![Kronos Quartet - Peace Be Till: IV. Symphony of Social Justice [Official Audio] @SmithsonianFolkways](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TAdIFIwepvs/maxresdefault.jpg)
Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Composed by Zachary James Watkins, Kronos Quartet's "Peace Be Till: IV. Symphony of Social Justice" from their album Glorious Mahalia features an original interview with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s lawyer and speechwriter Dr. Clarence B. Jones. Jones discusses the struggle for freedom and equity alongside King's famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail," which he calls a "symphony of social justice."
About the piece, Watkins writes:
"'Peace Be Till' is about the legacy of America’s civil rights movement, the important role artists play in critical social justice movements, and the necessary dreams today. As an American born in 1980 of mixed-race African and European American heritage, in a family that believed that we are one and that America is capable of embracing diversity, I feel that I am a direct result of this struggle. From day one I have experienced racialized America. Times are still tough. This piece pays homage to the artist’s instinct to inspire and activate, as well as the desire to explore the nature of things. In my case, I am fascinated by the physics and phenomenal power of sound."
Clarence B. Jones - vocals
David Harrington - violin
John Sherba - violin
Hank Dutt - viola
Sunny Yang - cello
Purchase/Stream:
Smithsonian Folkways: https://folkways.si.edu/kronos-quartet/glorious-mahalia
Bandcamp: kronosquartet.bandcamp.com/album/glorious-mahalia
All other platforms: orcd.co/kronos-quartet-glorious-mahalia
Midway through Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic speech at the 1963 March on Washington, a voice rang out from behind him: “Tell them about the dream, Martin!” That voice belonged to Mahalia Jackson, King’s close friend and one of the most revered gospel singers of the 20th century. Glorious Mahalia, a visionary tribute to Jackson’s life by the internationally renowned Kronos Quartet, uses that moment as a springboard to explore the depth of Jackson’s musical craft and its impact on the Civil Rights Movement, including her relationship with Clarence Jones and Studs Terkel, other luminaries of the time. Featuring compositions by Stacy Garrop and Zachary James Watkins, a new arrangement of Jackson’s astonishing version of the Antonio Haskell composition “God Shall Wipe All Tears Away,” and archival audio of Jackson's voice, the album illuminates Jackson's historic artistry and advocacy.
Kronos Quartet: kronosquartet.org
Facebook: facebook.com/kronosquartet
#kronosquartet
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The content and comments posted here are subject to the Smithsonian Institution copyright and privacy policy (www.si.edu/copyright). Smithsonian reserves the right in its sole discretion to remove any content at any time.
#KronosQuartet #MahaliaJackson
Composed by Zachary James Watkins, Kronos Quartet's "Peace Be Till: IV. Symphony of Social Justice" from their album Glorious Mahalia features an original interview with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s lawyer and speechwriter Dr. Clarence B. Jones. Jones discusses the struggle for freedom and equity alongside King's famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail," which he calls a "symphony of social justice."
About the piece, Watkins writes:
"'Peace Be Till' is about the legacy of America’s civil rights movement, the important role artists play in critical social justice movements, and the necessary dreams today. As an American born in 1980 of mixed-race African and European American heritage, in a family that believed that we are one and that America is capable of embracing diversity, I feel that I am a direct result of this struggle. From day one I have experienced racialized America. Times are still tough. This piece pays homage to the artist’s instinct to inspire and activate, as well as the desire to explore the nature of things. In my case, I am fascinated by the physics and phenomenal power of sound."
Clarence B. Jones - vocals
David Harrington - violin
John Sherba - violin
Hank Dutt - viola
Sunny Yang - cello
Purchase/Stream:
Smithsonian Folkways: https://folkways.si.edu/kronos-quartet/glorious-mahalia
Bandcamp: kronosquartet.bandcamp.com/album/glorious-mahalia
All other platforms: orcd.co/kronos-quartet-glorious-mahalia
Midway through Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic speech at the 1963 March on Washington, a voice rang out from behind him: “Tell them about the dream, Martin!” That voice belonged to Mahalia Jackson, King’s close friend and one of the most revered gospel singers of the 20th century. Glorious Mahalia, a visionary tribute to Jackson’s life by the internationally renowned Kronos Quartet, uses that moment as a springboard to explore the depth of Jackson’s musical craft and its impact on the Civil Rights Movement, including her relationship with Clarence Jones and Studs Terkel, other luminaries of the time. Featuring compositions by Stacy Garrop and Zachary James Watkins, a new arrangement of Jackson’s astonishing version of the Antonio Haskell composition “God Shall Wipe All Tears Away,” and archival audio of Jackson's voice, the album illuminates Jackson's historic artistry and advocacy.
