Expired August 22, 2021 2:00 PM
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Babylon considers the text of Psalm 137 (By the Waters of Babylon) as it has resonated through the music of two ghettoized peoples – Italian Jews of Mantua during the period of the Counter-Reformation, and African Americans during the Harlem Renaissance and beyond. Narrated by the titanic voice of actor Ezra Knight, the musical performances of works by Italian-Jewish composer Salamone Rossi (1570 – 1630) and contemporary American Brandon Waddles (1988 –) are by the groundbreaking Kaleidoscope Vocal Ensemble. Other musical selections are historical recordings by such luminaries as Ma Rainey, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Big Mama Thornton, The Fisk Jubilee Singers, and others, as well as two luminaries in contemporary West African music, Kevin Nathaniel Hylton and Yacouba Sissoko.

  • Year
    2020
  • Runtime
    29:06
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    United States
  • Premiere
    World
  • Note
    Music Mixing and Mastering: Aaron Fagerstrom; Video Production: Aaron Fagerstrom
  • Director
    Jessica Gould
  • Screenwriter
    Jessica Gould
  • Producer
    Salon/Sanctuary Concerts
  • Executive Producer
    Salon/Sanctuary Concerts
  • Co-Producer
    NYU Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò
  • Filmmaker
    Jessica Gould
  • Cast
    Ezra Knight, The Kaleidoscope Vocal Ensemble, Jessica Gould
  • Cinematographer
    Aaron Fagerstrom
  • Editor
    Aaron Fagerstrom
  • Production Design
    Jessica Gould & Aaron Fagerstrom
  • Composer
    Salomone Rossi, Brandon Waddles, Ma Rainey, various traditional African American and West African anonymous sources
  • Sound Design
    Aaron Fagerstrom
  • Music
    Works of Salomone Rossi and Brandon Waddles performed by The Kaleidoscope Vocal Ensemble. Works of Salomone Rossi performed by Jessica Gould, Lucas Harris, the Bacchus Consort, and Theater of Music. Archival recordings include selections of works by Ma Rainey and Sister Rosetta Tharpe performed by the composers, Lieber and Stoller performed by Big Mama Thornton, as well as traditional Western African and African American Spirituals performed by Yacouba Sissoko, The Fisk Jubilee Singers andThe Southern Sons. Closing credit is an original composition by Kevin Nathaniel Hylton performed by the composer.