New York Premiere of Harvest by Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) at Carnegie Hall
On May 10, 2011, Albany Symphony will perform a set of religious inspired works in their “Spirituals Re-Imagined” concert. Conducted by David Alan Miller, the concert will feature the New York premiere of Harvest by Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR).
“Harvest is my arrangement of the African-American spiritual Sinner, Please Don’t Let This Harvest Pass,” the composer, Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) explains. “It’s scored for baritone voice and chamber orchestra and was commissioned by the Albany Symphony Orchestra. The work is part of a collection of arrangements, by a group of contemporary composers, of African-American spiritual music, forming the orchestra’s ‘Spirituals Re-Imagined’ project.”
The “Spirituals Re-Imagined” program was inspired by conductor David Alan Miller’s desire to make more artistically compelling orchestral versions of spirituals available to the world. Miller invited some of his favorite American composers from varied cultural and ethnic backgrounds to each select their favorite spiritual and to clothe it in his or her own unique orchestral fabric. The May 10 program will feature a varied and appealing set, grown from two years of commissions and the thirteen new versions of classic spirituals they generated.
The inaugural festival of Spring for Music will take place at Carnegie Hall from May 6- May 14, 2011, with seven concerts in nine days, all starting at 7:30pm. Spring for Music is a new and innovative festival of concerts by North American symphony and chamber orchestra built around adventurous and creative programs at affordable prices.
Having carved a reputation for himself as an innovative composer, performer, violinist, and band leader, Haitian-American artist Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) melds his classical music roots with his own cultural references and vibrant musical imagination.
Proving that he’s “about as omnivorous as a contemporary artist gets” (New York Times), DBR recently collaborated and performed with Lady Gaga on FOX’s American Idol. His accolades range from being voted as “America’s Assignment” on the CBS Evening News, to receiving praise as one of the “Top 100 New Yorkers” (New York Resident), “Top 40 Under 40” business people (Crain’s New York Business), one of the entertainment industry’s “Top 5 Tomorrow’s Newsmakers” (1010 WINS Radio), and spotlighted as a “New Face of Classical Music” in Esquire Magazine.
“DBR is a unique voice in the modern classical world. This multitalented performer, violinist and band leader infuses classical music with contemporary popular music for a fresh sound that is all his own.” — Jacques Lacombe, Music Director, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra