Lawrence Brownlee is proud to announce Rising, a new project for which he has commissioned six of today’s leading African-American composers to set poetry from the Harlem Renaissance to song. The program will be toured throughout the United States with pianist Kevin J. Miller, and recorded for release on Warner Classics this June in celebration of Black Music Month.

Rising will showcase new works from African-American composers, Damien Sneed, Brandon Spencer, Jasmine Barnes, Joel Thompson, and Shawn E. Okpebholo. Inspired by poetry of the great African-American writers of the Harlem Renaissance like Alice Dunbar Nelson, Claude McKay, Langston Hughes, and James Weldon Johnson, the compositions will revolve around themes of joy, empowerment, faith, love, and strength in the face of challenge. Brownlee has also collaborated closely with Dr. Louise Toppin, soprano and vocal professor at the University of Michigan, to revive select works from famed composers Margaret Bonds and Robert Owen; in addition to including works from composer Jeremiah Evans. The project will feature accompaniment from American pianist and collaborator Kevin J. Miller.

Of the project, Lawrence Brownlee said: “These past years have been a trial, both for humanity as a whole, and the African-American population here in the United States. But through all these many challenges we have faced, I have also seen moments of strength, inspiration, hope, and great beauty. It is those themes of uplift, elevation, and rebirth that we have tried to focus on with this new project Rising, taking poems from the giants of the Harlem Renaissance, and working with some of today’s most talented African-American composers, to create something that speaks not just to our struggles, but to our triumphs.”

Brownlee and pianist Kevin J. Miller will tour the Rising program throughout the United States in March and April, with tour stops scheduled in major markets including the Celebrity Series in Boston, Carnegie Hall in New York City, the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, and the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, among others.

Rising has also been recorded by Brownlee and Miller, and will be released on Warner Classics this June in celebration of Black Music Month.

Rising Program

Robert Owens - Desire Song Cycle (6 min)

Desire

Dream

Juliet

Man

Jeremiah Evans

April Song

Lost Illusions

Southern Mansion

Robert Owens - Silver Rain Cycle. (9 min, 33 sec)

In time of silver rain

Fulfillment

Night Song

Silence

Carolina Cabin

Songs

Sleep

Margaret Bonds - "Songs of the Seasons" Cycle

Poeme d'Automne

Winter Moon

Young Love in Spring

Summer Storm

Carlos Simon

Vocalise I

Jasmine Barnes

Peace

Invocation

Brandon Spencer

I Know My Soul

Dance of Love

Carlos Simon

Vocalise II

Damien Sneed

Beauty That Is Never Old

The Gift to Sing

To America

Shawn E. Okpebholo

Romance

Carlos Simon

Vocalise III

Joel Thompson

Supplication

Compensation

My People