope for deliverance, vision for VH has always been to explore as many them accommodation. They were collecting barely addition to the 4 million African–American slaves in freedom and resurrection now for those in bondage. musical genres as possible – baroque, romantic and enough money at each concert to purchase rail tickets the USA, there were an estimated 2 million people Many of the lyrics contain coded messages of contemporary choral music, western sacred music, to the next town. Their clothes were threadbare, and in slavery across the globe. Today, the figure is resistance, agitation and escape: ‘Steal Away’ is pop/rock, Latin American and Arabic music, folk they were travelling into winter, far colder in the nearer 30 million. For our project to have teeth, and an obvious example, a sweet-seeming prayer of music of the British Isles, etc. – and here was an northern states than they’d ever known in the south. not become a sentimental, feel-good piece of self- devotion to the all-encompassing love of Jesus obvious gap. But how could a predominantly white George White was often close to despair: as well as indulgence, we decided to use the première concert which actually functioned as a cue, a signal-song for British choir sing with integrity in an African– committing the university treasury’s last remaining to raise funds and awareness for the Not For Sale an imminent escape to the Underground Railway. American idiom – blues, gospel, spirituals – the funds, he had put up every penny of his own money campaign, a US-based human rights movement music of oppression and slavery? The prospect of and taken on considerable personal debt to finance working to combat modern-day people trafficking. The triumphant Easter spirituals, ‘Listen to the simply appropriating the tragic, glorious heart and the tour. But he led them on, unwavering in his belief Since then, The Year of Jubilee has been performed Angels Shouting’ and ‘Were you There When They soul of spirituals and gospel music for our own in their talent and their mission. in Southampton with the university’s Community Crucified My Lord?’, flow seamlessly into Maya purposes was Not On. Choir, and at St James’s Piccadilly in 2015. This year Angelou’s no less defiant ‘Still I rise’, bringing Their breakthrough came at last in New York, where marks the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the freedom struggle right up to date. Over a final As I write this, sitting above Fionnphort beach on they became an overnight sensation. The visceral Fisk University – and the Jubilee Singers are still reprise of the abolitionist hymn ‘John Brown’s the westernmost tip of the Ross of Mull, a lone piper passion of their performance and the heart-rending going strong. Body’, a narrative voice reads statistics reminding standing on the rocks above me has just struck up a poignancy of their voices were like nothing the us of the vast scale and extent of slavery in our own Highland air – and I’m spellbound. The unearthly sophisticated New York audiences had ever heard. The first part of our concert tells their story era, throwing down the gauntlet of the abolitionists, Hebridean sunlight is glittering across the Sound And the music pierced their souls, aching prayers of and recalls the nineteenth-century struggle for agitators and freedom fighters of yesteryear to a of Iona, the waves of the Atlantic are lapping on suffering, faith and hope ripped from the heart of the emancipation, and the final section segues into a contemporary audience. the white beach and my soul is soaring, enthralled Judeo-Christian story taught by the white masters ‘stream of black consciousness’, tracing the harsh by the keening call of the bagpipes across the bay. and reforged in the crucible of slavery. Audiences journey of empowerment through music. The Judeo- Harvey’s wonderfully expansive ‘Freedom Chorus’ Every breath and contour of that sound is filled with were stirred and challenged as never before. At the Christian gospel, taught to African–American slaves forms the epilogue to The Year of Jubilee, smelting yearning. Yearning for here, for now, this exquisite instigation of celebrated writer Mark Twain, liaising to make them obedient, is reimagined radically together some of the greatest freedom anthems moment of radiant light, surround-sound birdsong with his friend, the renowned philanthropist the Earl in solidarity with past victims of oppression: of recent decades, tracking through Nina Simone, and sighing tide. Context is everything. of Shaftesbury, the Jubilee Singers were invited to the children of Israel, enslaved in Egypt, are our Crosby, Stills & Nash, Oscar Peterson, George perform in London. forefathers; the Lord is calling Moses to lead us out Michael – just as the baton of the historic freedom We couldn’t find the context that would allow us to of bondage into the Promised Land; the suffering of struggles is handed to us today. sing the searing music of slavery with authenticity. They sang everywhere – in Westminster Abbey, Jesus – stripped, whipped, beaten and crucified – is JUSTIN BUTCHER, Director, Vox Holloway And then the story found us. Tricia Zipfel, a long- the Crystal Palace, in