Santa Fe Desert Chorale: Roots & Rivers

Roots & Rivers with Santa Fe Desert Chorale

Echoes of the Past, Voices of the Future- Get a sneak peak at the upcoming commercial album live in concert! At the heart of this program lies The American Road: Six Songs of the Enslaved, Embattled and Emancipated by Nigerian-American composer Shawn E. Okpebholo. In this new large-scale work, Okpebholo reimagines folk songs and spirituals—including an original by Rhiannon Giddens—that both honor the pain and resilience of the past and inspire hope for the future. Be among the first to hear this momentous work paired alongside commissions from their recent past, which they plan to include in a new album coming in 2026. Kile Smith’s Northland infuses the poetry of Harlem Renaissance writer Claude McKay with jazz, blues, and melodic lyricism to describe the Jamaican immigrant’s experiences in his new home. The bilingual work Caminante (Traveler) by Jocelyn Hagen exemplifies musically and poetically the miracle of people from all walks of life coming together as fellow travelers. The Tipping Point by Indian-American composer Reena Esmail combines Western and Indian musical techniques to portray the constant struggle between light and darkness, and that miraculous moment of the scale tipping in favor of light. Pianist Nathan Salazar and tabla player Sutanu Sur join the twenty-four Desert Chorale vocal artists for a journey through American choral music.

Dates/Times/Locations:

Friday, August 1 at 7:30 PM, Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

Other Dates:

Thursday, July 24 at 7:30 PM, Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

Sunday, July 27 at 4:00 PM, Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

Cost: $10 – $124

For Tickets and More Information, please visit: https://desertchorale.org/concerts-events/roots-and-rivers/