Migration through a musical prism.

Naxos Classical Spotlight

Raymond Bisha and composer Derek Bermel discuss the latter’s Migrations, a 3-work programme that observes the universal phenomenon of human transit through an eclectic mix of styles: Migration series depicts the movement of African Americans from the south to the north of the United States in search of a better life during the first half of the 20th century; Mar de Setembrounites the composer’s experiences of Brazil and Portugal through settings of melancholy poems reflecting the countries’ sea cultures; and A Shout, a Whisper, and a Trace is an orchestral work that embodies Béla Bartók’s experience of New York, his place of refuge during World War II, presenting an alternative view of the city through the eyes of an immigrant.