AN INDIGO CHRISTMAS…
THE BROWN KING
WELCOME NOTE

Welcome to the 24th annual An Indigo Christmas concert presented by The Nathaniel Dett Chorale. The word indigo calls to mind many things – colour, spirituality, mood, reverence, blues, soul, synthesis, unity, invocation, ritual etcetera. Newton designated indigo as one of the seven prismatic or primary colours, and as such, it has a unique harmonic vibration and energy that seems fitting to surround a concert of Christmas and seasonal music with a distinct Afrocentric vibe.

Margaret Bonds (1913-1972) was an African American composer, concert pianist, and educator. She was born in Chicago and, at the age of twenty, became the first African American soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. While attending Northwestern University, Margaret was introduced to the poetry of the renowned Harlem Renaissance poet and author Langston Hughes (1901-1967). She was particularly moved and inspired by The Negro Speaks of Rivers which, she later recalled, gave her a profound feeling of security, and helped to “save her” during a period of her life when many things were far from secure.

Margaret finally met Langston in the mid-1930’s and they became firm friends and collaborators, a relationship which lasted until Hughes’ death in 1967. Conceived originally in 1954, they worked together on The Ballad of the Brown King, revising and expanding it to its current version which received its premiere in 1960. They both attributed its inspiration, and dedication to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

Margaret Bonds, like our namesake R. Nathaniel Dett (1882-1943), was also dedicated to the idea of combining Western European classical style with Afrocentric musical idioms, which she showcases most definitely in The Ballad of the Brown King, including a reference to the Spiritual ‘Nobody Knows the Trouble I See’. Langston Hughes, with his inimitable poetry, firmly places persons of African descent at the heart of an iconic story: “Three wise men,/One dark like me –/Part of His/Nativity.” Together their collective offerings continue to generate a necessary and important artistic and cultural pride which I trust will be appreciated as you listen to this seldom heard work.

The second half of the concert expands on the underlying theme with a collection of seasonal Spirituals paying homage to the ‘new-born king’, a figure often associated with the idea of liberation and hope. In 2020, the National Gallery of London mounted an exhibit Sensing the Unseen in which patrons could experience a much more detailed inspection of Jan Gossaert’s mystical, and perhaps controversial “Adoration of the Kings” depicted above. It is a work of art which might be considered to raise more questions than it answers – about its connection to the rise and propagation of the sub-Saharan slave trade in one instance. This detailed scrutiny allowed patrons to read, for the first time, the embroidered inscription on the hem of the scarf that Balthazar uses to hold his gift, one perhaps meant for the Virgin as well as her child: Salve Regina Misericordiae Vita Dulcedo et Spes Nostra (Hail, Queen of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope).

Instead of providing a narrative to the exhibition, the National Gallery commissioned a poem from the British-Nigerian poet Theresa Lola (b. 1994), appointed Young People’s Laureate for London (2019-2020). In Look at the Revival, she created a haunting imagining of Balthazar’s internal discourse on his journey home:

I am heading home
carrying the strange weight of my last encounter.
A child shouts Balthazar the Black King
the words shake in my ear like a drunk fly.
The ground seems to be opening its teeth,
either to bite or to kiss me
my eyes feel foreign.
I guess to know deeply, one must look deeply.
Plants are blooming from the ground,
their leaves have the surreal spread of angel wings.
Bewildered I swallow ginger powder,
hope the sharp taste will jolt me
awake from this strange scene.
Stars begin falling like a rainy revival.
Should I promise my people this is hope arriving?
My job often feels like a hefty stone
But today I am powered by a fierce awe.
Look I say to the stunned people let us look deeply
to know this hope deeply.

With this evening’s performance of ‘An Indigo Christmas…The Brown King’, I invite you to do just that – look deeply, to know hope deeply. May you have a mystical and magical Holiday Season.

