Guest
Kronos Quartet performs “Testimony,“ which was written for Fifty for the Future: The Kronos Learning Repertoire. Charlton Singleton often draws inspiration from the Gullah culture of the American Southeast's Lowcountry region, where he grew up. In addition to his roles as speaker, composer, and arranger, Singleton also performs as part of Ranky Tanky, a group that specializes in jazz-influenced arrangements of traditional Gullah music. Singleton based Testimony on musical practices of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in which his father was a pastor. During his childhood, a cappella Prayer Bands of three or four people had the responsibility of getting the congregation ready for worship. Notes Singleton, “Testimony is written from the Prayer Band experience, and from specific rhythms in African American churches and communities – the ‘Gullah Clap’ (on beats two, two-and, and four) and the ‘Half Clap’ (on beat one only).” Kronos Quartet: David Harrington, violin John She
