The Chorale celebrates Langston Hughes and Margaret Bonds in an epic collaboration with Dr. Andrew Smith and the Sam Bonds Chorale
Hold Fast to Dreams
The Poetry of Langston Hughes in Song
2026 will be the year of the 125th anniversary of the birth of the great American poet, Langton Hughes. The Georgetown Chorale kicks off the celebration in our annual Winter Concert with a program of music setting his poetry beautifully in song.
The Ballad of the Brown King is a cantata composed by Margaret Bonds, written in honor of the African king, Balthazar, with text written by Langston Hughes. Balthazar was, according to Western Christian tradition, one of the three biblical Magi who visited the infant Jesus after he was born. Balthazar is traditionally referred to as the King of Arabia who gave the gift of myrrh to Jesus. In early artistic depictions, Balthazar was represented as a white man but by the 8th century he is being described as being "a dark, fully bearded king”. Hughes and Bonds base their work on the idea that in fact Balthazar was a man of color.
Saturday, December 6, 7:30 pm at Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St NW, Washington, DC
The Ballad of the Brown King, Margaret Bonds
I. Of the Three Wise Men
III. Alleluia
VII. Oh, Sing of the King Who Was Tall and Brown
The Dream Keeper, Gary Davison
In Time of Silver Rain, Andre Thomas
Three By Langston, Ricky Ian Gordon
Give Us Our Peace, Rollo Dilworth
Lotus Blossom, Billy Strayhorn, arr. Andrew Smith
Additional selection(s) performed by The Sam Bonds Chorale