Rita Coburn – Okoye: When The Caged Bird Sings [CD]

Description

Nkeiru Okoye’s When the Caged Bird Sings is a ‘musical celebration’ whose compositional voice, though rooted in the African American church, also embraces minimalism and improvisational elements. Delivering a message of adversity turned to triumph, it celebrates the transformative ability of African American women, partly evoking the experiences of the author and activist Maya Angelou. The work functions as a communal ritual that, like oratorio, opera, and theatre, brings together vocal soloists, chorus, and orchestra in an experience that both commemorates and celebrates hope and possibility.

Tracklist:

1. When the Caged Bird Sings~Part I: Gather Together in My Name. Who am I supposed to be?
2. When the Caged Bird Sings~Part I: Gather Together in My Name. Devotions
3. When the Caged Bird Sings~Part I: Gather Together in My Name. Shine your light upon us
4. When the Caged Bird Sings~Part I: Gather Together in My Name. The Beatitudes
5. When the Caged Bird Sings~Part II: Now Sheba Sings the Song. Cerise’s Story, Part 1 – You gave me a baby girl
6. When the Caged Bird Sings~Part II: Now Sheba Sings the Song. He Saw Her Beauty
7. When the Caged Bird Sings~Part II: Now Sheba Sings the Song. I am Thine, O Lord
8. When the Caged Bird Sings~Part II: Now Sheba Sings the Song. Sometimes life gets ugly
9. When the Caged Bird Sings~Part III: And Still I Rise. Cerise’s Story, Part 2 – I thought this life would protect us
10. When the Caged Bird Sings~Part III: And Still I Rise. Pass me not, O Gentle Savior
11. When the Caged Bird Sings~Part IV: I Shall Not Be Moved. Cerise’s Story, Part 3 – It takes a village
12. When the Caged Bird Sings~Part IV: I Shall Not Be Moved. Interlude – She shall not be moved
13. When the Caged Bird Sings~Part V: A Song Flung up to Heaven. Butterflies – Be Transformed
14. When the Caged Bird Sings~Part V: A Song Flung up to Heaven. Be Transformed
15. When the Caged Bird Sings~Part V: A Song Flung up to Heaven. I’m so glad I found me
16. When the Caged Bird Sings~Part V: A Song Flung up to Heaven. Cerise’s Story, Part 4 – You sheltered me
17. When the Caged Bird Sings~Part V: A Song Flung up to Heaven. When a Caged Bird Sings – Night turns to day

UPC: 636943995327
Label: Naxos
Release Date: 4.10.26
Format: CD