About 400 people gathered in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium Sunday to enjoy the powerfully deep operatic voice of bass-baritone Kevin Bell, the guest soloist in Songs of the Slave.

The concert, which was presented by the Iowa State Department of Music consisted of 160 voices and an 85-piece orchestra, Dr. Robert Molison, director of choral activities, said.

Bell performed excerpts from Songs of the Slave, a suite from the 1994 opera John Brown, the abolitionist who started the Civil War. The opera, composed by San Francisco composer Kirke Mecham, centers around African-American leader Frederick Douglass.

The suite opened with Blow Ye the Trumpet, Brown’s favorite hymn. This first movement began with the deep, dark sounds of the lower strings of the Iowa State Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Kirk Smith. A melody then evolved, was passed onto the violas and picked up by the oboes. Soon after, an intense brass run led to a peak when the choir joined in, singing “blow ye the trumpet, blow.” The melodic voices of the Oratorio Choir, the ISU Chamber Singers and the Iowa State Singers were accompanied by the sweet sounds of the strings and woodwinds. This was later followed by a trumpeted fanfare raised above the choir, which sustained itself on a single note.

Songs of the Slave is the title of the second movement, and featured the deep octave sounds of Bell. The lyrics of the movement were derived from Douglass’ autobiography. “The songs of the slaves are the sorrows of his heart,” some of the words performed by Bell, represent Douglass’ character.

The third movement, Dan-u-el, featured Bell with the choir. This portion of the suite represented Bell singing the words of an escaped slave. The strings, brass and the choir intensified the lyrics and the immense spirit of the sound in Stephens.

The fourth movement is A Speech by Frederick Douglass. The lyrics to this section were taken from a famous speech Douglass presented to the British Parliament, which eventually impacted the outcome of the Civil War.

Some of the dramatic words to this speech were intensified by the strings and the brass between the phrases of the lyrics, which represent Douglass’ view of anti-slavery.

“If slavery’s right then cruelty’s right, for one cannot exist without the other. The destiny of the black American is the destiny of America. So much for the people of the North. They degrade us. They close our schools…refuse to give us work, and that’s why we steal. And yet, we are a hopeful people.” are some of the powerful words that were sung by Bell.

The final movement was Declaration, which emphasized words to the preamble, written by Thomas Jefferson. Bell singing “we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal,” were echoed by the choir.

The intense dramatics of the music received a long standing ovation.

“I think as far as its composition, its message is good,” Bell said. “I think the contents of its message deals with the issue of fairness and humanity to all people. It speaks about everyone being created equal in God’s eyes.”

Earlier, Bell also commented on the excellence of the students and the music program at ISU “It’s really refreshing to work with nice people who are very professional,” he said. “I’m impressed; for college [students], they are the best I’ve worked with.”