Downing Street for Gladstone term choir member and now chair of Vox Holloway, and his family, before Queen Victoria, but also in told us about Viv Broughton, director of the hospitals, schools, soup kitchens and orphanages. Premises Studios in Hackney, and his research into Viv Broughton’s research shows that the pupils the Fisk Jubilee Singers – a choir of emancipated of the Ragged School in Hackney (one of many slaves formed in the aftermath of the American schools across the country supported by a charitable Civil War who toured the globe in the 1870s. foundation for the education of orphans) were so This choir was brought together on a wing and a inspired by the Jubilee Singers’ visit that they formed prayer by George White, treasurer of the new Fisk their own gospel choir in emulation. This was it: the University in Nashville, Tennessee. Their mission ‘hinge’ moment, the historic moment of transference was ‘to sing out of people’s pockets’ the money – when the hidden music of the slave plantations, that must be found to secure the future of the first a secret, taboo code of liberation theology and university founded for black students in the wake of resistance, was conveyed to a new audience and a emancipation. new manifestation was propagated. And so Harvey and I decided to build our new piece around this The Fisk Jubilee Singers set out, in 1871, to sing story – of how gospel music first came to the ears of their way from town to town, and initially their the world. The Year of Jubilee

Overture Overture Look away, look away, look away, Dixie Land. Nobody Knows the Trouble I See, Lord Nobody Knows the Trouble I See, Lord In Dixie Land where I was born in, early on a frosty There Is a Balm in Gilead Nobody knows the trouble I see, Lord, mornin’, In Bright Mansions Above Nobody knows like Jesus. Look away, look away, look away, Dixie Land. Nobody knows the trouble I see, Lord, I wish I was in Dixie, hooray! hooray! Dixieland Nobody knows like Jesus. In Dixie Land I’ll take my stand to live and die in Dixie, John Brown’s Body Away, away, away down South in Dixie, John Brown’s Body (reprise) Brothers, won’t you pray for me, Away, away, away down South in Dixie. Brothers, won’t you pray for me, Battle of the two tunes Brothers, won’t you pray for me John Brown’s Body And help me to drive ol’ Satan away. He captured Harper’s Ferry with his nineteen men so true, The Fisk University Nobody knows … And he frightened old Virginia till she trembled through and through; Woke Up this Morning with My Mind Stayed on Freedom Sisters, won’t you pray for me, They hung him for a martyr, themselves the traitor crew, Great Gettin’ Up Mornin’ Sisters, won’t you pray for me, But his soul’s marchin’ on. Sisters, won’t you pray for me Glory, glory, Hallelujah! Glory, glory, Hallelujah! Oh, I’m a going to sing And help me to drive ol’ Satan away. Glory, glory, Hallelujah! His soul’s marchin’ on. Lily of the Valley Nobody knows … Woke Up this Morning with My Mind Stayed on Freedom (reprise) John Brown died that the slave might be free, There is a Balm in Gilead John Brown died that the slave might be free, There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole, John Brown died that the slave might be free, INTERVAL There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul. But his soul’s marchin’ on. Glory, glory, Hallelujah! … Sometimes I grow discouraged, I think my life’s in vain, On the Road with the Gospel Train But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again. The Fisk University The Gospel Train is coming There is a balm in Gilead … We Shall Walk Through the Valley Woke Up this Morning with My Mind Stayed on If you cannot sing like angels, if you cannot preach like Paul, Freedom Roll, Jordan, Roll You can tell the love of Jesus and say He died for all. Woke up this morning with my mind stayed on Freedom Deep River There is a balm in Gilead … Hallelujah Steal Away In Bright Mansions Above Great Gettin’ Up Mornin’ Swing Low In bright mansions above, in bright mansions above, Lord, help me to be more humble in this world Lord, I want to live up yonder in bright mansions above. Lord, help me to be more humble in this world In that great gettin’ up mornin’ we shall face another sun, The Year of Jubilee My mother’s gone to glory, I want to live there too, Lord, help me to be more humble in this world. Go Down, Moses (The Debt of Ham) Lord, I want to live up yonder in bright mansions above. A Man of Sorrows In bright mansions … Lord, help me to be more faithful in this world … A King, They Said, Was Coming Today! My father’s gone to glory, I want to live there too, Lord, help the women and the children in this world … Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? Lord, I want to live up yonder in bright mansions above. Listen to the Angels Shouting! In bright mansions … Lord, help the poor and needy in this world … Still I rise My brother’s gone to glory, I want to live there too, Oh, I’m a going to sing Finale – John Brown’s Body (the Marching song of the Union Army) Lord, I want to live up yonder in bright mansions above. Oh, I’m a going to sing, going to sing, going to sing all In bright mansions … along the way.

