My ancestors who created and passed on to the world the songs that made it possible for them and now me to survive. My mother, Marcella Robinson Barnwell and my father Irving Frederick Barnwell. I am their only child and am the perfect blend of the two - my mother the registered nurse and my father the musician/ inventor.
Bessie Jones, the Moving Star Hall Singers, Odetta who (unknowingly) made me think that it was natural for women to use their entire vocal range, Nina Simone who never knew her beauty, Miriam Makeba whose music politicized me about South African apartheid, Richie Havens who (unknowingly) taught me to play the guitar, Buffy St. Marie, and Leonard Cohen.
Marian Anderson and Paul Robeson.
J.S. Bach, The Swingle Singers who first made Bach come alive for me. Richard Wagner.
The Clara Ward Singers, Fairfield Four, the SNCC Freedom Singers. West African rhythms, James Madhlope Phillips, and all the un-named South Africans who sang their way into freedom, Gullah culture and language of South Carolina.
Baba Olatunji, Nana Denezulu, Ruth Griffin who was the first to teach me Negro History when I was 10 and 11 years old.
Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, FAnnie Lou Hamer, Barbara Jordan. Frederick Douglas, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcomb X, Anglea Davis. Amy Goodman.
Helen Keller, her teacher Annie Sullivan and my treacher Yvonne Rosedale.
August Wilson, Zora Neal Hurston, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Amiri Baraka, Maya Angelou.
John Work, Hall Johnson, Jester Hairston, Moses Hogan and Jacqueline Hairston.
Calvary Baptist Church, All Souls Church Unitarian and the Rev. David Eaton.
My sisters in SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK.
David Rousseve who commissioned my first and second commissioned works: CROSSINGS which included No Mirrors In My Nana's House, Wanting Memories and When I Die, and URBAN SCENES CREOLE DREAMS which included Spiritual. I did not know I was a composer before David asked me to write music and lyrics for his dance theater pieces. Then Elizabeth Seja Min, Cathy Roma, Liz Lerman, Touchstone Theater, Philip Brunnel, and the Waterbury Symphony, all of whom have given me major opportunities to continue the journey of becoming a composer.
GOD - the influence that has no end.
Sounds Like
If you are interested in
1. booking the BUILDING A VOCAL COMMUNITY WORKSHOP or 2. in purchasing sheet music, performing, recording, licensing the music of YSAYE M. BARNWELL, please visit www.ymbarnwell.com
If you would like information about SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK, please visit www.sweethoney.com
Ysaye M. Barnwell, Ph.D. MSPH, is a composer, arranger, author, actress, cultural activist and a member of the African American female a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey In The Rock. She is a vocalist with a range of over three octaves and appears on more than twenty-five recordings with Sweet Honey as well as other artists. Trained as a violinist for 15 years beginning at the age of 2 1/2, she holds degrees in speech pathology (BS, MSEd), cranio-facial studies (Ph.D.) and public health (MSPH).
She was a professor at Howard University College of Dentistry for over a decade, and over the following 8 years developed training programs in Child Protection at Children’s Hospital National Medical Center, and administered community-based health programs at Gallaudet University, all in Washington DC.
For more than twenty years, Barnwell has led the workshop BUILDING A VOCAL COMMUNITY(TM): Singing In the African American Tradition, which utilizes an African world view and African American history, values, cultural and vocal traditions to work with and build community among singers and non-singers alike. Her pedagogy is highly respected among musicians, educators, health workers, activists, organizers, and members of the corporate and non-profit sectors.
