Music as the Message
Expanded Digital Program
Program
A concert celebrating Black Music Month
ADRIENNE DANRICH
Curator
Presented by Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in collaboration with community partners and performing organizations:
Urbstetiks, Jazz St. Louis, and Kranzberg Arts Foundations.
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The performance will last approximately one hour and thirty minutes with no intermission.
OTSL FESTIVAL SEASON ARTISTS
CURATOR
Adrienne Danrich
CONDUCTOR & PIANIST
Kevin J. Miller
SINGERS
Joshua Blue
Adrienne Danrich
Melissa Joseph
Thandolwethu Mamba
Jazmine Olwalia
Angel Riley
STAGE MANAGER
Lisa Anderson
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Luke Esola
LOCAL ST. LOUIS ARTISTS
CHOIR
Kagera Buckner
Eric Curry
Kwamina Walker Williams
Reginald Williams
DANCER
Robert Poe
BAND
Adaron “Pops” Jackson, piano
David A. N. Jackson, percussion
Leland Crenshaw, guitar
John Wallach, electric bass
SPOKEN WORD ARTIST
Kaylyn McKoy
DJEMBE SOLO: “SING ON! SING ON!”
by Adrienne Danrich
Adrienne Danrich, spoken word
David A. N. Jackson, percussion
Attendees are invited to stand, if they are able, and sing with us the Black National Anthem:
“LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING”
by J. Rosamund Johnson, James Weldon Johnson
Adrienne Danrich, soprano
Melissa Joseph, soprano
Angel Riley, soprano
Kwamina Walker Williams, soprano
Jazmine Olwalia, mezzo-soprano
Kagera Buckner, alto
Joshua Blue, tenor
Reginald Williams, tenor
Thandolwethu Mamba, baritone
Eric Curry, bass
Kevin J. Miller, conductor
Adaron “Pops” Jackson, piano
LYRICS
Lift every voice and sing till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of liberty.
Let our rejoicing rise high as the listening skies;
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us;
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on, till victory is won.
Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chastening rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet, with a steady beat, have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our parents sighed.
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered;
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who hast by Thy might led us into the light;
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee;
Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;
Shadowed beneath Thy hand may we forever stand,
True to our God, true to our native land.
WELCOME FROM OTSL GENERAL DIRECTOR
Andrew Jorgensen
“HOME” FROM THE WIZ
by Charlie Smalls
Adrienne Danrich, soprano
Adaron “Pops” Jackson, piano
David A. N. Jackson, drums
Leland Crenshaw, guitar
John Wallach, electric bass
LYRICS
When I think of home I think of a place where there’s love overflowing.
I wish I was home, I wish I was back there with the things I’ve been knowing. Wind that makes the tall grass bend into leaning,
Suddenly the snowflakes that fall have a meaning,
Sprinkling the scene makes it all clean.
Maybe there’s a chance for me to go back now that I have some direction.
It would be sure to be back home where there’s love and affection. And just maybe I can convince time to slow up,
Giving me enough time in my life to grow up.
Time be my friend, let me start again
Suddenly my world’s has gone and changed its face But I still know where I’m going
I have had my mind spun around in space and yet I’ve watched it growing.
If you’re listening God,
Please don’t make it hard to know if we should believe the things that we see.
Tell us should we run away, should we try and stay or would it be better just to let things be? Living here in this brand new world might be a fantasy
But it taught me to love.
So it’s real to me.
And I’ve learned we must look inside our hearts to find A world full of love
Like yours and mine,
Like home.
INTRODUCTION FROM ADRIENNE DANRICH
“SITTING ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY”
by Otis Redding
Adrienne Danrich, soprano
Leland Crenshaw, guitar
John Wallach, electric bass
LYRICS
Sittin’ in the mornin’ sun
I’ll be sittin’ when the evenin’ comes Watching the ships roll in
Then I watch ’em roll away again, yeah
I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay Watchin’ the tide roll away, ooh
I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay Wastin’ time
I left my home in Georgia
Headed for the Frisco Bay
‘Cause I’ve had nothin’ to live for
It look like nothin’s gonna come my way
So I’m just gon’ sittin’ on the dock of the bay Watchin’ the tide roll away, ooh
I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay, wastin’ time
Look like nothin’s gonna change Everything still remains the same
I can’t do what ten people tell me to do So I guess I’ll remain the same, yes
Sittin’ here restin’ my bones
And this loneliness won’t leave me alone, listen Two thousand miles, I roam
Just to make this dock my home
Now I’m just gon’ sit, at the dock of the bay Watchin’ the tide roll away, ooh yeah
Sittin’ on the dock of the bay
Wastin’ time
“GUITAR BOOGIE”
by Chuck Berry
Leland Crenshaw, guitar
John Wallach, electric bass
David A. N. Jackson, percussion
“THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS”
by Langston Hughes, Howard Swanson
Thandolwethu Mamba, baritone
Kevin J. Miller, piano
LYRICS
I’ve known rivers:
I’ve known rivers:
Ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.
