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Temptation of St. Anthony (2 CD Set)
This Robert Wilson production, for which Bernice Johnson Reagon created the libretto and music, premiered at the Rhur Trienalle Festival in Germany. Inspired by the 19th century Gustav Flaubert, Reagan’s score drew upon her intimate and long term study and performance of 18th and 20th century African American music. The show has completed two European tours (including a run at the Paris Opera House de Garnier with the first African American cast since the 19th century!) and one United States tour so far.
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River of Life: Harmony One
The founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock displays her wide vocal range and power on this solo album. Described by Dr. Reagon as “taking the voices I hear in my head when I’m writing songs and recording them on top of each other one at a time,” the album leans towards the spiritual side of Sweet Honey’s music. Highlights include “Guide My Feet While I Run This Race,” the title track and “Since I Lay My Burden Down.” -
Give Your Hands to Struggle
Originally released in 1975, this solo album by Bernice Johnson Reagon was reissued on disc in 1997. Since the early days of her participation in the Civil Rights Movement, she has been on a song journey in search of freedom, justice and equality. This album documents those early years and features Reagon’s vocal power in stunning, multi-tracked harmony with itself. Includes an essay and annotations by Reagon, song lyrics and a bibliography.
Anybody Here? Song Journey in Seven Movements (1995)
Music by Bernice Johnson Reagon, text by June Jordan from “Poem in Honor of South African Women”
Read the full post…Liberty or Death Suite (2004)
Commissioned by MUSE-Cincinnati’s Women’s Choir, Catherine Roma, Director, premier performance, June 25-25, 2004. This work was commissioned in commemorate the Grand opening of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
Read the full post…Temptation of Saint Anthony with Robert Wilson (2003)
From the Program Booklet "Notes on the Music of Bernice Johnson Reagon, Temptation of St Anthony"
Spring 2006, the cast of the Robert Wilson Production, Temptation of Saint Anthony, recorded the full score at the Brooklyn Studios, producer, Toshi Reagon who is also the tour music director of the work which premiered in Duisberg, Germany at the Ruhr Triennale Festival June 2003. The production closed out 2005 with sellout performances at the Paris Opera House Garnier, Nov/Dec 2005. The limited edition two CD release came out in July, 2006, Songtalk Publishing Co.
Deep Roots of Rock and Roll: a Black Rock Coalition premiere
Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts, Pace University, November 23, 2013
I have never before visually witnessed a cultural offering like the BLACK ROCK COALITION. I WAS GREATLY IMPACTED BY THE FULL STAGE.
When I got into the room, I noted the complex keyboard layout to my visual right from the front of the stage electronic keyboard to Hammond B3 organ with a full upright piano forming a tight angle to the section. In the center front of the stage there was one mike on a stand. There was a line of 6 chairs each with a mike stand in front.
Read the full post…
Selected Compositions and LyricsAll rights reserved |
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Composition | Recording | Label | Year |
Alla That’s Alright, But… | Good News | Flying Fish | 1981 |
Anybody Here? | Twenty-Five | Rykodisc | 1998 |
Are There Any Rights… | Sweet Honey In The Rock | Flying Fish | 1976 |
Crying for Freedom! (Azanian Freedom Song) | We All… Everyone of Us | Flying Fish | 1983 |
Ballad of Harry T. Moore | The Women Gather | EarthBeat | 2003 |
B’lieve I’ll Run On | B’lieve I’ll Run On | Redwood | 1978 |
Beatitudes | lyrics | Live at Carnegie Hall | Flying Fish | 1988 |
Biko | Good News | Flying Fish | 1981 |
Cape Fear Chant | Selections | Rounder | 1997 |
Chile Your Waters Run Red | Good News | Flying Fish | 1981 |
Come Unto Me | The Women Gather | EarthBeat | 2003 |
Crying For Freedom | Selections | Rounder | 1997 |
Dream Variations | Sweet Honey In The Rock | Flying Fish | 1976 |
Drinking of the Wine | Live at Carnegie Hall | Flying Fish | 1988 |
Echo | Good News | Flying Fish | 1981 |
Ella’s Song | lyrics | We All… Everyone of Us | Flying Fish | 1983 |
Every Woman | B’lieve I’ll Run On | Redwood | 1978 |
Fannie Lou Hamer | B’lieve I’ll Run On | Redwood | 1978 |
Give Your Hands to Struggle | In This Land | EarthBeat | 1992 |
Greed | lyrics | Twenty-Five | Rykodisc | 1998 |
Hey Mann | Sweet Honey In The Rock | Flying Fish | 1976 |
How Long? | We All… Everyone of Us | Flying Fish | 1983 |
I Knew the Carpenter’s Son | The Temptation of Saint Anthony | Libretto | (unpublished) | 2004 |
I Remember, I Believe | lyrics | Sacred Ground | EarthBeat | 1996 |
I’m Gon’ Stand | We All… Everyone of Us | Flying Fish | 1983 |
If You Had Lived | Good News | Flying Fish | 1981 |
In the Morning When I Rise | Still On The Journey | EarthBeat | 1993 |
Joanne Little | Sweet Honey In The Rock | Flying Fish | 1976 |
Mae Frances | lyrics | The Other Side | Flying Fish | 1985 |
My Way | B’lieve I’ll Run On | Redwood | 1978 |
No More Auction Block | Sacred Ground | Earthbeat | 1996 |
Ode to the International Debt | Live at Carnegie Hall | Flying Fish | 1988 |
Oh Death | Good News | Flying Fish | 1981 |
Oughta Be A Woman | Good News | Flying Fish | 1981 |
Rest for the Weary | Still On The Journey | EarthBeat | 1993 |
Seven Principles | B’lieve I’ll Run On | Redwood | 1978 |
Shabazz | Africans in America | Ryko | 1998 |
Sing Oh Barren One | Sacred Ground | EarthBeat | 1996 |
Sometime | Good News | Flying Fish | 1981 |
The Other Side | The Other Side | Flying Fish | 1985 |
The Sun Will Never Go Down | Sweet Honey In The Rock | Flying Fish | 1976 |
They Are Falling All Around Me | B’lieve I’ll Run On | Redwood | 1978 |
This Is A Mean World | In This Land | EarthBeat | 1992 |
Tomorrow | The Other Side | Flying Fish | 1985 |
Traveling Shoes | Sweet Honey In The Rock | Flying Fish | 1976 |
Venceremos | The Other Side | Flying Fish | 1985 |
We All… Everyone of Us | We All… Everyone of Us | Flying Fish | 1983 |
Yes It Was | The Women Gather | EarthBeat | 2003 |
You Make My Day Pretty | Sweet Honey In The Rock | Flying Fish | 1976 |