"Let Us Cheer the Weary Traveler" by R. Nathaniel Dett

University of Alabama University Chorus
Skip Stradtman, Graduate Assistant Conductor

Recorded March 2, 2021 at the UA Moody School of Music

University Chorus is open to all UA students who desire a choral experience featuring outstanding repertoire for mixed voices. University Chorus performs a variety of challenging music from throughout history and around the world and often combines with the University Singers to perform choral-orchestral masterworks. University Chorus is led by Dr. Matthew Myers.

Notes from the editor, Marques L. A. Garrett:
R. Nathaniel Dett (1882–1943) was a Black nationalistic composer, educator, conductor, pianist, essayist, and poet who helped to change the impressions people had about Black music during the early twentieth century. Dett intentionally used Black folk music as the source material for anthems and motets. His intention was not to improve the music. He simply wanted to find other ways to preserve the music and create songs for use in worship services. These songs remain true to the character of the folk songs either through repeated use of the folk song melodies, motivic development based on the rhythms and melodic contour, added polyphony, or the use of characteristic idioms such as call and response, syncopation, and pentatonic scales.