Songs Without Words - EP

Mendelssohn, as creator of the “Song without words” genre, rightly opens Jeneba Kanneh-Mason’s programme featuring three Black women composers who brought their own imprint to that expressive form. Florence Price’s poignant G Major “Pleading” makes the greatest impression, while Margaret Bonds’ “The Bells” rises to a Rachmaninoff-like climax. Finally, Kanneh-Mason recalls Nina Simone’s remarkable pianism through the celebrated artist’s arrangement of the famous aria from Saint-Saëns’ Samson and Delilah.