Catalogue

Summary:

‘I was drawn to an approach of dealing with the history of slavery within one’s family, the ownership of a name and its ‘rebranding’ – reflecting on the American Slave and how Black Americans deal with creating a sense of pride, familial storytelling and lineage in contemporary America. This notion of ‘rebranding’ extends to the ‘Negro Melody’… My intent with these arrangements is to acknowledge the impact of those melodies on current popular culture, and reflect that influence onto the orchestral stage – to create moments where listeners may participate vocally, with movement, or rhythmically clapping along – to maintain a sense of belonging and recognition – to create community around this music in the classical concert hall – to embrace where all contemporary American Concert music extends from, in my belief – America’s mother-music: the Blues.’ – Curtis Stewart

Tracklist:

1. Toussaint L’Ouverture (1901) 17:15

2. Ballade in D Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 4 (1895) 12:54
Curtis Stewart, violin

3 Selections from “24 Negro Melodies” (1905/2022) 15:14
3. I. Deep River (America) arr. Curtis Stewart, Hamilton Berry 5:26
4. II. They Will Not Lend Me a Child (Southeast Africa) arr. Curtis Stewart and Andrew Roitstein 5:03
5. III. The Angels Changed My Name (America) arr. Curtis Stewart 4:45
Curtis Stewart, violin

Suite from “24 Negro Melodies” (1905) 21:17
(Orchestration Samuel Coleridge-Taylor; ed. Patrick Meadows, Lionel Harrison, 2012)
6. I. I’m Troubled in Mind (America) Op. 59 No. 14 4:57
7. II. Intermezzo – Don’t Be Weary, Traveler (America) Op. 59 No. 12 3:11
8. III. Scherzo – Ringendjé: Song of Conquest (South Africa) Op. 59 No. 5 3:04
9. IV. Lament – They Will Not Lend Me a Child (Southeast Africa) Op. 59 No. 4 4:22
10. V. Finale – Alla Marcia – Oloba (West Africa) Op. 59 No. 7 5:42

Total duration: 76:40

Recorded February 6-7, 2025, in the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall, Northern Virginia Community
College (Alexandria campus)
Produced by Judith Sherman
Engineered by Rick Jacobsohn | Editing assistant: Jeanne Velonis
Mastered by Jeanne Velonis and Judith Sherman