Listen to the Lambs
Music from the African American worship experience
Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, pastor
James Davis Jr., director of music ministries and fine arts
FREE! No tickets required. Open seating; please arrive early.
Note: due to the high volume of events during this evening, we strongly recommend taking public transportation or parking in a garage in downtown New Haven. Street parking will be difficult to come by.
The Abyssinian Baptist Church Choir
The Music Ministry at The Abyssinian Baptist Church in the City of New York is comprised of six choirs and The United Voices of Abyssinian is a “mass choir” of sorts that embodies the totality and unity of the Music Ministry, made up of men and women of all ages and from many different backgrounds and professions. They reflect a medley of unique lives and experiences and are brought together by their love for singing and their faith; their incomparable voices are the common chord that unites to form the choral group central to the worship experience at Abyssinian and the culture of the Harlem community and New York City at large. This unique choir sings a wide range of repertoire including anthems and standard church literature, oratorios and major choral works, Negro spirituals, hymns (both in the Anglican tradition and the African American gospel tradition), gospel music (both contemporary and traditional), praise and worship music, inspirational pop music and sacred jazz. In addition, there is a strong emphasis on sacred music of all genres by African American composers. The choir has collaborated with the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Zubin Mehta, The New York Pops Orchestra under Skitch Henderson and The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra under Wynton Marsalis. The Abyssinian Choir sang for the inauguration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg as well as the Centennial Celebration of the New York Public Library. They have appeared at The Apollo Theater, Radio City Music Hall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Historical Society. The Abyssinian Choir has shared the stage with a plethora of artists from various genres including Jessye Norman, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Ashford and Simpson, John Legend, Shirley Caesar, Richard Smallwood and Cyrus Chestnut. The choir is led by James Davis Jr., Abyssinian’s Director of Music Ministries and Fine Arts since 2008.
Nathaniel Gumbs (M.M. ‘11) will be performing on the organ.
Program
HYMN SETTINGS
“Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” arr. Mark Wilberg
“Solid Rock” Walter Hawkins
Damon Mack, Hammond B3
Kevin Sibley, Piano
Levon Fulmore, Bass
Eric “EJ” Johnson, Drums
“There Is a Fountain” arr. Wendell Whalum
Nathaniel Gumbs, Organ
“I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say” Edwin Hawkins
Charlotte Small, Mezzo-soprano
Christopher Sierra, Tenor
Justin Austin, Baritone
ANTHEMS
“I Was Glad When They Said Unto Me” C. Hubert H. Parry
“Listen to the Lambs” Nathaniel Dett
Rebecca Hargrove, Soprano
“We Walk By Faith” Jan Sanborn
Roy Jennings, Piano
Nathaniel Gumbs, Organ
SPIRITUALS
“My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord” Moses Hogan
Sabrina Carten, Mezzo-soprano
“Deep River” arr. Larry Farrow
Justin Austin, Baritone
“Wade in the Water” arr. Darin Atwater
Keesha Gumbs, Soprano
INTERMISSION
PART II
Piano Solo: Roy Jennings
SACRED MUSIC BY BLACK COMPOSERS
“Hold Fast to Dreams” Roland Carter
Brittany Robinson, Soprano
“Trust Me” Richard Smallwood
“It Pays to Serve Jesus” arr. Nathan Carter
Nathaniel Gumbs, Organ
Roy Jennings, Piano
Bernard Holcomb, Tenor
GOSPEL
“Jesus Will” Reverend James Cleveland arr. Anita Wilson
Tesia Kwarteng, Mezzo-soprano
“Marvelous” Myron Butler
Eunice Newkirk, Mezzo-soprano
“I Feel Your Spirit” Hezekiah Walker
Ethel Calhoun, Contralto
“My Name Is Victory” Jonathan Nelson & Justin Savage
Milton Vann, Tenor
CHORAL BENEDICTION
“The Lord Bless You and Keep You” John Rutter
Nathaniel Gumbs, Organ
“There Is a Fountain”
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