Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale Pearls of Sorrow
Grammy-nominated countertenor Reginald Mobley puts Black spirituals in resonance with sacred music by J.S. Bach and other German Baroque composers. Through five curated sections, Mobley charts a musical journey from the trauma of war and enslavement to the finding of peace, freedom, and resilience.
Christine Brandes, conductor
Reginald Mobley, countertenor
Program
I. Trauma (War/Enslavement) [14']
PIETRO LOCATELLI: Lamento from Sinfonia Funebre [3’30’’]
JOHANN CHRISTOPH BACH: “Ach, dass ich Wassers gnug hätte” [6’30’’]
SPIRITUAL: “Were you There?” [3'30"]
II. Sorrow [13]
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH: Sinfonia from Cantata No. 21 Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, BWV 21 [3’30”]
SPIRITUAL: “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” [5']
HEINRICH SCHÜTZ: “Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott,” SWV 447 [4’30"]
III. Pain [15'30"]
SPIRITUAL: "There is a Balm in Gilead" [2'30"]
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH selections from Cantata No. 12 Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, BWV 12 [8’30"]
Sinfonia [2'15"]
Accomp Recit [45"]
Aria "Kreuz und Krone" [5'30"]
SPIRITUAL: “Sinner Please Don’t Let This Harvest Pass” [4'30"]
SPIRITUAL: "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen" [2'30"]
- Intermission -
IV. All My Trials [21'30"]
DIETERICH BUXTEHUDE: Wenn Ich, Herr Jesu, habe dich, BuxWV 107 (two verses) [4’]
SPIRITUAL: “Steal Away” [3'30"]
SPIRITUAL: “Soon-a Will Be Done” (two verses) [5']
DAVID POHLE: “Herr, wenn ich nur dich habe” [9’]
V. Finding Peace/Freedom/Resilience [15'30"]
PHILIPP HEINRICH ERLEBACH: “Trocknet euch ihr heissen Zähren” [5’]
DIETERICH BUXTEHUDE: "Jesu, meine Freude" [7']
SPIRITUAL: “My Lord What A Morning” [3'30"]
