Ezekiel Saw de Wheel
William DawsonPiece Duration: 2:30
About this Piece
(Song begins at 2:59, following an improvisation and contextual speech)
Context: Hear the song contextualized with a 1940 statement from Equal Justice Initiative, in the performance by VOICES 21C, starting at 0:00 or at this link: https://youtu.be/XIQRx2xBHU0 (See Notable Passage below as well)
Educational Video: Coded messages in African American Spirituals during chattel slavery: https://youtu.be/r4ykd-oiMEE
Sheet Music Video: https://youtu.be/RA0qYP52SAY
Recording with Composer Conducting: Hear William Dawson conducting the piece here: https://youtu.be/51rIXqGxLOk
Articulation / Accent / Staccato: Most easily identified in the sheet music video, Dawson uses accent and staccato markings all over this piece!
Interval: The melody begins with a major 3rd (Bb to D) on “Ezekiel saw de wheel”
Refrain: Right at the beginning of the piece, lasting 8 measures with a pickup, “Ezekiel saw de wheel, ‘way up in de middle of de air, Ezekiel saw de wheel, ‘way in de middle of de air.”
Notable Passages
Description:
VOICES 21C begins their performance of Ezekiel Saw de Wheel by contextualizing the African American Spiritual, within American history. This 1940 statement from Equal Justice Initiative is recited by Halim Flowers to begin their performance!
Keywords: Chorus
Description:
One of the singers improvises on the melody from "Ezekiel Saw de Wheel"!
(Note: This is not part of the written sheet music from William Dawson)
Keywords: Solo , Improvisation - Expressive Elements , Improvisation - Form , Improvisation - Melody
Description:
Text Painting: When the basses sing “some to go to church for to sing and shout,” the rest of the chorus response with “Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah”
(4:10 VOICES 21C Video, 1:11 Sheet Music Video, 1:02 Tuskegee Video)
Keywords: Text Painting - Expressive Elements
Description:
The famous “doomalooma” section of this song features most of the ensemble performing different ostinatos!
(4:24 VOICES 21C Video, 1:25 Sheet Music Video, 1:13 Tuskegee Video)
Keywords: Ostinato - Composition Technique , Ostinato - Form