United in Spirit Through Song

The following is a summary of a story that originally appeared on Duke Arts.

New York-based composer Troy Anthony and members of his Fire Ensemble visited campus as part of Duke Arts programming to perform his work “The Revival: It is Our Duty” at Duke Chapel.

While at Duke, Anthony also led a spirited community sing at the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture, inviting members of Durham churches and Duke’s student gospel choir, United in Praise, to rehearse and sing together.

Anthony said the gathering created space for students and community members to connect through Gospel music traditions of the Black church in an informal setting. “I was so excited to come to Duke to perform, but also to have an event that centered the student community and Durham people in a rehearsal-like atmosphere where people could just play,” he said.

For United in Praise president Taliyah Thomas, the experience was a reminder of the joy that fuels gospel performance. “Sometimes as busy students we get to rehearsal and just want to get it done, but Troy helped me remember to be excited about gospel music,” she said.

The following evening, Anthony and the Fire Ensemble performed “The Revival” in Duke Chapel. Structured like a church service, the program included an invocation, sermon, responsive readings and music designed to engage the audience as participants.

Anthony said the performance carried historical meaning as well. “To enter Duke Chapel designed by a Black man [Julian Abele] who wasn’t even able to go in there during Jim Crow times and then to perform in that space was very special to me and I don’t take it lightly.”

To read more about the community sing and the performance of “The Revival: It is Our Duty,” visit Duke Arts.

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