Omo Bello, Rebeca Omordia, Richard Olatunde Baker - African Art Song (2024) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

01. 3 Yoruba Songs: No. 1, Ìyá
02. 3 Yoruba Songs: No. 2, Já ìtànná t'ó ńtàn
03. 3 Yoruba Songs: No. 3, Kìnìún
04. Àdúrà fún àláfíà
05. Òjò máa rọ̀̀!
06. 6 Yoruba Folk Songs: No. 1, M̀o lè j'iyán yó
07. 6 Yoruba Folk Songs: No. 2, Ọrẹ̣́ mẹ̣́ta
08. 6 Yoruba Folk Songs: No. 3, Mo já 'wé gbégbé
09. 6 Yoruba Folk Songs: No. 4, Ọmọ jọ̀wọ
10. 6 Yoruba Folk Songs: No. 5, Agbe
11. 6 Yoruba Folk Songs: No. 6, Ó ṣe gbè na?
12. Drum Improvisation
13. 12 African Songs: No. 9, Ne nkansu
14. 12 African Songs: No. 10, Ngulu
15. Ubangiji makiyayina ne
16. Ku zo, mu raira waƙa
17. L'amant anonyme, G.075 (Arr. for Voice & Piano by Anonymous): Enfin une foule importune me laisse en paix ... Amour , devient moi propice
18. L'amant anonyme, G.075 (Arr. for Voice & Piano by Anonymous): Du tendre amour
19. Peace on Earth
20. Psalm to Windrush: To the Brave and Ingenious
21. Giri giri
22. Atilogwu Dance Improvisation
23. Selense

SOMM Recordings is excited to announce African Art Song, a continuation of pianist and “African classical music pioneer” (BBC World Service), Rebeca Omordia’s exquisite exploration of African classical music repertoire in her African Pianism series, in which she partners award-winning soprano Omo Bello.

Throughout, an illuminating, and frequently mesmerizing musical tapestry appears, incorporating five indigenous languages and cultures with songs that merge African and Western European musical forms with African melodies to produce songs full of simplicity, playfulness, and most importantly, joy.

The repertoire recorded by the two artists ranges from the love songs of Joseph Bologne (1745–1799), to works by living composers Shirley J. Thompson and Errollyn Wallen, whose “Peace on Earth” has grown from a song for Christmas to a song of peace for all seasons.

The plaintive longing heard in “Adura fun Alafia” (Prayer to God / Prayer of Peace,” by Nigerian composer Ayo Bankole, is a prayer reflecting the depth of devastation and starvation experienced during the Nigerian Civil War, known as the Biafra War (1967–1970).

Ghanian-Nigerian composer Fred Onovwerosuoke’s “Twelve African Songs” are a kaleidoscope of dances, healing dances and calls on the rain.

Percussionist Richard Olatunde Baker’s two compositions “serve as intermission, as a way of bridging the multiple musical languages”. Baker’s compositions join those of Ayo Bankole, Akin Euba, Christian Onyeji, and Chijioke Ngobili as first recordings.

French-Nigerian Omo Bello is the winner of many of Europe’s most prestigious awards, including the Luciano Pavarotti Giovani competition (2010), Arca d’Or Prize (2013), Paris International Opera Competition (2014), and more after beginning her career as a scientist. Bello combines her talents by giving charity performances in the service of medical research associations and in working with the Operabuja festival in Nigeria to build a music conservatory and promote classical music and the lyrical arts.

Nigerian-Romanian Rebeca Omordia has been labelled “a classical music game changer” (Classical Music). Her recording of Errollyn Wallen’s Piano Concerto won the BBC Music’s 2024 Premiere Award. Alongside her wide-ranging career as a soloist and chamber musician, she is artistic director of the African Concert Series, in residence at London’s Wigmore Hall.

African Pianism, Volume One was hailed by Gramophone as a “fascinating new series”, featuring, “a bounty of largely unfamiliar yet richly rewarding music”, and selected as a Top Album of 2022 by Canada’s Textura Magazine for “the remarkable music and Omordia’s sterling realization.” Volume Two, was named an August 2024 GramophoneEditor’s Choice.

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