Program Notes

Wanting Memories
By: Samantha Toledano

The song Wanting Memories, was written and composed by Dr.Ysaye M Barnwell.
Barnwell was born February 28th, 1946. She is currently 71 years old. Barnwell was a member
of the African American a cappella ensemble, Sweet Honey in the Rock from 1979 to 2013.
She is/was a prolific composer for the group, meaning she wrote most of the groups songs. She
also choreographed music for dance, choral, film, and stage productions. She is commonly
known for being a female bass. Barnwell conducts music workshops around the United States,
United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, including another workshop she created called,
Building a Vocal Community: Singing in The African AMerican Tradition. In 1997 she
founded the Jubilee Choir. They are a choir at All Souls Church in Unitarian Washington, DC.
Barnwell loves music and she especially loves making it. Her main purpose is to help people
when she makes music, to help them find themselves and find happiness within themselves and
their lives. Barnwell is an inspiring, admirable, and successful women.

Wanting Memories was part of a suite of songs commissioned for a dance theatre piece called
Crossings. Barnwell dedicated the song to her father who passed, however the song was
composed while both her parents were alive. The song is about missing someone and the
memories they gave you. It represents how someone who was once in your life is now gone and
you are just sitting here wanting memories. This song is meant to be emotional so that when
people hear it they can relate to a time where they felt this way.

Personally, I chose to write my program notes on Wanting memories, because when I first
heard it, it triggered my emotions. I think out of all the songs e3 Madrigals have sung this one
has to be my favorite. It reminds me of some tough times Ive been in throughout my life, but it
also helps me feel better. It helps me to feel thankful enough that I had a good time with people I
have now lost and are no longer in my life. Hopefully when we perform it our audience can feel
the emotion as much as we can, and understand what the song is about.