PLATTSBURGH — Today’s Common Roots Concert offers a celebratory finale to Black History Month.
The Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir, with special guest, The Voices of Faith, perform from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. tonight at the Plattsburgh Church of the Nazarene, 187 Broad St. Admission: free-will offering.
Together, these performers will bring to life spirituals and ballads that have been passed down through generations, capturing the essence of resilience, faith, and unity, according to a press release.
ORIGINS
The Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir has showcased spirituals by African American composers for some time.
“But then, we decided to come up with a theme,” Dr. Dexter Criss, artistic director, said.
“The theme kind of arose from if we are in other parts of the country, the natural thing would be to invite groups similar to you. Like anything, you have to know how to adjust to your environment and surroundings. For us what it made us realize, we showcase the commonality between gospel music and whether it’s bluegrass, gospel music or whether it’s classical.
“This time we are doing quartet. It’s choral gospel music and then we are going to have a quartet group, The Voices of Faith. We have had them before, and they are within the choir, but this time we are going to actually showcase them.”
LIFT EVERY VOICE
The first performance set highlights a dynamic collection of songs that speak to faith’s enduring power.
One of the most significant moments of the night is the performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” led by Andrea D. Ogle, associate artistic director, and the congregation.
This song, written as a poem by James Weldon Johnson and later set to music by his brother John Rosamond Johnson, has stood as a pillar of strength for African Americans since the early 1900s.
“This is the 125th anniversary of that song,” Criss said.
“And I think it’s timely because of the current environment we are in politically — how people can misunderstand because of lack of knowledge. If they are not being biased, then you assume it’s lack of knowledge.
“Lift Every Voice and Sing wasn’t written to celebrate Black history or Black greatness. It was written to celebrate the birthday of Abraham Lincoln. When the Johnson boys did the song not only was the song written to celebrate the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, who was a Republican, it was performed in Florida by children.
“It’s inception was not the Negro National Anthem. The words Negro National Anthem didn’t come into play until 1919 when the NAACP adopted the song as theirs. So, those are the kinds of things I will talk about. I think that’s important for people to understand.”
CONCERT ORDER
The first set list is “Soon I Will Be Done” (arr. Edward Boatner, adapted by Dexter Criss), “Walk in Jerusalem” (arr. Rollo Dilworth), “The Storm is Passing Over” (comp. Charles Tindley), “Trust Me” (comp. Richard Smallwood), and “I Shall Wear a Crown” (comp. Thomas Whitfield), and “I Got a Robe” (arr. Raymond Wise).
After a brief transition, the Voices of Faith take the stage followed by The Praise Dancers.
The concert continues with a performance by a Small Group Ensemble, featuring “Beautiful Feet” (comp. Donald Lawrence).
The Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir returns for its second set: “I Am Blessed” (Read Temple Choir), “I Almost Let Go” (comp. Kurt Carr), “Tell God Thank You” (comp. Mario Vaughn), and “The Sound of Victory” (comp. Vincent Bohannan).
Rosinda Anthony will offer closing remarks, reflecting on the significance of the music and the unifying power of faith before one final song, “We Shall Overcome” (comp. Charles Albert Tindley), led by Jonathan Ellwanger and the congregation.
UNPLUGGED
With the exception of an electric baby grand piano, the concert is analog, and unplugged, with upright bass, tambourine and vocals.
“We don’t amplify people,” Criss said.
“We don’t use instruments that are amplified. The choir won’t be amplified. That’s not the purpose of the unplugged concert. We are singing mostly concert spirituals and some traditional spirituals. So, there’s going to be more discussion of the songs than what we normally do. We are going to talk about ‘The Storm is Passing Over.’ Charles Tindley wrote it. He was a pioneer in the early gospel world. He predates Tommy Dorsey, who is considered the Father of Gospel Music. That’s how it’s going to be. It’s going to be a lot of teaching moments and what the songs are and showcasing of some of our better talent.
“A lot of people know Angelica Sanchez from singing all those years with Bill Verity’s Plattsburgh High School choruses, but they are going to hear Angelica like they’ve never heard her before. They are going to think that Mahalia Jackson came back. and she’s singing, ‘Soon I Will Be Done.’”
In addition to the musical performances, there will be a Down Home Soul Food Mixer hosted by Patricia Lee, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. offering a taste of Southern comfort food to complement the evening’s celebration of heritage and culture.
“It’s also like a meet-and-greet,” Criss said.
“You get to meet and greet the choir in a more laid-back way. There’s nothing like fellowship and food, right.”