Symphonic Gospel: 30 October
‘In the United States we celebrate Black History Month in February, but my concert with the LSO on 30 October falls into Black History Month here in the UK. That’s exciting because the journey of Black history, no matter where you go, is always tied with this expression through the arts – through singing, dancing, painting and cultural sharing, and a remembrance of the journey of people of African descent through to current times. It’s a recognition that lots can be learned from. I hope to bring that joy of learning about Black history, here in the UK, to this next gospel concert, and to give a real chance to get the flavour of UK gospel music by including UK gospel choirs and artists.’
‘I designed the programme with Black History Month UK in mind’, André explains. The first half of the concert looks back to music influenced by African and African-American spirituals and experiences. It includes music by Ignatius Sancho (1729–80), born on a slave ship, but who would later become a composer, writer and abolitionist and the first person of African descent to vote in a UK general election. There’s also ‘Danse nègre’ from Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s African Suite, which illustrates different aspects of African life, and Nathaniel Dett’s The Chariot Jubilee, a symphonic work based on African-American spirituals and folk songs.
The first half closes with Promised Land by contemporary British composer Ken Burton, and from there it’s all about looking to the present and the future. After a set from the London Community Gospel Choir, all choirs and Orchestra return to the stage for a collection of contemporary gospel songs that instil the feeling of good news and hope for the future. André concludes, ‘this is a joyful programme celebrating the strength and talent of people of African descent and the assurance we have gotten from gospel music, which is part of our culture’.
Awaken the Sleeper – American music for our time: 6 November
‘On the concert on 6 November, I’m excited because we’re programming four UK premieres. What’s fascinating about that, in my mind, especially being a person of African-American descent, is that all the pieces are by composers also of African-American descent, who are immensely popular throughout the United States.
‘Carlos Simon’s Portrait of An African Queen is a fascinating journey as we talk about ‘who is the African Queen?’. You will hear depictions as the piece progresses of the African Queen, the enslaved woman, the woman during the Civil Rights Movement. All of them carry a regalness and the strength of a Black family, centred around the Black mother. What’s exciting about Carlos is that he does not steer away from utilising elements of the African-American experience, both melodically, musically and with text as well. He’s a fantastic young, innovative and accessible composer.
‘Joel Thompson is another remarkable young man and his works are being performed every place. To Awaken the Sleeper is a fascinating work, which uses the words of James Baldwin, an incredible writer. He was active in the Civil Rights Movement, and spoke up about social justice in the US. These are powerful words, words which we will hear through a narrator.
‘And I’m delighted to conduct Wynton Marsalis’ piece for tuba and orchestra. You have an incredible tuba player here in the London Symphony Orchestra, Ben Thomson, and not often is there an opportunity to feature the Principal Tuba as a soloist in a concerto.’
Watch André conduct Portrait of a Queen
Watch the full concert on Marquee TV
