As we come to the end of spring, it seems fitting to share a piece with a text from the Song of Songs, the most spring-like book of the Bible. The text, Nigra Sum, comes from the first and second chapters of this book, as the unnamed narrator talks about the darkness and beauty of their skin. Renaissance composers such as Palestrina and Vittoria set some of their most sensuous polyphony on this text, and the 20th century setting by cellist and composer, Pablo Casals, for women’s voices, also creates an intimate atmosphere, especially at the text, “Surge et veni amica mea et veni", or “Rise up my love and come away”. The following setting of this evocative text is by New York composer Michael Bussewitz-Quarm. In addition to the traditional conception of the sensuous text, the composer added an extra layer of pathos to the piece, by dedicating it to “all refugees throughout the world and all who are lost”. The unspoken but clear message of the composer is reminder of the basic value of all humans, regardless of the skin color. The composer ends his introduction of the piece by saying “may this dark winter soon pass.”
The work begins with gorgeous chant-like melodies and rich, almost decadent harmonies, building to a full climax on the word “sol” or “sun”. Near the end of the piece, the women sing glorious melodies in thirds on the text “Surge et veni amica mea et veni, jam hiens transiit, imber abiit et recessit” or “rise up my live and come away, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone”, while the men sing full, exquisite chords on the “nigra sum” text. The piece ends with a hushed “alleluia”, with the listener having been transported from the chill of winter to the warmth of spring.” - Dr. Allen Friedman, director of SONAM, Singers of New and Ancient Music