I’ve known rivers:
I’ve known rivers:
Ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.
And older than the flow of human blood in human veins. My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo, And it lulled me to sleep.
I looked up on the Nile,
And raised the Pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of Mississippi,
When Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans,
Went down to New Orleans.
And I’ve seen muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.
I’ve known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers:
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
“SENSES OF INSECURITY”
by Maya Angelou, B. E. Boykin
Melissa Joseph, soprano
Kevin J. Miller, piano
LYRICS
I couldn’t tell fact from fiction
or if my dream was true,
The only sure prediction
in this whole world was you
I’d touched your features inchly heard love and dared the cost
The scented spiel reeled me unreal and found by my senses lost
“MY GRANDMOTHER WEARS CHURCH HATS ON SUNDAY”
by Kaylyn Mckoy
Kaylyn Mckoy, spoken word
“INVITATION TO LOVE”
by Paul Laurence Dunbar, Adolphus Hailstork
Thandolwethu Mamba, baritone
Kevin J. Miller, piano
LYRICS
Come when the nights are bright with stars Or when the moon is mello;
Come when the sun his golden bars
Drops on the hayfield yellow.
Come in the twilight soft and gray,
Come in the night or come in the day, Come, O love, whene’er you may,
And you are welcome, you are welcome.
You are sweet, O love
You are soft as the nesting dove.
Come to my heart and bring it rest
As the bird flies home to its welcome nest. Come when my heart is full of grief
Or when my heart is merry;
Come with the falling of the leaf
Or with the redd’ning cherry.
Come when the year’s first blossom blow,
Comen when the summer gleams and glows,
Come with the winter’s drifting snows,
And you are welcome you are welcome, welcome, welcome! And you are welcome.
“CREOLE GIRL”
by Leslie Morgan Collins, Leslie Adams
Angel Riley, soprano
Kevin J. Miller, piano
LYRICS
When you dance, do you think of Spain?
Purple skirts and clipping castanets.
Creole Girl, Creole Girl, Creole Girl, Creole Girl?
When you laugh, do you think of France? Golden wine, and mincing minuets.
Creole Girl, Creole Girl, Creole Girl, Creole Girl?
When you sing, do you think of young America? Grey guns and battling bayonets.
When you cry, do you think of Africa? Blue nights and casual canzonets.
When you dance, do you think of Spain?
Purple skirts and clipping castanets.
Creole Girl, Creole Girl, Creole Girl, Creole Girl?
“DRUMS OF TRAGEDY”
by Langston Hughes, Leslie Adams
Joshua Blue, tenor
Kevin J. Miller, piano
LYRICS
Beat the drums of tragedy for me.
Beat the drums of tragedy and death. And let the choir sing a stormy song
To drown out the rattle of my dying breath
Beat the drums of tragedy for me.
And let the white violins whirthin and slow, But blow one blaring trumpet note of sun To go with me to the darkness where I go
Beat the drums of tragedy for me.
Beat the drums of tragedy and death.
And let the choir sing a stormy song
To drown out the rattle of my dying breath, my dying breath, my dying breath.
“BREATHE”
by Adrienne Danrich, Drew Hemenger
Adrienne Danrich, soprano
Kevin J. Miller, piano
TEXT
I can’t breathe
I’m being smothered By your hatred
I can’t breathe Deprived of oxygen By your fear
Why do you try to justify
Step up
And look in the eyes
And tell me what is in your heart
Because time and time and time again You’ve shown me I don’t matter
Ah!
But can’t you see I can’t breathe You’re killing me
I can’t breathe
I’m being smothered
Why do you hate me so Don’t understand
I just want to know
How I am so reviled by you. How I
How I
Am so reviled by you
Was it ‘cause someone told to?
Try empathy
Try compassion
Try loving your neighbor
As greedily as you love yourself! Rember…
“The greatest of these is Love.”*
I can’t breathe Deprived of oxygen By your fear.
*1 Corinthians 13
“DECISIONS”
Text from Martin Luther King, Jr., music by Adolphus Hailstork
Jazmine Olwalia, mezzo-soprano
Kevin J. Miller, piano
LYRICS
Ev’ry man must decide whether he will walk in the light
Ev’ry man must decide whether he will walk
walk in the light of creative altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness
This is judgment
Life’s most persistent and urgent question What are you doing?
What are you doing for others?
Uh
Ev’ry man must decide Ev’ry man must decide What are you doing?
