Christmas Cantata "The Ballad of The Brown King " #2 @ 7PM SOLD OUT

Musikiwest presents a poignant and profound holiday celebration concert  featuring the Christmas Cantata “Ballad of The Brown King” (1954) by black female composer, Margaret Bonds. Bonds produced The Ballad of the Brown King with her longtime professional collaborator and close personal friend, Langston Hughes, who supplied the libretto. The Ballad tells the nativity story with an emphasis on King Balthazar, one of the Three Magi, who has been described as African or dark-skinned in legends and artistic representations dating back to the Middle Ages.This rarely performed multi-part choral work captures the story of Balthazar, one of the Magi of the “We Three Kings” fame.  Bonds wrote in a 1961 letter about the Ballad, “I honestly want the propaganda of this piece spread all over the world.” This arrangement you will hear is made. by Malcolm Merriweather.

Also on this stunning program:

Source Code for string quartet by Jessie Montgomery

Elegy for String Quartet by Carlos Simon

Selections from String Quartet in a minor by Florence Price

Vocal soloists:

Leberta Loral - Soprano

Aisha Campbell - Alto

Kalil Wilson - Tenor

Bryan Dyer - Bass

Musicians:

Tammy Hall - organ and choir director

Nancy Zhou and Daniel Dastoor - violins

Katie Kadarauch - viola

Michelle Djokic - cello

Molly Langr - harp

Antonio Escobedo - contrabass

Choir:

Jody Lee and Kathi Fay - sopranos

Laura Frank and Pamela Cain - altos

Michael Good and Michael Orlinsky - tenors

Justin Fairchild and Oliver Chiang - basses

“Ballad of The Brown King” has never been performed on the Central Coast and to our knowledge, in California.