This past Saturday, February 17, the Reading Civic Concert Band shared the stage with a 40-person Gospel choir, the Boston Choral Society. We celebrated the rich and varied contributions that black performers and composers have given to American music. The program spanned Jazz, Ragtime, Spirituals, a tribute to Duke Ellington, and selections from The American Scene by William Grant Still. The concert began at 8:00pm in the new Reading Memorial High School auditorium. Tickets at the door were $15, $10 for seniors and students, 5 yrs and under were admitted free. Watch for a recording of the performance on RCTV and other neighboring public access television stations!
The playlist was:
| General Cadwaladers Grand March Philadelphia Greys Quick Step | Francis Johnson | They That Sow in Tears | William C. Handy |
| The Strenuous Life | Scott Joplin | ||
| Variations on an African Hymnsong | Quincy C. Hilliard | ||
| Boston Community Chorus with Br. Dennis Slaughter | |||
| Dry Your Tears, Afrika (from the movie Amistad) | John Williams | ||
| Heaven Help US All | Stevie Wonder | ||
| Lord, Im Coming Home | Andre Crouch | ||
| The Lord Is My Light (Psalm 27) | Michael Stokes | ||
| - Intermission - | |||
| An Ellington Portrait | Set for band by Floyd E. Werle | ||
| Tomb of the Unknown Soldier A New Orleans Street Berkshire Night | William Grant Still | ||
|
Boston Community Chorus with Br. Dennis Slaughter | |||
| Rejoice | Clark, Robinson, & Frazier | ||
| O Happy Day | Edwin Hawkins | ||
| Total Praise | Richard Smallwood | ||
| Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing | James Weldon Johnson (Arr. Lucinda Ellert) | ||
| Ashokan Farewell | Jay Unger |
Click here for more about the Boston Community Choir