Freedom Chorus Dixieland Lily of the Valley I wish I was in the land of cotton, old times there are not He’s the lily of the valley, Oh! my Lord! forgotten, He’s the lily of the valley, Oh! my Lord! and you told us how Noah where they was growin’ rich an’ fat What kind of shoes are those you wear, Oh! my Lord? Oh, preachers, you ought t’have been there; Yes, my Lord! cursed his son Ham an’ all his seed; off the sweat an’ toil o’ poor folks jus’ like us; That you can ride upon the air, Oh! my Lord! A-sittin’ in the Kingdom, to hear Jordan roll. an’ the children o’ Ham – they was the black man, An’ he drove them out o’ the Temple He’s the lily of the valley, Oh! my Lord! … Roll, Jordan, roll! … destined to toil in bondage to the white, an’ said he would tear down these temples o’ slav’ry an’ endure all the torments heaped on them an’ build a new world These shoes I wear are gospel shoes, Oh! my Lord! Deep River ’cos they was cursed, where ev’ry chile could run free on God’s good earth! And you can wear them if you choose, Oh! my Lord! Oh, when I get to heav’n, I’ll walk about, an’ that was why God made us to be slaves, He’s the lily of the valley, Oh! my Lord! … There’s no one there to throw me out, to pay the debt of Ham. A King, They Said, Was Coming Today! Lord, I want to cross over into camp ground. Go down, Moses … A king, they said, was coming today! Woke Up this Morning with My Mind Stayed Let all his people prepare the way! on Freedom (reprise) Deep river, my home is over Jordan, An’ you told us of gentle Jesus, Summon the officers, summon the guards! Woke up this morning with my mind stayed on Freedom Deep river, Lord, I want to cross over into camp ground. meek an’ mild, who become an earthly child, Clear the streets and the boulevards! Hallelujah He love the world so much, Make ready the roads for a royal parade! Steal Away come to be a friend to all men, Make way for the king’s cavalcade! On the Road with the Gospel Train Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus black, white, yellow an’ red. Let horses be saddled, Let carriages harnessed! Steal away, steal away home I ain’t got long to stay here. Are you weary? Take it to Jesus! Let silver be polished and timber be varnished! The Gospel Train is coming Heavy laden? Take it to Jesus! Spring-clean your houses – sweep ev’ry room! Oh! The gospel train is comin’, I hear it just at hand, My Lord he calls me, He calls me by the thunder. Are you sorrowful? Full of despair? Set idle hands busy with dusters and brooms! I hear the car wheels movin’ and rumblin’ through the The trumpet sounds within-a-my soul. Take it to Him. Whitewash the sepulchres, trim the lawns! land. I ain’t got long to stay here. He’ll be a solace to you – Take it to Jesus! Flog all the servants, make them work till dawn! Get on board, children, get on board, children, Steal away … In your distress – Take it to Jesus! Take it to Him. Summon the Council, the Governor and the Mayor! Get on board, children, For there’s room for many a more. He’ll be a light to cheer your darkest night Summon the great and the good from everywhere! Green trees bending, sinner trembling, And a shelter in the storm. Break open the wine and prepare for a feast! Oh! I hear the bell and whistle, they comin’ round the The trumpet sounds within a my soul. Go down, Moses … Fill the cathedral with bishops and priests! curve; I ain’t got long to stay here. Let heralds proclaim his glorious deeds! She’s playin’ all her steam an’ pow’r an’ strainin’ ev’ry Steal away … When Israel was in Egypt land: Let my people go! His rank, his titles and his ancestry! nerve! Oppress’d so hard they could not stand. Let my people go! Let statesmen pay tributes, let choristers sing! Get on board, children … Swing Low An’ you give us your Jesus like a medicine, With pomp and circumstance befitting a king! Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home, an ointment for the wrists and ankles We Shall Walk Through the Valley Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home. chafed red to the bone by cruel bonds. The king came indeed, but He came dressed in rags: We shall walk through the valley and the shadow of death, Your Jesus like a salve, like a healin’ balm No heralds, no chariots, no trumpets, no flags; We shall walk through the valley in peace; I look’d over Jordan, and what did I see? coming for to for the welts an’ blist’ring stripes on our backs A donkey His steed through the dust and the heat; If Jesus Himself shall be our leader, carry me home, from the white man’s lash – A towel He wore – to wash others’ feet. We shall walk through the valley in peace. A band of angels coming after me – coming for to carry me No more shall they in bondage toil. Let my people go! His title, His rank, His royal pedigree home, Let them come forth with Egypt’s spoil. Let my people go! Was ‘stable-born vagabond’, ‘refugee’, There will be no sorrow there, Swing low … Your Jesus like a sleepin’ drug ‘Suffering servant’, ‘heretic’, ‘thief”, There will be no sorrow there; to make us forget our suff’rin’ shame, ‘A man of sorrows acquainted with grief’. If Jesus Himself will be our leader, I’m sometimes up and sometimes down, coming for to an’ make us beasts of burden. He claimed that the Temple, the Holiest Shrine We shall walk through the valley in peace. carry me home, Your Jesus like a shade Was His own, was His home, but He came there to find But still my soul feels heav’nly bound, coming for to carry ’gainst the sun in the sky above us The God He believed in had taken His leave – Roll, Jordan, Roll me home. so we don’t never look up no more. His home was now a vile den of thieves. Roll, Jordan, roll! Roll, Jordan, roll! Swing low … Go down, Moses … I want to go to heaven when I die, To hear Jordan roll! So the King rode alone, and came unto His own, The Year of Jubilee A Man of Sorrows And His own knew Him not, for they built Him a throne Oh, brothers, you ought t’have been there, Yes, my Lord! This man o’ sorrows, acquainted with grief, Of nails and of wood, and the great and the good A-sittin’ in the Kingdom, to hear Jordan roll. Go Down, Moses (The Debt of Ham) this friend o’ sinners, this suff’rin’ servant, Made their way to the spot where the three crosses stood – Roll, Jordan, roll! … Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt land, despised, rejected jus’ like us Remote and forlorn, and they crowned Him with thorns, Tell old Pharaoh, Let my people go! an’ by His stripes are we healed from our stripes And His throne with a royal inscription adorned, Oh, sinners, you ought t’have been there; Yes, my Lord! This Jesus who turned the whips o’ the oppressors In Hebrew, in Latin, Aramaic and Greek, A-sittin’ in the Kingdom, to hear Jordan roll. You gave us your Bible, back in their faces an’ cursed them with a holy anger So all who attended that Passover week Roll, Jordan, roll! … and your tales of Cain and Abel and Noah and the Flood, an’ cast down their money-changin’ tables In Jerusalem should comprehend That the ‘King’ who hung there was a fool amongst men. I found my soul at hell’s dark door, Harvey Brough is one of the UK’s operas and zarzuelas (Spanish operettas), including La Traviata, Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? Listen to the angels shouting. most accomplished and diverse musicians. Verdi’s Requiem and La Cavalleria Rusticana. Emily’s most Harvey and the Wallbangers had great success recent commitments have been with the a-capella group Vive. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? in the 1980s throughout Europe. Harvey She is now focusing on her solo career and lives in London. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Before I lay in hell one day, worked with Jocelyn Pook on the music for She performs regularly in Alec Dankworth’s World Spirit O sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble, Listen to the angels shouting. the films Merchant of Venice and Eyes Wide and Spanish Accents, the Jamie Leeming Group, Ben Castle’s Were you there when they crucified my Lord? The Spirit of Jesus done break down the walls, Shut, and television work includes the BBC Tombola Theory and vocal quartet Silk Street. Listen to the angels shouting. 