The Ballad of the Brown King facts for kids
The Ballad of the Brown King is a special kind of musical piece called a cantata. It was created by the talented composer Margaret Bonds. This work might be her most famous and often performed piece.
The Ballad was written to honor Balthazar, an African king from the Christmas story. The words for the music were written by the famous poet Langston Hughes, specifically for Margaret Bonds.
Contents
The Story of the Ballad
The Ballad of the Brown King first came out in December 1954 in New York. The George McClain Choir performed this first, shorter version. Later, both Langston Hughes and Margaret Bonds made the piece longer. They added music for a full orchestra.
The longer version was performed on December 11, 1960. It was even shown on TV as part of a CBS special called "Christmas U.S.A." The Westminster Choir sang during this televised performance.
Recent Recordings
In 2018, a new version of the music was arranged by conductor Malcolm J. Merriweather. The Dessoff Choirs recorded this new arrangement. It was released to the public on November 1, 2019.
It's interesting to know that Margaret Bonds's original music for the orchestra has never been published. This means it has also never been recorded until now.
What Kind of Music Is It?
This cantata has nine different parts, called movements. It includes singing parts for a soprano (high female voice), a tenor (high male voice), a baritone (middle male voice), and a full choir.
The music itself is a cool mix of different styles. You can hear parts of European classical music, Jazz, and even Calypso music. It also uses sounds from four-part hymns and gospel music. You might also notice parts that sound like spoken word set to music, and some sections influenced by the blues.
The Brown King's Importance
The Ballad focuses on one of the Three Kings from the story of Jesus's birth. Langston Hughes chose the African king, Balthazar, for a special reason. He wanted to show that African people were also a part of the Nativity story.
