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- Kirke Mechem
Blow Ye The Trumpet (for chorus and orchestra), Op. 51b (1991)
(from Songs of the Slave)- G Schirmer Inc (World)
Commissioned by the Don and Beverley Carlson Music Fund for the First United Methodist Church, the Santa Monica College Concert Chorale and the Los Angeles Concert Orchestra, Dr. James E. Smith, conductor
- ch; 2+pic.2+ca.3(III:bcl).2+cbn/4.3.3.1/timp.4perc/hp/str
- SATB chorus
- 11 min 15 s
- the composer
- English
Programme Note
Blow Ye the Trumpet is the opening prelude and chorus of the suite Songs of the Slave from Kirke Mechem's opera John Brown.
Frederick Douglass is the central figure of the suite. Douglass, an escaped slave, became the greatest African American leader of the nineteenth century. He was John Brown's friend for many years.
“Blow ye the trumpet” are the opening words of Brown's favorite hymn, prophesying both the day of jubilee and the martyr's death which he knew would hasten the destruction of slavery. What tune Brown knew for this hymn is unknown; Mechem has written a new melody in the style of early American folk music.
Blow ye the trumpet, blow.
Sweet is Thy work, my God, my King.
I'll praise my Maker with all my breath.
O happy the man who hears.
Why should we start, and fear to die,
With songs and honors sounding loud?
ah, lovely appearance of death.
Media
Features
- Kirke Mechem at 100
- Born and raised in Kansas, composer Kirke Mechem has enjoyed an unusually long, productive, and influential musical career. Mechem celebrates his 100th birthday on August 16, 2025.