THE SHEET MUSIC PICTURED BELOW IS AVAILABLE FROM THE MUSICAL SOURCE IN WASHINGTON DC. 1-800-2-SOURCE(1-800-276-8723) OR MUSICAL SOURCE FINDIT@MUSICALSOURCE.COM
DON’T FORGET!! The 1st installment of SOUL MOVEMENTS is 2 weeks away! So grab your fellas and your bellas and command the dance floor as Cincy’s hottest female DJ’s rock your soul!! First up, DJ KELLZ on Saturday, June 28, 2008!! We’ll see ya’ soon! Peace, the cincinnati herstory festival: a celebration of women in art and activism
Hello my friends, It's friday again. It seems like these days are just rolling by so fast.I saw this morning in New York,some contruction workers lost their lifes while on the job,sad isn't it?.People are being born and people are leaving this world one by one as we speak. Some people are taking advantage of the Gas crisis,and making money off of the high prices.How are they doing it?,They go buy gas at a low price, put it in containers and park their cars on the side of the highway and sale it to people at a profit.The Gas companys are being investigated by the government to see if there is evidence of price manipulation,they havn't found any evidence yet(Smile). Each and everyone of us have our own personal issues we're dealing with, good and bad,Honest and dishonest(Smile).Relationships begain and relationships end.Some of us have children that just don't want to do right.Oooooooooooh,i could say a 1000 things about those "On the Job problems".Why did i say this?.I said it to make a simple point.What is my point?.Well In my view,there will always be positive and negative in the world and it can be very dificult to avoid it But the key word for today is "Focus" Why do i say "focus"?Well the word "Focus" as it relates to my "point" means,"Your attention on the most urgent problem". How do i define "problem" in my example?.it is "A question raised for inquiry,consideration,or solution". Once we understand and know(Solve)"the answers to these problems"we have,We will come to know good and bad things happen to bad people as well as good people.Let's stay "Focused" this beautiful weekend and enjoy it.Before you know it,God willing,i'll be back saying....... Hello my friends,It's friday again. It seems like these days are just rolling by so fast. Peace and Love always,Your friend Gerry Babb
Wonderful Music Here !!! Great musical work !!! Thank you for have answered to my invitation Be Welcome to my “FriendshipSpace”!! It’s a honour to have you among my friends! All the Best God bless you
You missed a GREAT discussion which was held at Speak-Hers Corner in the NappyNap Nation Chatroom yesterday. The discussion was entitled Afrikan Women & Addiction facilitated by Nasirah Sahar. It was TRULY INSPIRATIONAL. I met some AMAZING sistahs.
We would like to invite you to take part in the continuation on Thursday 15th May 2008 between 830pm-9.30pm(Est). This is a members ONLY area. If you are not a member of NappyNap Nation join up NOW, basic membership is FREE. TOGETHER WE RISE!
Dear Dr. Barnwell. Thank you so much for the add and for telling me the story of how you were named in person. I enjoyed you so very much at CWU in Washington State. I was awed and amazed in your presence...truly.
Thanks so much for the add. I saw you and Sweet Honey last month in Berkeley. It was as always a wonderful experience...Love, Peace, Blessings, Abundance, and Light To You...
Hey, thanks so much for the add and the friendship, I truly appreciate it! I’m back in the US to finish my debut album (feat. Take 6, K. Whalum, A. Laboriel, V. Colaiuta, P. Jackson Jr.). I’ll keep you posted :))
Greetings from a Swiss brother in Nashville,
blessings,
Vlada
http://www. vladamusic. com
Thank you for your Sistahship. You are Beautifull. We hope you are able to join us at this powerfull discussion soon to take place. Also, don't forget to join the NappyNap family at www. nappynapnation. com
Turn up your sound, and pay a visit with this cultural, progressive, educational, artistic, justice seeking, openly inclusive online experience, terryhowcott. com
ONE LOVELIGHT ALOHA EMPRESS YSAYE SENDING A SHOUT OUT OF PEACE AND WELCOMING YOU ARE YOU STILL WITH SWEET HONEY AND THE ROCK ARE YOU COMING TO MAUI IN APRIL I WISH TO SEE YOU CHECK OUT MY HOME PAGE WERES AISHA LOST MY PHONE 808 2808759 YOUR VOICE IS ABSOLUTELY EXQUISITE PLAYING THE VIOLIN AT 2 1/2 AWESOME SPIRIT ONE LOVELIGHT ALOHA Sadhika
greetnz great honor to have u as a friend. feels so good!. jus love every thing that u are involved with. thanks for keeping the vibes alive mo blessings from da mos high dkc
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