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Songs in Flight features world premiere recordings of Shawn E. Okpebholo’s complete song cycle for which the album is named, along with four additional art songs — one from each of his other song cycles — building upon the themes and messages of his work, performed by Grammy winning and-nominated artists known for their dedication to cultural and historical music projects.

Drawing inspiration from the Freedom on the Move database of advertisements for runaway enslaved individuals, Songs in Flight explores their untold stories over twelve songs with texts by poets Tsitsi Jaji, Crystal Simone Smith, and Tyehimba Jess. The work incorporates styles including spirituals, folk tunes, elegies, and protest songs, each song offering a unique historical narrative and emotional depth.

A celebrated figure in contemporary classical music, Okpebholo’s music has been described as “devastatingly beautiful” by the Washington Post. Songs in Flight continues his mission to create impactful, narrative-driven music, bringing new dimensions to historical stories.

Performers include Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist, Rhiannon Giddens, celebrated for her work in reviving African American folk traditions; Grammy-winning baritone Will Liverman, praised as a “voice for this historic moment” (Washington Post); Grammy-nominated countertenor Reginald Mobley, renowned for his powerful interpretations across diverse repertoire; Karen Slack, Grammy-winning soprano with a “sizeable voice that captures vacillating emotions” (New York Times); and Grammy-nominated pianist Paul Sánchez, praised as “the ideal interpreter . . . performing with clear virtuosity” (Fanfare). Saxophonist Julian Velasco, winner of Cedille’s inaugural Emerging Artist Competition, joins in two of the songs following the cycle.

Honoring the resilience of historical figures while acknowledging modern-day struggles with racial injustice, including references to Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin, Okpebholo’s work reclaims the humanity and voice of these people, making their lives and struggles resonate through this intricate, soulful collection of songs.

Songs in Flight was produced by Shawn E. Okpebholo and engineered by Brian Porick. It was recorded March 9–10 and 12–13, 2024 at the Amerding Center for Music and the Arts at Wheaton College.

Songs in Flight is made possible by the generous support of an Anonymous donor; the Robert and Isabelle Bass Foundation, Inc.; the Aaron Copland Fund for Music; Wheaton College Aldeen and Global Research Grants; and the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Fund for Vocal Recordings at Cedille Records, with additional support from Queta and Ron Bauer, Linda and Owen Youngman, Dave Miller, and Maria and Peter Lagios.

Preview Excerpts

SHAWN E OKPEBHOLO (b. 1981)

Songs in Flight

43:11

1
Prologue: Oh Freedom • a spiritual 4:16
2
In Flight • a quiet song 6:29
3
Asko or Glasgow • a chaconne 2:53
4
Peter • a work song 1:28
5
Mud Song • a folk song 4:02
6
Jack (and Paul) • a field holler 2:08
7
Mariah Francis • a waltz 3:33
8
Matilda’s Tom • an anthem 1:11
9
I Go by Robert • a protest song/reprise 3:29
10
Ahmaud • an elegiac lullaby 5:04
11
Four Martins • a dirge 4:56
12
Jubilee: Thomas Rutling (1854? – 1915) • a lament/quasi reprise 5:35

Unknown

13
An Echo, an Ending 5:33

Three Psalmic Meditations

14
Time 5:41

Words Like Freedom

15
Sing, O Black Mother 1:31

Four Songs on Love

16
I'm Sure 5:20

Artists

1: Rhiannon Giddens, Paul Sánchez

2: Karen Slack, Will Liverman, Paul Sánchez

3: Reginald Mobley, Karen Slack, Will Liverman, Paul Sánchez

4: Will Liverman, Paul Sánchez

5: Rhiannon Giddens, Paul Sánchez

6: Reginald Mobley, Karen Slack, Will Liverman, Paul Sánchez

7: Karen Slack, Reginald Mobley, Paul Sánchez

8: Karen Slack, Will Liverman

9: Reginald Mobley, Karen Slack, Will Liverman, Paul Sánchez

10: Rhiannon Giddens, Paul Sánchez

11: Karen Slack, Reginald Mobley, Will Liverman, Paul Sánchez

12: Will Liverman, Paul Sánchez

13: Rhiannon Giddens, Julian Velasco, Paul Sánchez

14: Reginald Mobley, Julian Velasco, Paul Sánchez

15: Will Liverman, Paul Sánchez

16: Karen Slack, Paul Sánchez

What the Critics Are Saying



Program Notes

Download Album Booklet

Personal Note

Notes by Shawn E. Okpebholo

In 2021, I received a call from Martha Guth, celebrated soprano and co-director of Sparks & Wiry Cries. She spoke passionately about the Freedom on the Move database, an archive of over 30,000 advertisements for runaway enslaved individuals. Having experienced one of my previous compositions, Martha proposed an ambitious project: an expansive song cycle that would breathe life into these dehumanizing records. The project would include performances at prominent venues and collaborations with world-renowned musicians Rhiannon Giddens, Will Liverman, Reginald Mobley, Karen Slack, and Howard Watkins, alongside lead curator and poet Tsitsi Ella Jaji.

Album Details

Producer Shawn E Okpebholo

Engineer Brian Porick

Recorded
March 9–10 and 12–13, 2024
Armerding Center for Music and the Arts at Wheaton College

Publishers
Songs in Flight © 2022

An Echo, an Ending (from Unknown) © 2021 • transcription © 2023

Time (from Three Psalmic Meditations) © 2019 • transcription © 2023

Sing, O Black Mother (from Words Like Freedom) © 2020

I’m Sure (from Four Songs on Love) © 2012 • transcription © 2024

All works published by Yellow Einstein Press

Cover Photo Elliot Mandel

Images
Advertisements along with the corresponding crowdsourced data is provided free of charge by the Freedom on the Move Project, and is licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0. freedomonthemove.org

Graphic Design Bark Design

CDR 90000 234