Howard Swanson: The Negro Speaks of Rivers

Bass-baritone Nicholas Newton, pianist Blair Salter, and dancer Kayla Collymore conjure a deep sense of imagery and experience with this Langston Hughes text, set masterfully by Howard Swanson. The Negro Speaks of Rivers I’ve known rivers: I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins. My soul has grown deep like the rivers. I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young. I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep. I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it. I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset. I’ve known rivers: Ancient, dusky rivers. My soul has grown deep like the rivers.