Rosephanye
Powell
Rosephanye
Powell
Notable Notes
Rosephanye Powell Commissioned for America250 in Collaboration with the U.S. Army
Join us in celebrating composer Rosephanye Powell, who is writing new music for America’s 250th anniversary in collaboration with the United States Army.
Mastering Spirituals Dialect
A Practical Guide For Singers, Voice Teachers and Choral Conductors
African American Spirituals Dialect is a groundbreaking singer’s diction manual. Author Rosephanye Powell, D.M., brings expertise from her lifelong connection to spirituals and professional experience.
The guide provides historical context, pronunciation rules, practice tips, and performance strategies, with additional online resources. Perfect for singers and educators, it unlocks the depth and beauty of African American spirituals.
The Word Was God
A masterpiece of stunning music and spiritual depth 30th Anniversary Edition
Composed by Rosephanye Powell and published in 1996 by Gentry Publications, “The Word Was God” draws its inspiration from John 1:1–3, blending European musical elements with strong syncopated rhythms and modalities associated with African American sacred musical traditions. It is well suited for church settings throughout the year.
“The Word Was God” is scored for SATB divisi, but arrangements are also available for SATB, SSAA, and TTBB, in both print and digital formats.
Great Day!
A Collection of Spiritual Arrangements for Solo Voice and Piano
“African American Spirituals Dialect” is a valuable resource for singers, voice teachers, and choral conductors. This guide, authored by a world-class singer and scholar, provides accessible reference material for interpreting and expressing spirituals. This essential guide reflects her expertise in African American spirituals and voice care.
Edited by Brandon Boyd and Rosephanye Powell.
High Voice Also Available
Great Day: High Voice
Kyrie Eleison In G Major
Composed for the 2025 Brock Commission
“Kyrie Eleison” is s stunning new choral work with expressive vocal lines and a richly crafted piano accompaniment, Powell delivers a passionate and compelling SATB setting of this ancient text. True to her signature style, this piece is both profound and accessible for high school, community or professional choirs.
Kyrie Eleison In F Major Soon to Debut!
Hold Fast to Dreams
Illuminating the Spirit of Langston Hughes’ Verse
In “Hold Fast to Dreams”, Langston Hughes uses dreams as a survival metaphor. The poem contrasts a lifeless, frozen landscape with a broken-winged bird, emphasizing the importance of dreams in overcoming life’s challenges. Rosephanye’s song composition flips this imagery, using an upbeat tempo and soaring accompaniment to evoke a victorious bird flying high, encouraging listeners to dare to dream and overcome.
Celebrated Composer of Vocal and Choral Music
Rosephanye Powell is renowned as one of America’s leading women composers of solo vocal and choral music, with a distinguished catalogue published by top national publishers. Her compositions have been premiered at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, conducted by acclaimed figures globally. Commissioned by renowned ensembles such as Cantus and Chanticleer, Powell’s works span sacred and secular genres for mixed chorus, women’s, men’s, and children’s voices. She is regularly commissioned by university, professional, community, and church choirs, and her compositions are widely acclaimed at choral festivals and conventions across the United States.
News and Insights
Rosephanye Powell’s choral works, art songs, and major compositions resonate with emotive depth, seamlessly weaving together diverse musical influences to evoke profound themes of spirituality and culture.
News
News
News
Passionate and Purposeful
“Your gifts will open doors for you, and if you are a genuine person, when that door opens, it will keep opening wider. If you have the talent and the skills and doors open, but you don’t have the heart or the personality to relate to people, that door will only open with limitations.”
– Rosephanye Powell
Passionate and Purposeful
“Your gifts will open doors for you, and if you are a genuine person, when that door opens, it will keep opening wider. If you have the talent and the skills and doors open, but you don’t have the heart or the personality to relate to people, that door will only open with limitations.”
– Rosephanye Powell
Notable Choral Works
Rosephanye Powell’s choral works, art songs, and major compositions resonate with emotive depth, seamlessly weaving together diverse musical influences to evoke profound themes of spirituality and culture.
The Word Was God
Rosephanye Powell’s The Word Was God is a compelling choral composition that delves into the concept of the Word of God as a source of solace and optimism. This poignant piece features intricate harmonies and expressive melodies that capture the profound essence of the text. The choir’s robust ensemble combines seamlessly with solo voices, delivering a dynamic and uplifting performance that resonates with audiences. Suitable for both church services and concerts, it is a favored selection across choirs of varying expertise. “The Word Was God” exemplifies Powell’s remarkable musical prowess and serves as a testament to the enduring significance of faith and spiritual devotion.
Langston Dreams
Langston Hughes’s timeless words resonate with renewed relevance today, advocating for justice, truth, and freedom. Rosephanye Powell has selected four of Hughes’s poems— “I Dream A World,” “To Sit And Dream,” and “Hold Fast To Dreams”—setting them to music as contemporary art songs in Langston Dreams. These pieces are essential for every vocal student’s study and performance repertoire, offered in high (JG0745) and low (JG0746) voice editions.
The Cry of Jeremiah
The Cry of Jeremiah is Rosephanye Powell’s debut major work. Inspired by passages from the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, its four movements explore the prophet’s journey from abandonment to redemption by God. Powell’s composition uniquely blends African American musical heritage with classical traditions, making it a distinctive addition to the Rosephanye Powell Choral Series by Gentry Publications.
Rhythmic and Colorful
One of the bright lights in American choral composition, Rosephanye Powell’s distinctive works bring head and heart together in a way that demonstrates careful craft, sincerity of creative impulse, deep human and spiritual sensitivity, accessible expression, and an impressive range of sensibilities.
–James Kinchen, Director of Choral Activities
The University of Wisconsin-Parkside
FRED BOCK
PUBLISHING GROUP
FBPG is a family of companies dedicated to searching the world to find the best music from the best composers.
GENTRY
PUBLICATIONS
Bringing you inspiring, diverse, and exciting choral literature for your concerts and performances.
Hal Leonard
ONLINE
Hal Leonard represents many of the world's best known and most respected publishers, artists, songwriters, arrangers and musical instrument manufacturers.
NEWS
OUR BLOG
Stay up to date with Rosephanye's most recent events and highlights.
Copyright © 2026 Fred Bock Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved.