Blab Music
Mark Miller and Julian Wamble Bring New Art Songs to Marthas Vineyards Old Whaling Church
A concert on July 31 at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown will feature composer Mark Miller and baritone Julian Wamble performing new art songs based on poems by Langston Hughes, Paul Laurence Dunbar and other writers. The program, titled Joy, Justice and Resilience, is the second time the duo has presented Miller’s songs outside of a church debut in New Jersey.
Mark A. Miller, born in 1967, is a composer of Christian anthems and hymns who has taught church music at Drew University in New Jersey, where he is also composer in residence. He also lectures on sacred music at Yale Divinity School. Miller has written music for a range of settings, from liturgical services to concert halls, and has a long history of collaborating with singers to shape his compositions.
Julian Wamble is a baritone with a “supple, lustrous voice” who teaches political science at George Washington University. He is also known for his scholarship on the Harry Potter series, hosting a podcast and teaching a seminar on the politics of social identity. Wamble’s academic work and musical career intersect in his interest in how narrative and performance can address social issues.
The two musicians first met during a choir rehearsal at Drew University. Miller recalled hearing Wamble sing and immediately asked him to perform a solo. Wamble later became Miller’s teaching assistant and, according to Miller, “became the muse” for his recent work. Miller said that he rarely writes a piece without first sharing it with Wamble and receiving his feedback.
The concert program draws on a range of literary sources. Several songs are set to poems by Langston Hughes, including The Negro Speaks of Rivers, As I Grow Older, and I, Too, Sing America. Miller also adapted William Wordsworth’s The World Is Too Much With Us and collaborated with contemporary lyricist Lindy Thompson on two other pieces. Wamble contributed original lyrics for The Sacred In‑Between, inspired by a train ride in autumn. The song’s opening line—“There’s something in between summer’s warmth and winter’s sting”—reflects the theme of transition that underpins the evening.
The Old Whaling Church, built in 1843 and a fine example of Greek‑Revival architecture, will host the event at 7:30 p.m. Admission is suggested at $20. Miller and Wamble aim to use the concert to promote messages of resilience, justice, and unity. Miller said the music is “open enough to embody the values of justice, peace, love, forgiveness, hospitality, without putting any other names on.”
In addition to the Edgartown concert, Miller is scheduled to serve as music director for the August 9 Festival of Worship in Word and Song at Trinity Park Tabernacle, where guest preacher Sen. Raphael Warnock will speak. He will also perform at the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury on the following Sunday, joining Wamble in the choir.
The collaboration between a composer and a baritone who also teaches political science illustrates how contemporary sacred music can engage with broader cultural conversations. The program’s focus on poems that address race, identity, and the human experience aligns with Miller’s stated goal of creating music that “spreads these messages of resilience to whatever power that seeks to separate us.” The concert offers a rare opportunity for listeners to experience new art songs that blend literary heritage with modern musical expression in a historic setting.
The event is part of a broader series of performances that Miller and Wamble are planning for the summer, including appearances at other churches on Martha’s Vineyard and a possible tour of regional venues. No additional releases or recordings have been announced at this time, but the musicians’ work continues to be performed in both liturgical and concert contexts.
Mark A. Miller, born in 1967, is a composer of Christian anthems and hymns who has taught church music at Drew University in New Jersey, where he is also composer in residence. He also lectures on sacred music at Yale Divinity School. Miller has written music for a range of settings, from liturgical services to concert halls, and has a long history of collaborating with singers to shape his compositions.
Julian Wamble is a baritone with a “supple, lustrous voice” who teaches political science at George Washington University. He is also known for his scholarship on the Harry Potter series, hosting a podcast and teaching a seminar on the politics of social identity. Wamble’s academic work and musical career intersect in his interest in how narrative and performance can address social issues.
The two musicians first met during a choir rehearsal at Drew University. Miller recalled hearing Wamble sing and immediately asked him to perform a solo. Wamble later became Miller’s teaching assistant and, according to Miller, “became the muse” for his recent work. Miller said that he rarely writes a piece without first sharing it with Wamble and receiving his feedback.
The concert program draws on a range of literary sources. Several songs are set to poems by Langston Hughes, including The Negro Speaks of Rivers, As I Grow Older, and I, Too, Sing America. Miller also adapted William Wordsworth’s The World Is Too Much With Us and collaborated with contemporary lyricist Lindy Thompson on two other pieces. Wamble contributed original lyrics for The Sacred In‑Between, inspired by a train ride in autumn. The song’s opening line—“There’s something in between summer’s warmth and winter’s sting”—reflects the theme of transition that underpins the evening.
The Old Whaling Church, built in 1843 and a fine example of Greek‑Revival architecture, will host the event at 7:30 p.m. Admission is suggested at $20. Miller and Wamble aim to use the concert to promote messages of resilience, justice, and unity. Miller said the music is “open enough to embody the values of justice, peace, love, forgiveness, hospitality, without putting any other names on.”
In addition to the Edgartown concert, Miller is scheduled to serve as music director for the August 9 Festival of Worship in Word and Song at Trinity Park Tabernacle, where guest preacher Sen. Raphael Warnock will speak. He will also perform at the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury on the following Sunday, joining Wamble in the choir.
The collaboration between a composer and a baritone who also teaches political science illustrates how contemporary sacred music can engage with broader cultural conversations. The program’s focus on poems that address race, identity, and the human experience aligns with Miller’s stated goal of creating music that “spreads these messages of resilience to whatever power that seeks to separate us.” The concert offers a rare opportunity for listeners to experience new art songs that blend literary heritage with modern musical expression in a historic setting.
The event is part of a broader series of performances that Miller and Wamble are planning for the summer, including appearances at other churches on Martha’s Vineyard and a possible tour of regional venues. No additional releases or recordings have been announced at this time, but the musicians’ work continues to be performed in both liturgical and concert contexts.
