WSSU Choir - Lift Every Voice and Sing - arr. Roland M. Carter 

Yes. Pure soul-stirring genius.

Thank you so very much Meredith!

Thank you!

It truly is.

He comes from the best high school in the country howard high school Chattanooga Tennessee

A notoriously tough piece to play! I agree! Every one of u can relate. There is one measure I know they want back, but music is beautiful in its imperfection!

Then you have not heard the Aeolians... (not taking away from what this wonderful choir has done)

You do know the stranger was the conductor, right?

Dr. Carter is the conductor I can only hope to be one day

Thank you Lady Tie De!

@@AhbaYah5, I agree with you! He's been a model conductor for so many of us for years!

This is an amazingly beautiful and stirring arrangement! I didn’t realize, until I watched an interview with Dr. Carter, that he was not only the conductor, but also the choral music arranger and a long-serving member of the NAACP. Congratulations to all who sang in this wonderful choir!

Susan Di Biase Yes, Susan. Dr. Carter is indeed a musical genius. Having been a member and Second Soprano in of the Hampton Institute Concert Choir, which toured Scandinavia in June 1970, I was honored to have face-to-face contact and

Mimi Jamison me too!! Hearing them singing that song made me so proud. I remember when we use to sing it. #WSSU out of all the songs that was my favorite.

I was singing too ♥️ when i was 18 yrs and m'y teacher was si disappointed and told me regretting that i left...and thé country,hé enjoyed m'y strong VOICE,strange for me as i never liked m'y voice.✌️♥️😍🥰🌈🌞

Brings me to tears too. Well done.

@@TracieAce and @Mimi Jamison, miss you BOTH!

A forever icon at our Home By The Sea- Hampton (Institute) University!💙💙

People are not disliking it because of the song but how its being labeled the "black national anthem" and being used to divide us.

@@jready1455 the "black national anthem" thing is just a nickname, seeing as it's a well known black spiritual.

Also, the nickname is 100 years old already! It was adopted by the NAACP in 1920.

@@jready1455. Here are the lyrics. When you read them I'm sure you will agree that it is about remembering the difficult past and building a better future. While in context it alludes to specific trials endured by Black folks, all Americans can sing it as a commitment to the hard work of living up to our noblest ideals. In order to form that more perfect Union, y'see. Lift every voice and sing Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise High as the listening skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us. Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won. Stony the road we trod, Bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, Have not our weary feet Come to the place for which our fathers sighed? We have come over a way that with tears has been watered, We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered, Out from the gloomy past, Till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast. God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way; Thou who hast by Thy might Led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee, Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee; Shadowed beneath Thy hand, May we forever stand. True to our God, True to our native land.

​@@susandibiase9250 20th century is much too modern for an American anthem, and it's shockingly tedious

Grateful it's also in the Unitarian Universalist hymnal, Singing the Living Tradition.

@@markworth2169 Hey! I was going to say this! 💜

I have to learn it tooo.....i don't Know thé song but you feel liké in heaven ✌️♥️😍🌞🔥

Some Black Americans already know the lyrics. Thanks

It’s a beautiful hymn and anthem. I hope all Americans will be inspired to learn it. My favorite is the third verse. I appreciate that Dr. Carter included all three verses, because the lyrics really do tell a story.

I'm so thankful that my school choirs during my youth made us learn the song. I'm 18 years old, and the lyrics stand right by my heart.

Thé pianiste very impressive and emotionally involved👍✌️♥️

Smile n a hug

Great observation!

@@Con4dentual sweet!

A better observation would be that the lady upfront told them to stand. As musicians at the VERY worst, they would've recognized the song by 0:27. By then, the audience was already standing. She motioned for them to stand around 0:40. You can see the lady who came in for the "bow" at the end just right of the maestro.

wow. I am learning so much. You are absolutely right.

AGREED! SO OVERWHELMED WITH THE BEAUTY OF IT!!

I agree!

Anthems = Great Sport = Great Anthems in Sport = Somehow always shit

Because there should only be the National Anthem sang at a sporting event. Otherwise you get alot or people not standing for the Black National Anthem then it creates division.

Thank you!

Agree with you it was taken out my school in 95. Then in 7 grade I have not heard it since. Sad a lot of people didn't even know we had an anthem.

I had the pleasure of working with him when he conducted a combined High School chorus on this arrangement a few years ago in Griffin, GA. He made this same change then too. The guy's a genius.

What does your comment allude to? Would have been good to hear your heart.

And your point is? Say what you really want to say!

yes! it's a famous black spiritual! i don't get why I've seen so many people upset with it lately, it actually has some really cool history

@@alia.1041 like being written by a prominent Black Republican. ;)

This Sunday

Thank you Emmanuel!