℗ 2024 SOMM Recordings
Released | October 18, 2024 |
Duration | 1h 01m 23s |
Record Label | SOMM Recordings |
Catalogue No. | SOMMCD 0691 |
Genre | Classical (Art Song) |
African Art Song
Omo Bello, Rebeca Omordia
Available in 192 kHz / 24-bit AIFF, FLAC high resolution audio formats
3 Yoruba Songs
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1.1
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I. Ìyá
Ayo Bankole; Traditional; Omo Bello; Rebeca Omordia |
3:48 | |||
1.2
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II. Já ìtànná t’ó ńtàn
Ayo Bankole; Traditional; Omo Bello; Rebeca Omordia |
2:23 | |||
1.3
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III. Kìnìún
Ayo Bankole; Traditional; Omo Bello; Rebeca Omordia |
2:34 | |||
1.4
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Àdúrà fún Àláfíà
Ayo Bankole; Traditional; Omo Bello; Rebeca Omordia |
3:47 | |||
1.5
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Òjò máa rọ̀̀!
Ayo Bankole; Traditional; Omo Bello; Richard Olatunde Baker; Rebeca Omordia |
1:32 | |||
6 Yoruba Folk Songs
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1.6
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I. M̀o lè j’iyán yó
Akin Euba; Traditional; Omo Bello; Rebeca Omordia |
0:38 | |||
1.7
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II. Ọrẹ̣́ mẹ̣́ta
Akin Euba; Traditional; Omo Bello; Richard Olatunde Baker; Rebeca Omordia |
1:46 | |||
1.8
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III. Mo já ’wé gbégbé
Akin Euba; Traditional; Omo Bello; Richard Olatunde Baker; Rebeca Omordia |
1:08 | |||
1.9
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IV. Ọmọ jọ̀wọ
Akin Euba; Traditional; Omo Bello; Richard Olatunde Baker; Rebeca Omordia |
1:20 | |||
1.10
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V. Agbe
Akin Euba; Traditional; Omo Bello; Rebeca Omordia |
0:51 | |||
1.11
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VI. Ó ṣe gbè na?
Akin Euba; Traditional; Omo Bello; Rebeca Omordia |
1:17 | |||
1.12
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Drum Improvisation
Richard Olatunde Baker; Richard Olatunde Baker |
1:36 | |||
12 African Songs
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1.13
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IX. Ne Nkansu
Fred Onovwerosuoke; Traditional; Omo Bello; Rebeca Omordia |
2:02 | |||
1.14
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X. Ngulu
Fred Onovwerosuoke; Traditional; Omo Bello; Rebeca Omordia |
2:59 | |||
1.15
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Ubangiji makiyayina ne
Ishaya Yarison; Psalm 23; Omo Bello; Rebeca Omordia |
6:13 | |||
1.16
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Ku zo, mu raira waƙa
Ishaya Yarison; Psalm 95; Omo Bello; Rebeca Omordia |
3:48 | |||
L’Amant anonyme
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1.17
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Enfin une foule importune me laisse en paix…Amour, devient moi propice (Version for Soprano and Piano)
Joseph Bologne; Desfontaines-Lavallée; Omo Bello; Rebeca Omordia |
4:08 | |||
1.18
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Du tendre amour (Version for Soprano and Piano)
Joseph Bologne; Desfontaines-Lavallée; Omo Bello; Rebeca Omordia |
5:13 | |||
1.19
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Peace on Earth
Errollyn Wallen; Omo Bello; Rebeca Omordia |
3:38 | |||
1.20
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Psalm to Windrush
Shirley J. Thompson; Omo Bello; Rebeca Omordia |
4:40 | |||
1.21
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Giri Giri
Christian Onyeji; Omo Bello; Rebeca Omordia |
1:59 | |||
1.22
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Atilogwu Dance Improvisation
Richard Olatunde Baker; Richard Olatunde Baker; Omo Bello |
2:24 | |||
1.23
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Selense
Chijioke Ngobili; Traditional; Omo Bello; Richard Olatunde Baker; Rebeca Omordia |
1:39 | |||
Digital Booklet
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SOMM Recordings is excited to announce African Art Song, a continuation of pianist and “African classical music pioneer” (BBC World Service), Rebeca Omordia’s exquisite exploration of African classical music repertoire in her African Pianism series, in which she partners award-winning soprano Omo Bello.
Throughout, an illuminating, and frequently mesmerizing musical tapestry appears, incorporating five indigenous languages and cultures with songs that merge African and Western European musical forms with African melodies to produce songs full of simplicity, playfulness, and most importantly, joy.