“AMAZING GRACE”
Lyrics by John Newton, arr. Shawn E. Okpebholo, melody by unknown
Kevin J. Miller, piano
Robert Poe, choreographer & dancer
LYRICS
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind but now I see
And Grace, my fears relieved
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed
We have already come
T’was Grace that brought us safe thus far
And Grace will lead us home
And Grace will lead us home
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see
“GLORY, GLORY”
Arr. Adrienne Danrich, spiritual hymn
Adrienne Danrich, soprano
David A. N. Jackson, percussion
LYRICS
Glory, Glory, Hallelujah Since I laid my burdens down Glory, Glory, Hallelujah Since I laid my burdens down
Friends don’t treat me like they used to Since I laid my burdens down
Friends don’t treat me like they used to Since I laid my burdens down
I feel better, so much better
Since I laid my, my burdens down Oh, burdens down, Sweet Jesus, Better, so much better
Since I laid my burdens down
Glory, Glory, Hallelujah Since I laid my burdens down Glory, Glory, Hallelujah Since I laid my burdens down My burdens down
My burdens down
“THE POWER OF WE”
by Adrienne Danrich
Joshua Blue
Kagera Buckner
Eric Curry
Adrienne Danrich
Melissa Joseph
Thandolwethu Mamba
Kaylyn McKoy
Jazmine Olwalia
Angel Riley
Kwamina Walker Williams
Reginald Williams
TEXT
Cast recites:
Passion is power
There is power in passion
The passion of a dream
The passion to be bold
And, to speak out
The passion to be free to be
Audience joins:
There is power in passion
That tiny spark
That won’t blow out
No matter how the winds batter it
Cast recites:
Love is power
There is power in love
Love for humanity
Love of peace
My love for you gathered here
Audience joins:
There is power in love
That burning flame
That won’t be tamed
No matter how the barriers attempt to bar it
We are power
There is power in our We
Each has a spark
Each has a flame
Put them together and we’re unstoppable
United we stand
We shall not fall
No matter the forces that attack our spark
our flame
our power
There is power in we
“IN THIS VERY ROOM”
by Ron & Carol Harris
Adrienne Danrich, soprano
Kwamina Walker Williams, soprano
Kagera Buckner, alto
Kevin J. Miller, piano
LYRICS
In this very room there’s quite enough love for one like me, And in this very room there’s quite enough joy for one like me, And there’s quite enough hope and quite enough power
to chase away any away any gloom, for Jesus,
Lord Jesus is in this very room.
And in this very room there’s quite enough joy for all of us.
(And in this very room there’s quite enough love for all of us. Ooo)
And there’s quite enough hope and quite enough power to chase away any gloom.
Lord Jesus (For Jesus)
Is in this very room.
And in this very room there’s quite enough love for all the world. (In this very room, quite enough love for all the world.)
Ooo
(And in this very room there’s quite enough joy for all of the world.)
And there’s quite enough hope and quite enough power to chase away any gloom,
Lord Jesus (For Jesus)
Is in this very room.
“HOLD ON/KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE”
arr. Sweet Honey in the Rock
Adrienne Danrich, soprano
Kwamina Walker Williams, soprano
Kagera Buckner, alto
Reginald Williams, tenor
LYRICS
Paul and Silas bound in jail
Had no money for to go their bail
Keep your eyes on the prize, Hold on, Hold on
Paul and Silas began to shout,
The jail door opened, and they walked out Keep your eyes on the prize, Hold on, Hold on
Hold on, Hold on,
Hold on, Hold on.
Keep your eyes on the prize, Hold on, Hold on
The only thing that we did was wrong
We stayed in the wilderness too long
Keep your eyes on the prize, Hold on, Hold on
The only thing we did was right
Was the day we begun to fight
Keep your eyes on the prize, Hold on, hold on
Hold on, Hold on,
Hold on, Hold on.
Keep your eyes on the prize, Hold on, Hold on
Freedom’s name is mighty sweet
One day soon we’re gonna meet
Keep your eyes on the prize, Hold on, Hold on
Got my hand on the gospel plow
Wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now Keep your eyes on the prize, Hold on, Hold on
Hold on, Hold on,
Hold on, Hold on.
Keep your eyes on the prize, Hold on, Hold on
CLOSING REMARKS FROM ADRIENNE DANRICH
“LEAN ON ME”
by Bill Withers
Adrienne Danrich, soprano
Melissa Joseph, soprano
Angel Riley, soprano
Kwamina Walker Williams, soprano
Jazmine Olwalia, mezzo soprano
Kagera Buckner, alto
Joshua Blue, tenor
Reginald Williams, tenor
Thandolwethu Mamba, baritone
Eric Curry, bass
Kevin J. Miller, conductor
Adaron “Pops” Jackson, piano
David A. N. Jackson, drums
Leland Crenshaw, guitar
John Wallach, electric bass
LYRICS
Sometimes in our lives, we all have pain We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there’s always tomorrow
Lean on me, when you’re not strong And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
‘Til I’m gonna need Somebody to lean on
Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow For no one can fill those of your needs That you won’t let show
Lean on me, when you’re not strong And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long ‘Til I’m gonna need Somebody to lean on
You just call on me brother, when you need a hand We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you’ll understand We all need somebody to lean on
If there is a load you have to bear That you can’t carry
I’m right up the road
I’ll share your load
If you just call me
When you need a friend, you can lean on me (You can lean on me when you need a friend) Lean on me, when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on For it won’t be long Til I’m gonna need
Somebody to lean on Lean on me
Leadership support for the celebration of Black Music Month is provided by Noémi & Michael† Neidorff.
Presenting Sponsor of the 2022 Festival Season
Special thanks to:
