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for Chorus, Soli and Orchestra
The Cantata "Born To Die" by Glenn Burleigh is a very personal and vital expression of a strong faith. It has a freshness of expression and sincerity which pervades every segment of the work.
Mr. Burleigh has taken an early form of composition, much used by Johann Sebastian Bach, and has created an emotional work using current musical idioms. His knowledge of musical structure is merged with his wonderful heritage of Gospel singing, improvisation and jazz.
The rich sonorities of the Chorus provide an impressive contrast to the solo works which use improvisitory passages and freedom of expression. With the support of pianos, organ , percussion and narration, rich coloristic effects are achieved, but always in a sensitive way.
I am honored to be asked to write these few words. As a former piano teacher of Mr. Burleigh I take great pride in this major accomplishment and believe it foretells a good future for him and music.
Lois Gauger
Former Associate Professor Of Piano
University Of Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
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From The Composer
"Born To Die" is probably the most well known and widely performed work in the Burleigh catalog with the exception of "Order My Steps". I don't attempt to analyze why a certain work is loved and accepted, I'm just grateful. The composer recommends this work for churches and college/conservatory concert choirs. A number of symphony orchestras have performed excerpts from the work including: Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Erie (PA) Chamber Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, and the Mineria and Mexico City Symphonies.
This work (like many others in the catalog) can be performed with basic piano-organ-bass-percussion accompaniment. It is not an easy work, but is quite approachable and singable if rehearsed well. Large choirs tend to add a whole new dimension to the sound.
As with the "Messiah", it is not necessary to sing every piece in order to have a successful performance. I suggest: The Opening and Finale (Born To Die and Hosanna) with any 8-10 pieces in between, adding a few pieces each season until they are all learned. By the way, these individual selections can be sung (and have been) all year long. The gospel pieces speak for themselves. Those pieces in a more classical style are: The Travail, Fear Not For Behold, Go Back Another Way (Classical/Gospel fusion), Why Do The Heathen Rage?, Mother's Lament, What's In A Name?, Keep a Preachin' The Word, and Magnificat, which is being transcribed for piano solo, to be released in the Summer of 1998.
Each year more and more church congregations and concert audiences are enjoying excerpts or complete performances of "Born To Die". During the past several years there have been over 50 performances of this work or excerpts from it in the United States and abroad. Some of these include:
Mineria and Mexico City Symphonies/Ambassador's Concert Choir
Luis Herrera de la Fuente, Conductor
Portland Oregon Fellowship Choir
Alexis Rainbow, Conductor
Langston University/Lane College
Dr. William B. Garcia, Conductor
Bethune-Cookman College Concert Chorale
Dr. Rebecca Steele, Conductor
Erie Chamber Orchestra/Shiloh Baptist Church
Bruce Morton Wright, Conductor
Oklahoma City Philharmonic/Ambassador's Concert Choir
Joel Levine, Conductor
Texas A&M University Concert Choir
Jess Wade, Conductor
Numerous Church Choirs across the U.S.
Closing out the 1997 Christmas Season with "Born To Die" were:
Chicago Church Fellowship Choir
Ann Landon Hawkins, Conductor (14 performances 1996-1997)
Glenn Burleigh, Guest Conductor __ (5 years)
Wheeler Avenue and Antioch Baptist Churches, Houston, Texas
Juanita Nash and Pastor Nathan Johnson, Conductors.
The Acadiana Community Choir/Trinity CME Church Choir and guests
Mathilda G. Martin, Conductor
Glenn Burleigh, Guest Conductor
New Shiloh Baptist Church Choirs/Morgan State University Choirs
Baltimore, MD____Dr. Nathan Carter, Conductor
The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
Robert Ray, Conductor
Washington, D.C. Church Fellowship Choir
Viola Bradford, Producer/Choir coordinator
Glenn Burleigh, Guest Conductor (1996-97)
Heritage Church
Derek Campbell, Conductor
The "Historic" Vermont Avenue Baptist Church, Washington D.C.
Solomon Sparrow, Conductor
Special performance at the John F. Kennedy Center
For The Performing Arts
with the Washington D.C. Fellowship Choir
Stanley Thurston, Guest Conductor