2 series In a Land of Plenty. Harvey’s Requiem in Blue (1999) has Were you there when they pierced Him in the side? been performed more than 50 times throughout Europe. Other Melanie Marshall won a Foundation compositions include Valete in Pace (2004), Thecla (2008), A Fairy Scholarship to study singing and piano at Were you there when they pierced Him in the side? Break down the walls! Break down the walls! Dream (2009) and Beached, an opera commissioned by Opera The Royal College Of Music, and her career O sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble, Like good ol’ Joshua, North. Harvey is the Turner Sims Professor of Music at the has encompassed many genres including Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Listen to the angels shouting. University of Southampton where he runs a community choir. On jazz, oratorio, musical theatre and opera. 2nd December he is directing a performance of Music on the Mind, Melanie is currently appearing as General Still I rise He go down into hell, He go down a Vox Holloway commission with words by Justin Butcher, in Cartwright in Guys and Dolls (UK Tour); Southampton with singers from all over the city. other theatre work includes Jane Eyre (National Theatre/UK In the place beneath the earth, in the earth Finale – John Brown’s Body tour and Hong Kong); Fela! (National Theatre, on Broadway, to set the pris’ners free an’ lead ‘em out rejoicin’, (the Marching song of the Union Army) Justin Butcher is a writer, director, actor US and Canada tour); The Infidel and Rent Party (Theatre Royal He go down into hell, he go down. and musician. His plays include: Scaramouche Stratford East); Jane Eyre (Bristol Old Vic); Hot Mikado (the John Brown’s body lies a mould’ring in the grave, Jones; the satires The Madness of George Dubya, Watermill); Porgy and Bess (Glyndebourne and the Savoy); John Brown’s body lies a mould’ring in the grave, An’ he bursted all the chains o’ death an’ hell, A Weapons Inspector Calls and Guantanamo Elsa Canesta and L’Eveil (Rambert Dance Company); Simply An’ He broke down the prison doors an’ the tomb John Brown’s body lies a mould’ring in the grave, Baywatch; Go to Gaza, Drink the Sea; and five Heavenly (YoungVic and Trafalgar Studios); The Fat Lady Sings An’ come forth blazin’ with the joy o’ His resurrection His soul’s marching on. plays for BBC Radio 4. His latest plays are (with Kit and the Widow); Carmen Jones (Crucible and the Old Childhood in Berlin, about pre-war Berlin, Vic); Kiss Me Kate and The Tempest (Old Vic). Melanie’s concerts Breakin’ free from the chains o’ death an’ hell! Glory, glory, Hallelujah! Glory, glory, Hallelujah! Glory, glory, Hallelujah! His soul’s marchin’ on. and The Last Great Quest, commissioned for the centenary of include: Feel the Spirit and Distant Land (Carnegie Hall); she Scott’s Antarctic Expedition. His biography of Jimmy Mizen, has been guest vocal soloist with all the BBC orchestras, the Listen to the Angels Shouting! Jimmy – A Legacy of Peace, was published in 2013. Also in 2013, Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Halle Orchestra; He captured Harper’s Ferry with his nineteen men so true, Where do you think I found my soul? he produced and curated the Bethlehem Unwrapped festival at St and sung at the Bermuda and the Chester Festivals. Melanie’s Listen to the angels shouting. And he frightened old Virginia till she trembled thro’ and thro’; James’s Church, Piccadilly, a contemporary celebration of the life film/TV work includes:Cuffs, Wide Sargasso Sea, Casualty, I found my soul at hell’s dark door, They hung him for a martyr, themselves the traitor crew, and culture of Bethlehem. He studied organ with Colin Myles Songs of Praise, Later with Jools and Florence Foster Jenkins. Her at University College School and singing with Michael Pearce at recordings include: Feel the Spirit, A Christmas Festival, Cocktail, Listen to the angels shouting. His soul’s marchin’ on. Glory, glory, Hallelujah! … Oxford and Teresia van Sertima at Drama Studio London, where Distant Land, Messiah and Poetry in Song. he is now a tutor and director. He is founder–director of Vox Before I lay in hell one day, Holloway, and has been organist and choirmaster of St Luke’s Ronald Samm studied voice and John Brown died that the slave might be free, Listen to the angels shouting. Church since 1992. piano at the Guildhall School of Music and I sing and pray my soul away, John Brown died that the slave might be free, Drama, and pursued postgraduate study Listen to the angels shouting. John Brown died that the slave might be free, Emily Dankworth is among London’s at the Royal Northern College of Music His soul’s marchin’ on. top emerging musical talents. Her standout in Manchester. After Guildhall, roles on performing ability is highly unique, probably London’s West End followed, most notably Run all the way, run all the way! Glory, glory, Hallelujah! … given the diversity of her musical upbringing, Husky Miller in Carmen Jones, and the Run all the way, my Lord, travelling between Europe and the USA during Apollo MC in The Buddy Holly Story. Now has come the glorious Jubilee, Listen to the angels shouting. her career. Given Emily’s musical heritage – After the RNCM, Ronald Samm worked with British Youth Now has come the glorious Jubilee, granddaughter to Dame and the Opera, Travelling Opera, Broomhill Opera and Glyndebourne An’ when He go back into heaven, Now has come the glorious Jubilee, late Sir , as well as niece to Jacqui Dankworth Festival Opera, and became a trainee at the National Opera and daughter to Alec Dankworth – it is no surprise that she has Studio. Since leaving the studio, his appearances have included sittin’ by his Daddy’s right hand, When all mankind are free. her forte in music. Emily has performed live at Ronnie Scott’s Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), Don Jose (Carmen) for Pegasus Opera, He send His Spirit down Glory, glory, Hallelujah! … Jazz Club, the Barbican Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Centre (NYC), Drum-Major (Wozzeck) for Birmingham Opera Company, the On all men, all women, all children, Boston Symphony Hall, the National Center for Performing Arts title role in Britten’s The Prodigal Son, Jake (Porgy and Bess) Freedom Chorus Like tongues o’ fire flamin’ from the heav’ns, (Beijing), the Elgar Room and King’s Place, and has been featured in Lisbon, and Florestan in Fidelio, again for Birmingham flickerin’ over their heads, on BBC Radio and BBC TV, including the Paul O’Grady Show, Opera Company. Ronald assumed the role in Verdi’s Otello I wish I knew how it would feel to be free An’ his Spirit give the power o’ God BBC Radio 2, The One Show, The Choir, BBC Radio 3, and Ronnie in December 2010 with the Birmingham Opera Company, Billy Taylor/Dick Dallas Scott’s and Jamie Cullum’s radio shows. gaining widespread critical acclaim. Other operatic roles have To ev’ry chile who believe in Him! She has performed with many internationally acclaimed jazz included First Armed Man and Second Priest (Die Zauberflöte) The Cost of Freedom musicians, including at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra – for Opera North, an evening of contemporary opera at the Blow, Gabriel, blow! Blow, Gabriel, blow! Stephen Stills and embarked on a month-long tour with them around the USA Linbury Theatre, Covent Garden, Canio (I Pagliacci) for Welsh Tell all the joyful news! in 2013. She has worked alongside Damien Sneed and sung with National Opera and English Pocket Opera and Otello for Hymn to Freedom Listen to the angels shouting! the 70-voice Chorale Le Chateau. Her classical solo performances Children’s Music Workshop. Recent engagements include Oscar Peterson/Harriet Hamilton include Feel the Spirit (Rutter), with Congleton Choral Society, Bardolph (Falstaff), Spoletta (Tosca), Canio (I Pagliacci) and Laca The Year of Jubilee, music by Harvey Brough, and choral concerts, (Jenufa), all for English Touring Opera, the Dancing Master in Where do you think I found my soul? Freedom Listen to the angels shouting. George Michael Birmingham Opera Company’s production of Strauss’s Ariadne Brubeck Quartet, performing in the USA, the UK and Europe, Vox Holloway auf Naxos (Prologue only), Siegmund (Die Walküre) in Lisbon, including at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and Carnegie Florestan (Fidelio) for the Festival Burgarena in Austria and Hall. Returning to London in 2001, Alec worked with John (“the voice of Holloway”) Sportin’ Life/Porgy and Bess for Opera de Lyon, and in concert Dankworth and Cleo Laine. Alec currently runs various for the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome and at the Teatro groups including Spanish Accents, the Million Dollar Band Lirico in Cagliari, Sardinia. (performing the big band music of John Dankworth) and most Founded in 2009 by Justin Butcher, Vox Holloway is a Blue, A Particulare Care and Thecla; Tavener’s Ex Maria Virgine; recently