Brainerd Blyden-Taylor
Artistic Director

AN INDIGO CHRISTMAS…THE BROWN KING

Saturday, December 3, 2022, 8:00 PM
George Weston Recital Hall

The Nathaniel Dett Chorale and Orchestra
D. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, Artistic Director
Christina Faye, Collaborative Pianist
Gaitrie Persaud & Jo-Ann Martin, Phoenix the Fire – ASL Interpretation

Programme

Welcome & Opening Remarks

The Ballad of the Brown King (1960) | Margaret Bonds (1913–1972)
Libretto by Langston Hughes (1902–1967)

1. Of the Three Wise Men
Jacob Abrahamse, tenor

2. They Brought Fine Gifts

3. Sing Alleluia

4. Mary Had a Little Baby
Sarah Mole, mezzo-soprano; Jacob Abrahamse, tenor

5. Now When Jesus Was Born

6. Could He Have Been an Ethiope?
Andrew Gunpath, baritone
Tyrese Walters, tenor; Anika Venkatesh, mezzo-soprano

7. Oh, Sing of the King Who Was Tall and Brown

8. That Was a Christmas Long Ago

9. Alleluia
Ianjai Mounsey-Ndemo, alto; Sarah Mole, mezzo-soprano

Intermission

Rockin’ for the World | arr. Bruce Saylor (b. 1946)
Anika Venkatesh, mezzo-soprano
Oh, Po’ Little Jesus | arr. Willis Laurence James (1900-1966)
Jewel Scott, soprano

Thou Shalt Know Him When He Comes | Craig Carnahan (b. 1951)
Is a Light Shinin’ in the Heavens? | arr. Robert L. Morris (b. 1942)

In Silent Night | Mitchell B. Southall (1922-1989)
Silent Night | Franz Gruber (1787-1863), arr. Ivo Antognini (b. 1963)

 God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlefolx | English Traditional, arr. Ron Collier (1930-2003)
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing | Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847), arr. Take 6 (1991)
Transcribed Suba Sankaran

 Children, Go Where I Send Thee | arr. Robert L. Morris (b. 1942)

PROGRAMME TEXT

The Ballad of the Brown King (1960), by Langston Hughes (1902–1967)

1. Of the Three Wise Men
Of the three wise men who came to the King
One was a brown man so they sing
Alleluia, Alleluia
Of the three wise men who followed the star
One was a brown king from afar
Alleluia, Alleluia

2. They Brought Fine Gifts
They brought fine gifts of silver and gold
In jewelled boxes of beauty untold
Unto his humble manger they came
And bowed their heads in Jesus’ name

3. Sing Alleluia
Sing Alleluia to our King

4. Mary Had a Little Baby
Mary had a little baby
Jesus that was His name
All the world became much brighter
when little Jesus, the Christ child came
That was in a lowly manger,
Outside the night was cold
But within that lowly manger
Behold how warm His love is; oh, behold!
Mary had a little baby,
In the night a bright star shone
I, so lost, so lost and lonely
Nevermore shall be alone

5. Now When Jesus Was Born
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem
In the days of Herod the King
Behold there came wise men from the East, saying
“Where is He that is born?”
For we have seen his star in the East

6. Could He Have Been an Ethiope?
Could he have been an Ethiope
From an Ethiopian land?
I do not know just who he was
But he was a kingly man
Could he have been an Egyptian king
From the land where the sun shines bright?
I do not know just who he was
But he followed the star that night
Could he have been a tall, dark king?
Maybe Arabian?
I do not know just who he was
But he was a wise, wise man
Of all the kings who came to call
One was dark like me
And I’m so glad that he was there
Our little Christ to see

7. Oh, Sing of the King Who Was Tall and Brown
Oh sing of the king who was tall and brown
Crossing the desert from a distant town
Crossing the desert on a caravan
His gifts to bring from a distant land
His gifts to bring from a palm tree land
Across the sand by caravan
With a single star to guide his way to Bethlehem,
To Bethlehem where the Christ child lay
Oh sing of the king who was tall and brown
And the other kings that this king found
Who came to put their presents down
In a lowly manger in Bethlehem town
Where the King of kings a babe was found
The King of kings a babe was found
Three kings who came to the King of kings
And one was tall and brown

8. That Was a Christmas Long Ago
That was a Christmas long ago
When the three wise men bowed so low
The three wise men who followed the star
One was a brown man from afar
The three wise men who came to the king
One was a brown man so they sing 

9. Alleluia
Alleluia, Christ the King
Alleluia, praise his name
Alleluia, they did sing
Alleluia, Christ the King

INTERMISSION

Rockin’ for the World
Mary had a little baby child.
He was born in Bethlehem,
Every time a little baby cried
She rocked him in a weary land.
Ain’t that rockin’ for the world
Ain’t that rockin’ for the world
Ain’t that rockin’ for the world
O she rocked and rocked,
She rocked him in a weary land.
What a weary, O what a weary land

Oh, Po’ Little Jesus
Oh, po’ little Jesus,
Dis worl’ goan to break yo’ heart.
Dere’ll be no place to lay yo’ head, my lord.
Oh, po’ little Jesus.