The repertoire recorded by the two artists ranges from the love songs of Joseph Bologne (1745–1799), to works by living composers Shirley Thompson and Errollyn Wallen, whose “Peace on Earth” has grown from a song for Christmas to a song of peace for all seasons.
The plaintive longing heard in “Adura fun Alafia” (Prayer to God / Prayer of Peace,” by Nigerian composer Ayo Bankole, is a prayer reflecting the depth of devastation and starvation experienced during the Nigerian Civil War, known as the Biafra War (1967–1970).
Ghanian-Nigerian composer Fred Onovwerosuoke’s “Twelve African Songs” are a kaleidoscope of dances, healing dances and calls on the rain.
Percussionist Richard Olatunde Baker’s two compositions “serve as intermission, as a way of bridging the multiple musical languages”. Baker’s compositions join those of Ayo Bankole, Akin Euba, Christian Onyeji, and Chijioke Ngobili as first recordings.
French-Nigerian Omo Bello is the winner of many of Europe’s most prestigious awards, including the Luciano Pavarotti Giovani competition (2010), Arca d’Or Prize (2013), Paris International Opera Competition (2014), and more after beginning her career as a scientist. Bello combines her talents by giving charity performances in the service of medical research associations and in working with the Operabuja festival in Nigeria to build a music conservatory and promote classical music and the lyrical arts.
Nigerian-Romanian Rebeca Omordia has been labelled “a classical music game changer” (Classical Music). Her recording of Errollyn Wallen’s Piano Concerto won the BBC Music’s 2024 Premiere Award. Alongside her wide-ranging career as a soloist and chamber musician, she is artistic director of the African Concert Series, in residence at London’s Wigmore Hall.
“Songs are the heart of the African people.”
- Rebeca Omordia
192 kHz / 24-bit PCM – SOMM Recordings Studio Masters
Track title | Peak (dB FS) | RMS (dB FS) | LUFS (integrated) | DR | |
Album average Range of values | -3.82 -9.02 to -0.71 | -24.40 -30.00 to -20.81 | -20.79 -25.70 to -17.60 | 13 10 to 23 | |
1 | I. Ìyá | -2.37 | -24.45 | -20.8 | 13 |
2 | II. Já ìtànná t’ó ńtàn | -1.17 | -24.37 | -20.9 | 13 |
3 | III. Kìnìún | -2.68 | -23.41 | -19.6 | 12 |
4 | Àdúrà fún Àláfíà | -8.10 | -27.82 | -24.9 | 13 |
5 | Òjò máa rọ̀̀! | -2.64 | -23.12 | -20.1 | 13 |
6 | I. M̀o lè j’iyán yó | -5.46 | -24.68 | -20.2 | 11 |
7 | II. Ọrẹ̣́ mẹ̣́ta | -5.57 | -24.36 | -21.2 | 12 |
8 | III. Mo já ’wé gbégbé | -5.25 | -25.35 | -21.5 | 12 |
9 | IV. Ọmọ jọ̀wọ | -3.24 | -21.47 | -18.3 | 12 |
10 | V. Agbe | -6.82 | -25.36 | -21.4 | 10 |
11 | VI. Ó ṣe gbè na? | -4.52 | -25.55 | -21.5 | 13 |
12 | Drum Improvisation | -0.71 | -29.77 | -25.7 | 23 |
13 | IX. Ne Nkansu | -4.50 | -23.84 | -20.7 | 13 |
14 | X. Ngulu | -6.69 | -24.99 | -21.4 | 11 |
15 | Ubangiji makiyayina ne | -1.03 | -23.01 | -19.9 | 13 |
16 | Ku zo, mu raira waƙa | -2.13 | -20.81 | -17.6 | 11 |
17 | Enfin une foule importune me laisse en paix…Amour, devient moi propice (Version for Soprano and Piano) | -0.71 | -23.33 | -19.4 | 15 |
18 | Du tendre amour (Version for Soprano and Piano) | -2.90 | -22.06 | -18.7 | 12 |
19 | Peace on Earth | -9.02 | -30.00 | -25.6 | 12 |
20 | Psalm to Windrush | -4.45 | -22.66 | -19.2 | 11 |
21 | Giri Giri | -6.42 | -25.87 | -22.3 | 13 |
22 | Atilogwu Dance Improvisation | -0.71 | -23.59 | -19.5 | 15 |
23 | Selense | -0.71 | -21.29 | -17.7 | 11 |