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
Jonathan Vinocour – viola
Michelle Djokic – cello
Molly Langr – harp
Antonio Escobedo – contrabass

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