In 2022, this program airs at 9 pm on Dec. 20 and at 9 pm on Dec. 24 on WQXR.
Terrance McKnight explores the beauty and variety of traditional spirituals that celebrate the Christmas story.
Program playlist:
William Hays: The Lily Of The Valley (Arr. Wendell Whalum)
- Messiah College Concert Choir
- Linda Tedford, conductor
Margaret Bonds: The Ballad of the Brown King: Of the Three Wise Men
- The Dessoff Choirs
- The Dessoff Orchestra
- Malcolm Merriweather, conductor
- Noah Stewart, tenor
Mary Had A Baby (Traditional)
- Kathleen Battle, soprano
- Christopher Parkening, guitar
Oh Mary what you gonna call your pretty little baby (Traditional)
- Oral Moses, bass-baritone
- George Bailey, piano
Behold the Star (Traditional)
- American Spiritual Ensemble
- Everett McCorvey, conductor
- Lisa Clark, soprano
Sweet little Jesus boy (Traditional)
- Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet
- Tullamore Gospel Choir
- Jonny Williams, conductor
- Mahalia Jackson, vocalist
William Grant Still: Suite for Violin and Piano: II. Mother and Child
- Manhattan Chamber Orchestra
- Richard Auldon Clark, conductor
- Ashley Horne, violin
Robert Nathaniel Dett: Ave Maria
- Nathaniel Dett Chorale
- Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, conductor
Margaret Bonds: Bright Star
- Lara Downes, piano
William Dawson: Hail Mary
- The St. Olaf Choir
- Anton Armstrong, conductor
William Dawson: Lit'l Boy Chile
- The William Dawson Chorale
I Can Tell the World (Traditional)
- The Boys Choir of Harlem
- Moses Hogan
Hall Johnson: Ride On, King Jesus
- Leonard de Paur, conductor
- Leontyne Price, soprano
Every Time I feel de Spirit (Traditional)
- Marian Anderson, contralto
- Franz Rupp, piano
- Lawrence Brown
Go Tell It on the Mountain (Traditional)
- Jonny Williams, conductor
- Mahalia Jackson, vocalist