Movement Titles
1. Father Abraham
2. Desert Interlude
3. As His Own Soul
4. Barcarolle of Tears
5. I Am the True Vine
6. Martha Complained
7. Other Sheep
8. Madrigal Divine
Performance History
Written between 1941 and 1943, Eight Bible Vignettes was one of the final compositions R. Nathaniel Dett wrote before he passed away in 1943. A Canadian-American Black composer, Dett’s compositions spanned genres, instrumentations, and themes. This suite of eight character pieces is the culmination of a life as a church musician, composer, pianist, and choral conductor. The number 8 in Christianity symbolizes new beginnings. The suite is broken into two thematic sections, where the first four pieces are representative of characters and themes from the Old Testament, and the last four relate to the New Testament. Dett explores religious and spiritual texts and melodies to make a larger statement about the importance of faith and hope through times of suffering.
