Jester Hairston
Jester Hairston (1901–2000) was an American composer, songwriter, arranger and choral conductor, regarded as a leading expert on Black spirituals and choral music.
He wrote the Christmas song Mary’s Boy Child and arranged the gospel-tinged Amen for film, and his choral settings of spirituals were widely taken up by school, college and concert choirs.
On Move his arrangements of spirituals including I Can Tell the World, Give Me Jesus, Free at Last and Elijah Rock appear on I Can Tell The World (MD 3109), and Mary’s Boy Child is heard on Mandolin Christmas (MD 3189).
Compositions by Jester Hairston appear on
Mandolin Christmas
Christmas songs for mandolin orchestra. Arguably Australia’s most acclaimed mandolinist, Kurt Jensen leads an international programme of sparkling carols, from mediaeval favourites to modern classics.
I Can Tell The World
Saucy Purcell rounds, madrigals, drinking songs, spirituals and English folk settings from one of Australia's finest choirs, directed by Douglas Lawrence.