'In Sweden, there is very little spiritual music written in Dr. Dawson's style'

[The Spirituals of William L. Dawson; The St. Olaf Choir; Anton Armstrong, conductor; Marvis Martin, soprano; St. Olaf Records 2159 (1997)]

Today a native of Chicago left a comment in the Guest Book at AfriClassical.com about introducing the spirituals of William Levi Dawson to his church choir in Sweden. He also provided a link to his website about his experiences as an American musician in Sweden:

Sven-Erik Sieurin

Tuesday, 6/29/10, 6:03 AM What a wonderful site, I came in looking for information on Dr. William Levi Dawson and found what I wanted. I want to do some of his works for our church choir here, it will be a challenge! While what I would describe as modern, popular gospel is sung very often here in Sweden, there is very little spiritual music written in Dr. Dawson's style performed here. It will be fun to introduce his music to our choir. From: Chicago Web Site: Sven-Erik Sieurin

[William Levi Dawson (1899-1990) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a complete Works List compiled by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma of Lawrence University Conservatory]

'Songs of Hope,' African-American Spirituals by College of William & Mary Choir Feb. 28

[Deep River: Songs and Spirituals; Oral Moses, bass-baritone; Ann Sears, piano; Troy 332 (1999)]

WM.edu

"The Choir of the College of William and Mary under the direction of James Armstrong will give its a concert on Sunday, February 28 at 8 PM in the Catholic Campus Ministry Chapel (10 Harrison Avenue, Williamsburg). Admission is free and open to the public.

"The Choir will sing a program devoted to the African-American Spiritual entitled'Songs of Hope.' The program is a celebration of the concert spiritual for choir beginning with arrangements sung by the famed Fisk Jubilee Singers and the Hampton Institute Singers in the 1870s and proceeding through the much-beloved twentieth-century arrangements of Harry Burleigh, R. Nathaniel Dett, Melvin Butler, William Grant Still, Roland Carter, Warren Martin and Moses Hogan. Featured on the program will be the premier Of Darkness and Light: Three Spirituals, a work newly commissioned by the W&M Choir from William and Mary composer Brian Hulse expressly for this program. [The African American composers Henry Thacker Burleigh (1866-1949), R. Nathaniel Dett (1882-1943) and William Grant Still (1895-1978) are profiled at AfriClassical.com]