World Spirit, featuring Emily Dankworth on vocals. community choir open to all: there are no auditions and Rachmaninov’s Vespers; Ariel Ramirez’s Misa Criolla and Michael Henry is a London-born In 2012 Alec joined the Jazz Confusion, featuring members are not required to have previous singing experience, Vivaldi’s Gloria. In March 2015, we performed a new work by composer, musical director and baritone Pee Wee Ellis. The group toured the USA and Europe in 2013. belong to any faith or live in a particular postcode. Vox Clara Sanabras, A Hum About Mine Ears, at the Barbican, with with a vocal career spanning three decades. He also works with Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames, and Holloway performs three or more times a year, singing an Clara, Britten Sinfonia and the Chorus of Dissent. He has provided live backing vocals for Zoe Rahman. eclectic range of classical, ecclesiastical, folk, pop and world For more information including how to join, please visit George Michael, Chaka Khan, Will Young music. Previous concerts have included: Handel’s Messiah voxholloway.com. and The Pet Shop Boys, studio vocals for Mike Bradley is an acclaimed jazz and Foundling Hospital Anthem; Harvey Brough’s Requiem in Diana Ross, Robbie Williams, Billy Bragg and pop drummer, active since the late and Chrissy Hynde, featured classical roles for Royal Opera 1980s. His career across many genres has House 2, ENO and Glyndebourne, and has been a full-time taken him worldwide. Since 2009 he has member of Errollyn Wallen’s Ensemble X, Shiva Nova and been the resident drummer for Thriller Live a-capella ensembles The Shout and Flying Pickets. Michael was in London’s West End. Other shows in SOPRANOS Jane Sugarman Mandy Hosking TENORS also a featured soloist in Scott Walker’s Drifting & Tilting at which Mike has featured include The Rat Liz Alsford Farah Syed Jane Keeley Brenda Barcellos London’s Barbican in 2008. More recent engagements include Pack, Dirty Dancing, The Genius of Ray Charles, Blood Brothers Marian Barber Avis Venning Sarah Kent Joern Janssen vocal animateur and conductor for the BBC ‘Horrible Histories’ and Jesus Christ Superstar. His role in leading jazz ensembles Polly Barker Deirdre Vereker Helen Kitley Rick Leigh Prom 2011 and performer/musical director in a-capella dance continues alongside his West End work, including Sax Appeal, Helen Barnett Tammy Walker Rachel Langley Gabriel Li piece May Contain Food for Protein Dance in 2016. the Simon Allen Quintet, John Etheridge’s Zappatistas, Julian Helen Britten Inga Wolf Marina Lineham David Moreno Stringle, the Zimbe African choral project and jazz–soul singer Jessica Bryan-Bentley Meg Wroe Jan Logan James Murray Robin Aspland studied music at Zena James. He appears on the albums of Natalie Cole and Lynne Burrows Amy MacGibbon Mark Reihill Colchester Institute, followed by a Postgrad David Cassidy, and numerous jazz albums comprising his own Morag Carmichael ALTOS Caroline Millar Hugh Richardson in jazz at the Guildhall School of Music in material. He has toured worldwide with The Swingle Singers Bruna Cattini Rita Bartlett Isobel Miller Peter Scott the early 1980s. He has been a pianist on and played regularly with Ronnie Scott, and John Dankworth Imogen Cauthery Ros Brown Isobel Mitchell Adam Skalski the London Jazz scene since the mid-1980s. and Cleo Laine. Sheena Cruse Freddie Byron Maddy Paxman Joshua Winfield His early work included the Pasadena Roof Marianne Falk Marion Chadwick Shane Rowles Ben Woolford Orchestra and he was a member of the Pizza Tori Freestone (saxophones/flute/ Katherine Fewings Fay Clark Sarah Schofield Express Modern Jazz Sextet in the late 1980s and early 1990s. violin) performs at the forefront of the Barbara Grender-Jones Lynda Collingwood Jenny Setterington BASSES Robin has played with Ronnie Scott, Kenny Wheeler, John UK music scene as band leader and side Kathy Grimes Susan Davey Joanna Sholem Jonathan Adams Dankworth (Dankworth Generation Band) and Cleo Laine, woman. She has featured in a number of the Maureen Hanscomb Rosemary Davies Anna Skalski Tim Bushe , Jim Mullen (Morrisey Mullen), Norma Winstone UK’s most exciting contemporary bands: Lona Jones Sandra Debo Elizabeth Skalski Phil Hainsworth and Hamish Stuart. He played on the soundtrack of