The Brazeal Dennard Chorale

Brazeal Dennard attended Detroit Public Schools as a youngster and began private music study with such notables as the late Johnnie Reid, Professor S. A. Ratliff, Dean Robert Nolan, Lloyd Murphy, and Virginia Persons. He completed his formal education at Wayne State University, earning a Masters Degree in Music Education. Throughout his career, Brazeal has served in many roles, such as guest conductor, clinician, lecturer, and church choirmaster.His numerous professional affiliations include National Endowment of the Arts, Department of Cultural Affairs for the city of Detroit, former trustee and member of the Advisory Committee of the Detroit Community Music School, former Chairman of the Music Advisory Committee for the Michigan Council for the Arts, and President of the National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc.

As Fine Arts Department Head at Northwestern High School, Brazeal skillfully prepared the school ensemble and choir to earn superior ratings in state finals competition, appear before the National Convention of the MENC, and perform on an NBC television network special. Brazeal is listed in the 1978 edition of "Men of Achievement," International Biographies, Cambridge, England. He was invited by the White House to become a member of a special committee to present White House Fellowships to highly motivated young Americans. Brazeal's testimony was requested at the field hearings on the re-authorization of the National Foundation for the Arts and Humanities Act, and also that of the Museum Services Act. Brazeal serves on the Board of Directors of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Founded in 1972, the Brazeal Dennard Chorale is a group of highly trained singers dedicated to developing the choral art to its highest professional level. The Brazeal Dennard Community Chorus was organized in 1985 as a community outreach program by The Brazeal Dennard Chorale to encourage participation of members of the surrounding communities and to provide them with vocal training and professional performance opportunities. The Brazeal Dennard Youth Chorale provides a very special and highly developed choral ensemble of young singers between the ages of 13 and 22. The primary function of the Youth Chorale is to seriously study and perform challenging choral literature. Brazeal Dennard is the recipient of The Maynard Klein Award in recognition of artistic excellence in the field of choral music, presented by the Michigan Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. Brazeal Dennard is the retired supervisor of music for the Detroit Public Schools and serves as adjunct faculty at Wayne State University.

Discography

Significant Spirituals

Ride On Jesus Were You There? Daniel, Daniel, Servant of the Lord I Wanna Be Ready Hol' de Light! My Soul's Been Anchored in the Lord Lord I Don't Feel Noways Tired Plenty Good Room Mary Was the Queen of the Galilee I Believe this is Jesus I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray I've Been 'Buked Crossin Ovuh Oh Freedom

The half men, half women, 49-strong, acclaimed Chorale led by Dr. Brazeal W. Dennard is dedicated to remembering, discovering and preserving the rich Spirituals born out of their ancestors' struggle for freedom. "Remem-bering" follows their earlier recording, "Remembering, Discovering, Preserving "beautifully on this path. There are 14 authentic songs here, from "Ride On Jesus," "Were You There?" and "Daniel, Daniel, Servant Of The Lord, "to "Hol' de Light!," "Plenty Good Room," "I've Been 'Buked"and "Oh Freedom, "these songs are filled with feeling, strength and faith. On the cover is a photo of a monument to Detroit's Underground Railroad called Gateway to Freedom that exactly captures the spirit of "Remembering II."

Listen to Daniel, Daniel, Servant of the Lord in Real Audio.

Remembering, Discovering, Preserving - Songs of African American History

Oh, That Bleeding Lamb I'll Never Turn Back Listen to the Lambs In Bright Mansions Above Is a Light Shining Heavenly Union An' I Cry O Holy Lord Ain'A That Good News Lily of the Valley Gonna Journey Away Any How There's a Lit'l Wheel O the Rocks and the Mountains I'm Gonna Sing the Spirit Elijah Rock

The story of the Fisk Jubilee Singers is one of the most inspiring in all of American Music. In 1872 a history of their struggle, triumph, and music finally saw print. They sang the songs which were handed down to them by their slave ancestors. The songs expressed profound religious beliefs, an unshakable faith, relief from the suffering of slavery, and the optimism for a better world to come. In truth they were a major contributing tributary to the musical stream which diverged into gospel and blues. This beautiful recording recreates and shares with us some of that body of work which is so important to American music. It is meant to document and present to posterity some of the most powerful music ever sung.

Listen to Ain'A That Good News in Real Audio.

Hush!

Lord, I Want to Be A Christian There Is A Balm Hush! Somebody's Calling My Name I Want to Die Easy Great Day Drinking of the Wine Here's A Pretty Little Baby Sweet Home New Born Our Father Fix Me Jesus My Lord What A Morning Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit Give Me Jesus Ain't Got Time to Die This Little Light O'Mine Steal Away Fare Ye Well

Dedicated to preserving the roots of African-American choral heritage, the 68-strong, Detroit, Michigan-based Brazeal Dennard Chorale was founded in 1972. "Hush" is a powerful collection of traditional spirituals: "Lord I Want To Be A Christian," "There Is A Balm," "Hush!," "I Want To Die Easy," "Great Day," "Drinking Of The Wine," "Here's a Pretty Little Baby," "Sweet Home," "New Born," "Our Father," "Fix Me Jesus," "My Lord What a Morning," "Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit," "Give Me Jesus," "Ain't Got Time to Die," "This Little Light O'Mine, "Steal Away" and "Fare Ye Well." As the liner notes state, spirituals grew from the cries of slaves, which elongated and evolved into melodies, making slaves the first African-American composers. Beautiful music, authentic, soulful and moving.

Listen to Here's A Pretty Little Baby in Real Audio.

In Silent Night

In Silent Night Ave Maria Alleluia He Stooped To Bless Little Lamb Psalm 57 Hehlehlooyuh O Praise The Lord Negro Bell Carol Nowhere To Lay His Head Hail Mary Betelehemu Siyahamba

"Silent Night" is of course a Christmas CD, but it is so much more. The 51-strong Brazeal Dennard Chorale bases their music on the traditional African-American spiritualÕs deep emotion, intensity and strength. Dr. Karen Walwyn is listed as the accompanist. 13 powerful songs from a talented group dedicated to preserve and perpetuate the African-American spiritual.

Listen to He Stooped To Bless in Real Audio.

Bridging Generations (DVD)

"Passing the Torch" is a powerful, inspirational and informative DVD that begins with printed images of slavery in the United States that are shocking to the eye. The DVD continues with The Brazeal Dennard Youth Chorale's live performance of the spiritual "Ain't Got Time to Die," "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord" and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." Then there are interviews with young baritone Robert Sims, Dr. Roland Carter, composer and conductor, on spirituals, Dr. Brazeal Dennard on lynching and peoples' response of humming or singing spirituals, and 93-year-old Irma Hollingsworth on growing up with the music. Another live performance with the combined Brazeal Dennard Ensemble and Youth Chorale singing "My God Is A Rock" and "I Got My Ticket" bring "Passing the Torch" to a close, having touched and enlightened us in many ways. Funded in part by the National Endowment For The Arts.

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