Oh, Mary, she de mother,
Oh, Mary, she bow down an’ cry,
Foh dere’s no place to lay his head, my Lord.
Oh, po’ little Jesus.

Come down, all you holy angels!
Sing roun’ him wid yo’ golden harps,
Foh some day he goan die to save dis worl’.
Oh, po’ little Jesus.

Thou Shalt Know Him When He Comes
Thou shalt know him when he comes
Not by any din of drums,
Nor his manners nor his airs,
Nor by anything he wears.
Thou shalt know him when he comes,
Not by his crown or by his gown,
But his coming known shall be
By the holy harmony which his coming makes in thee.
Thou shalt know him when he comes.

Is a Light Shinin’ in the Heavens?
Light, is a light, shine, shinin’!
Is a light shinin’ in the heavens?
Is a light shinin’ in the heavens?
Is a light shinin’ in the heavens?
Please shine for me.

Come! Come! Come! Come! Fight!
Bring no weapon, bring light! O Lord
I come this night, I come to fight,
I bring no weapon. I bring the light.
On my knees, the light pass by
Thought my soul was gonna rise, to rise and fly.

Is a light shinin’, shinin’ Lord!
Is a light shinin’ in the heavens? Shinin’
Is a light shinin’ in the heavens?
Is a light shinin’ in the heavens?
Is a light shinin’ in the heavens?
Please shine for me. O Lord!

God made the stars to show their light,
And the moon to glow by night,
God made the sun to shine by day
From Heavens gate it shows the way!

O my good Lord! O my good Lord!
Is a light shinin’ in the heavens? A Light shinin’,
O my good Lord! Is a light shinin’ in the heavens?
Is a light shinin’ in the heavens? Lord!
Please shine for me.

In Silent Night
In silent night, when all is calm and all is bright,
In silent night, O holy night,
The baby from heaven is born on this night.
The Child, innocent Child is born.

In silent night, as darkness flies and all is light
In silent night, O holy night,
The baby in radiance lay sleep on this night.
The Child, the holy Child is born.

In silent night, this Son of God, and son of all
Shall one day cry and later die
Upon a cross for you and me.
The Child, the Prince of Peace is born.
The Prince of Peace is born.

Silent Night
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav’nly hosts sing, Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Christ, the Savior, is born!

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlefolx
God rest ye merry gentlefolx
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Saviour
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we have gone astray
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy 

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King:
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King”

Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
In the manger born a king,
While adoring angels sing,
“Peace on earth! To all, goodwill!
Bid the tremblings all be still.”
Christ on earth has come to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King”

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Life and light to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that we no more may die,
Born to raise each child of earth,
Born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King”
Oh, Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King”

Children, Go Where I Send Thee
Children, go where I send thee (Go! Now, Children, tell me)
How shall I send thee?
I’m gonna send the one by one
One for the little bitty baby
He was born, born, (yes born), born in Bethlehem

Children, go where I send thee (Go! Now, Children, tell me)
How shall I send thee?
I’m gonna send thee (two) by two
Two for Paul and Silas
An’ a one for the little bitty baby
He was born, born, (yes born), born in Bethlehem

Children, go where I send thee (Go! Now, Children, tell me)
How shall I send thee?
I’m gonna send thee (three) by three
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
An’ a one for the little bitty baby
He was born, born, (yes born), born in Bethlehem

Children, go where I send thee (Go! Now, Children, tell me)
How shall I send thee?
I’m gonna send thee (four) by four
Four was the four came kockin’ at the door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
An’ a one for the little bitty baby
He was born, born, (yes born), born in Bethlehem

Now, Children, go where I send thee
Oh! How shall I send thee?
I’m gonna send thee five by five
Five for the gospel preachers. (Six)
I’m gonna send thee six by six
Six for the six that couldn’t get fixed (Could not get fixed)
Seven for the seven that went up to heaven
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Nine for the nine that got left behind! (And ten)
Ten for the ten commandments (Ten)
Ten for the ten commandments (Ten)
Ten for the ten commandments (Ten)
Ten for the ten commandments (Ten)
Ten for the ten commandments (Nine)
Nine for the nine that got left behind!
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that went up to heaven
Six for the six that couldn’t get fixed (Could not get fixed)

Five for the gospel preachers. (Four)
I’m gonna send thee four by four
Four was the four came kockin’ at the door (Three)
Three for the Hebrew children (Two)
Two for Paul and Silas
An’ a one for the little bitty baby
He was born, born, (yes born), born in Bethlehem
He was born in Bethlehem, born in Bethlehem.
Bethlehem, Hm, Bethlehem

Go, Tell It on the Mountain
Go, tell it! Go, tell it!
Tell it, tell it, over the fields and everywhere.

Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the fields and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.
(Oh, go tell it on the..)
Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the fields and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

When I was a seeker,
I sought both night and day.
I asked the Lord to help me,
And He showed me the way.
(Oh, go tell it on the..)
Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the fields and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born (Watchman, Watchman, Watchman, Watchman).

The Lord made me a watchman
Upon the city wall,
And if I am a Christian,
I am the least of all.
Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the fields and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born, Jesus Christ is born
Go, tell it! Go, tell it!
Tell it, tell it, over the fields and everywhere.

The wisemen and the shepherds
All hailed the Saviour’s birth.
He came to spread the message
Of peace to all the earth
O, Go, tell it on the, O, go tell I on the
Mountains and the hills and everywhere.
(O, Go tell it, hear the angels singing,
Hear the angels sing,)
Go, tell it! Go, tell it!
Tell it, tell it, over the fields and everywhere.
O, Go, tell it on the, O, go tell I on the
Mountains and the hills and everywhere. (That)
That Jesus (Christ) is (born), Jesus Christ is born!

THE NATHANIEL DETT CHORALE

The multi-faceted vocalists of The Nathaniel Dett Chorale perform all styles and genres of music as appropriate to the traditions of Africa and its Diasporas. The Chorale’s mission is to build bridges of understanding, appreciation, and acceptance between communities of people through the medium of Afrocentric choral music.

 Founder D. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor named The Nathaniel Dett Chorale after internationally renowned African Canadian composer R. Nathaniel Dett (1882-1943) to draw attention to Dett’s legacy, to the breadth of Afrocentric choral music, and to be a professional choral ensemble where persons of African heritage can be well represented.  Currently in its 24th Season, The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is also Artist in Residence at The Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on Africa and its Diasporas at York University.

Brainerd Blyden-Taylor

Brainerd Blyden-Taylor is the Founder, Artistic Director and Conductor of The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Canada’s first professional chamber choir dedicated to the creation, preservation, and performance of Afrocentric choral music of all genres. Mr. Blyden Taylor has worked extensively as an educator at the university, public school and community levels; and was awarded the degree Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) from York University, Toronto for his service to education. He is in demand as a guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and lecturer, both nationally and internationally. Mr. Blyden-Taylor is also an active and dedicated church musician.

Despite our best efforts to avoid errors and omissions, mistakes can occur. If your name is listed incorrectly, misspelled or missed inadvertently, we apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused. We would appreciate being notified of any errors. Please send an e-mail to info@nathanieldettchorale.org

On Tour in February 2023

Friday, February 17, 2023: Grace Church-on-the-Hill, Toronto
Saturday, February 18, 2023: First Ontario Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines
Friday, February 24, 2023: Grand Theatre, Kingston

A two act opera that tells of how a young girl born in slavery becomes Harriet Tubman, the legendary Underground Railroad conductor. Based on recent Tubman biographies, the story is told in the context of Tubman’s tight-knit family of lively characters. A heartwarming tale of two sisters vowing that nothing but death will separate them, despite the slavery threatening to tear them apart.

“…an ensemble of achingly beautiful arias, duets, trios and choruses that recount the major episodes in Tubman’s career…” – The Baltimore Sun

Ticket prices vary depending upon location. Follow the links below to discover details and place your ticket order.