The Ivo Neame’s Quintet and Octet, the Andre Carrol Lamouline Jackie Draper Ruth Skinner John Henry Talented Mr Ripley, and has played with many visiting artists Canniere Sextet featuring Ted Poor, Rory Elizabeth McHale Francesca Elston Lauren Souter Graham Hope such as Annie Ross, Mark Murphy, Arturo Sandoval, George Simmons’ Fringe Magnetic, Neil Yates’ Surroundings and Sue McIntosh Perpetual Emovon Nicolette Spera Jim Joseph Coleman, Steve Grossman, Bobby Watson, Herb Geller, Phil Surroundings Revisited, the Asaf Sirkis Quartet, the London Storm Moncur Susan Fox Elaine Spicer Tim MacFarlane Woods and Curtis Stigers. From 1996 to 2006, he toured and Jazz Orchestra, the Creative Jazz Orchestra, Compassionate Eryl O’Day Taahra Ghazi Breda Sullivan Martin McEnery recorded, on and off, with (with Georgie Fame). Dictatorship, the Cuban group Orquesta Timbala – a duo Yemi Oloyede Karen Gledhill Amanda Taylor Chris McGowan Currently he plays with the BBC Big Band and continues to with pianist Alcyona Mick – and her own trio alongside Natalie O’Tham Helen Haigh Maggie Tomlin Tom Nash work with Dave O’Higgins, and Anita Wardell, musicians such as Iain Ballamy, Jim Hart, Julian Siegel, Jasper Diane Pinter Naomi Hammerton Laura Vuoma Archie Onslow among others. Hoiby, Jamie Cullum and Andy Sheppard, to name but a few. Stevie Porter Katherine Heffernan Chris Wise Jonathan Sedgwick Performances to date include the following jazz festivals: Pippa Stobbs Andrea Hegde Tricia Zipfel Matthew Evan Smith Alec Dankworth, British Jazz Awards Binhuis (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), the Cheltenham, winner, has had the privilege of working Brecon, North Sea (the Netherlands), Haskovo (Bulgaria), with various musicians who reflect his Elb (Germany), Sudtirol (Italy) and La Laguna (Spain); also love of music from all walks of life – from at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Ronnie Scott’s, plus tours Stéphane Grappelli to and of the UK, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway Van Morrison. After studying at the Berklee and Cuba, and recordings for BBC Radio 2 and 3. Her debut trio album had rave reviews and she was commissioned to College of Music, Alec became a member A note of thanks of various ensembles in the UK – notably the compose a new work for the trio for the 2014 EFG London Jazz quintet, the Quartet and . Festival. A second album is due for release soon on Whirlwind Vox Holloway would like to thank Oscar Cainer (sound) and graphic design; Jane Sugarman for editorial expertise; and Jif In 1995 Alec joined the Van Morrison group touring Europe Recordings. Lukas Demgenski (video), and all our soloists and musicians. Thompson for stage management. We are very grateful for the and America, and recorded three albums, including The Special thanks to Viv Broughton for lending us his expertise and support of our patrons Lee Hall, Kevin McCloud and Emma Healing Game. The year 1997 saw a move to New York, where knowledge of spiritual and gospel music. Thanks also to: Dave Thompson. We would also like to thank individual members of he performed with the Orchestra, with a and Pat Tomlinson and the wardens, PCC and community of Vox who have made generous personal donations in support of residency at ‘Birdland’. A year later Alec joined the Dave St Luke’s; our rehearsal sectional leaders; Hannah Barton for this concert programme The original Fisk Jubilee Singers, 1878

American Slaves

Emma Crockett, about 79 or 80 years old, is seen here sitting on the porch of her home near Livingston, Alabama, not far from the plantation where she grew up. She was the daughter of Cassie Hawkins and Alfred Jolly, and the slave of Bill and Betty Ben Horry, 89 years old, lived at Murrells Inlet, Hawkins. After emancipation, she on the South Carolina coast about ten miles south of learned to read a bit of printing, but Myrtle Beach. In the characteristic patois of the low never learned how to read handwriting. country, Horry described his work as a boatman, She was a member of the New Prophet the federal occupation during the Civil War, the Church; despite her headache the day punishment his father received for intemperate she was interviewed, she sang her drinking, and the diet of the low country. favorite hymn for the interviewer.