Kronos Quartet: kronosquartet.org
Facebook: facebook.com/kronosquartet
#kronosquartet
Instagram: instagram.com/kronos_quartet
Smithsonian Folkways: https://folkways.si.edu
Facebook: facebook.com/smithsonianfolkwaysrecordings
Twitter: twitter.com/Folkways
Instagram: instagram.com/smithsonianfolkways
Support our work! Become a Friend of Folkways: https://folkways.si.edu/friends-of-folkways
The content and comments posted here are subject to the Smithsonian Institution copyright and privacy policy (www.si.edu/copyright). Smithsonian reserves the right in its sole discretion to remove any content at any time.
#KronosQuartet #MahaliaJackson
![Kronos Quartet - Peace Be Till: IV. Symphony of Social Justice [Official Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TAdIFIwepvs/mqdefault.jpg "Kronos Quartet - Peace Be Till: IV. Symphony of Social Justice [Official Audio]
Composed by Zachary James Watkins, Kronos Quartets Peace Be Till: IV. Symphony of Social Justice from their album Glorious Mahalia features an original interview with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.s lawyer and speechwriter Dr. Clarence B. Jones. Jones discusses the struggle for freedom and equity alongside Kings famous Letter from Birmingham Jail, which he calls a symphony of social justice.
About the piece, Watkins writes:
Peace Be Till is about the legacy of America’s civil rights movement, the important role artists play in critical social justice movements, and the necessary dreams today. As an American born in 1980 of mixed-race African and European American heritage, in a family that believed that we are one and that America is capable of embracing diversity, I feel that I am a direct result of this struggle. From day one I have experienced racialized America. Times are still tough. This piece pays homage to the artist’s instinct to inspire and activate, as well as the desire to explore the nature of things. In my case, I am fascinated by the physics and phenomenal power of sound.
Clarence B. Jones - vocals
David Harrington - violin
John Sherba - violin
Hank Dutt - viola
Sunny Yang - cello
Purchase/Stream:
Smithsonian Folkways: https://folkways.si.edu/kronos-quartet/glorious-mahalia
Bandcamp: https://kronosquartet.bandcamp.com/album/glorious-mahalia
All other platforms: https://orcd.co/kronos-quartet-glorious-mahalia
Midway through Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic speech at the 1963 March on Washington, a voice rang out from behind him: “Tell them about the dream, Martin!” That voice belonged to Mahalia Jackson, King’s close friend and one of the most revered gospel singers of the 20th century. Glorious Mahalia, a visionary tribute to Jackson’s life by the internationally renowned Kronos Quartet, uses that moment as a springboard to explore the depth of Jackson’s musical craft and its impact on the Civil Rights Movement, including her relationship with Clarence Jones and Studs Terkel, other luminaries of the time. Featuring compositions by Stacy Garrop and Zachary James Watkins, a new arrangement of Jackson’s astonishing version of the Antonio Haskell composition “God Shall Wipe All Tears Away,” and archival audio of Jacksons voice, the album illuminates Jacksons historic artistry and advocacy.
Kronos Quartet: https://kronosquartet.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kronosquartet/
#kronosquartet
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kronos_quartet/
Smithsonian Folkways: https://folkways.si.edu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianfolkwaysrecordings
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Folkways
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smithsonianfolkways
Support our work! Become a Friend of Folkways: https://folkways.si.edu/friends-of-folkways
The content and comments posted here are subject to the Smithsonian Institution copyright and privacy policy (www.si.edu/copyright). Smithsonian reserves the right in its sole discretion to remove any content at any time.
#KronosQuartet #MahaliaJackson")
