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MLK Celebrations Throughout the US with Joseph Schwantner’s New Morning for the World

Jan. 02, 2018

MLK Celebrations Throughout the US with Joseph Schwantner’s <em>New Morning for the World</em>

There may not be a more fitting musical tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. than Joseph Schwantner’s New Morning for the World “Daybreak of Freedom” for narrator and orchestra. Composed in 1982, the piece was recorded by the Oregon Symphony in 1994 under James DePriest for the Koch International Classics label. The texts were selected from a variety of King’s speeches across his lifetime. Multiple performances of this masterwork in January provide American audiences with numerous opportunities to celebrate King’s legacy.




(New Morning for the World "Daybreak of Freedom"/National Symphony Orchestra/Leonard Slatkin, conductor/Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., narrator)

On January 12-14, the San Antonio Symphony, led by Sebastian Lang-Lessing, performs New Morning for the World “Daybreak of Freedom” at the H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center.  The program also includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 “Eroica” and Duke Ellington’s The Three Black Kings. San Antonio was the site of one of the largest MLK marches in the country. This program--occurring during “Dreamweek 2018”--reflects on the concept of the heroic.

On January 13, the South Carolina Philharmonic, under the baton of Morihiko Nakahara, presents New Morning for the World “Daybreak of Freedom” (narrated by Rev. Ed McDowell, Jr.) alongside other great American masterpieces such as Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Suite from On the Waterfront, and Ellington’s “Giggling Rapids” from The River.

Also on January 13, the Santa Monica Symphony, directed by Guido Lamell, performs New Morning for the World as part of their annual Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend Concert. The performance takes place at the SGI Auditorium and features bass-baritone Cedric Berry as both soloist and narrator. Other works on the program include the “Te Deum” from Puccini’s Tosca, Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, and Ellington’s Black, Brown, and Beige.

Finally, the Bowling Green Philharmonia, led by Emily Freeman Brown, presents the work on January 17 as part of their MLK Celebration Concert. Noted author Dr. Jessica B. Harris will give the keynote address following the Philharmonia’s performance.


In addition to the original composition for narrator and orchestra, versions of New Morning for the World “Daybreak of Freedom” for chamber orchestra and wind ensemble are also available.


Joseph Schwantner
New Morning for the World “Daybreak of Freedom” (1982)
for narrator and orchestra
text by Martin Luther King Jr.
4(3.pic 4.pic).2.ca.3(3.bcl).3-4.3.4.1-timp.4perc(vib, xyl, glsp, 6tom-t, 2tam-t, sm button gong, 2timb, 3tri, 2b.d, 2sus cym, mar, crot)-hp.amp cel.amp pno-str
23’

New Morning for the World "Daybreak of Freedom" (1982, rev. 2004)
version for narrator and chamber orchestra
text by Martin Luther King Jr.
2(2.pic).2(2.ca).2(3.bcl).2-2.2.0.0-perc(vib, tub bells, crot, xyl, glsp, lg tam-t, sm button gong, b.d, 3tom-t, timb, lg sus cym, lg tri)-pno-str
23'

New Morning for the World "Daybreak of Freedom" (1982, rev. 2007)
version for narrator and wind ensemble
arranged by Nikk Pilato
text by Martin Luther King Jr.
4(3.pic 4.pic).2.ca.Ebcl.3.bcl.cbcl.ssax.asax.tsax.barsax.3-4.3.2euph.1.1-4perc(crot, tri, cym, tom-t, tam-t, b.d, vib, glsp, mar, xyl)-hp.cel.pno-db
23'



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