Margaret Bonds was born in Chicago, Illinois, on March 3, 1913, and died in Los Angeles, California, on April 26, 1972. The Bonds arrangements of Spirituals are scored for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, harp, celesta, and strings. Approximate performance time is thirteen minutes.

The African American musician Margaret Bonds overcame prejudice to pursue a distinguished career as a composer, arranger, concert pianist, and educator. Among the compositions of Margaret Bonds are numerous settings of poetry by Langston Hughes. Bonds also created arrangements of African American Spirituals, including a version of “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” for the legendary soprano Leontyne Price. These concerts feature five of the Bond Spiritual arrangements.

Ezek’el Saw the Wheel

He’s Got the Whole World

Hold On

I Got a Home in that Rock

Joshua Fit the Battle