Reception Joseph_Schwantner:_New_Morning_for_the_World;_Nicolas_Flagello:_The_Passion_of_Martin_Luther_King

oregon symphony conductor james depreist being congratulated president george w. bush after receiving national medal of arts in 2005

on album s release date, more 30 united states radio stations broadcast album s version of new morning world commemorate king. martin luther king iii , schwanter celebrated album s release @ phipps plaza in atlanta. proceeds sales benefited king center nonviolent social change.

the album received positive commercial , critical reception. reached peak position of number 3 on billboard s classical albums chart , remains oregon symphony s best-selling album of 2013. in review deseret news, music critic william s. goodfellow wrote each work contained sophistication , substance . goodfellow said of schwanter s composition: more exotic scoring... schwantner s minimalistic treatment of music s more militant episodes, gives drive , dramatic punch of own. album features raymond bazemore narrator; goodfellow described bazemore s sing-song narration in new morning world lincolnesque . wrote flagello s work contained writing of remarkable clarity , italianate warmth , thought bazemore s voice sounded hoarse towards end , preferred solo sections in new morning world. seattle times s melinda bargreen called album strong , emotionally convincing , , praised excellent performances strong soloists . wrote both works composed in styles distinctively modern, tonal , accessible . bargreen described bazemore s voice affecting , complimented depreist conducting obvious passion music, drawing remarkably detailed , virtuosic performances orchestra. tim smith of sun-sentinel said both works worth hearing , encouraged orchestras explore pieces, along works other african-american composers, provide public broader programming. smith described new morning world remarkably lyrical , quite dramatic ; found bazemore s sing-song narration affected found conclusion touching , complimented orchestra overall sturdy, communicative performance. smith called flagello s score unabashedly romantic , described effective work of bazemore, depreist , orchestra.