In 1977 Willis Patterson published his Anthology of Art Songs by Black American Composers published by E.B.Marks. Although this was not the first anthology of its type, it had been more than 30 years since any previous publications. In addition to the anthology Patterson produced an accompanying recording in 1981 of most of the music in the anthology using then-current Michigan students Richard Taylor, Claritha Buggs, Susan Matthews, Erika Wheeler, Gail Mitchell, Uzee Brown, and Charsie Randolph (Sawyer). There were also several professionals who contributed to this important recording. They were: Willis Patterson, George Shirley, Hilda Harris and Laura English-Robinson.
This historic anthology continues to inspire the study of African American art song today as much as it did when it was first released. In this playlist, you will hear all of the selections in the anthology, some of them from the original recording, others are from commercial recordings and still others live performances as recently as August of 2020. I hope you enjoy the experience! – Louise Toppin
return to the African American Music Conference
- Adams, Leslie – For You There Is No Song from Five Millay Songs
Kenneth Overton, baritone and Kevin Miller SM ’11, MM ’08 collaborative piano), piano.
Been in the Storm so long (2012, America Spiritual Ensemble). - Baker, David – Early in the Morning from The Black Experience
Richard Taylor, baritone and James Demster (MM ’80 piano) or Barbara Wimunc (DMA ’81 piano), piano.
Art Songs by Black American Composers (1981, University of Michigan) - Baker, David – A Good Assassination Should be Quiet from The Black Experience
Laura English Robinson, soprano and James Demster or Barbara Wimunc, piano.
Art Songs by Black American Composers (1981, University of Michigan) - Baker, David – Status Symbol from The Black Experience
Charsie Randolph Sawyer (DMA ‘ 96, MM ’80 voice) and James Demster or Barbara Wimunc, piano.
Art Songs by Black American Composers (1981, University of Michigan) - Bonds, Margaret
- Minstrel Man from Three Dream Portraits
Icy Rene Simpson, soprano and Artina McCain, piano.
I, Too, (2012, Longhorn Music)) - Dream Variation from Three Dream Portraits
Dorian Hall (MM ’05 voice), baritone and Tim Cheek, piano - I Too from Three Dream Portraits
Claritha Buggs (MM ’80, BM’78 voice), mezzo-soprano, and James Demster or Barbara Wimunc, piano.
Art Songs by Black American Composers (1981, University of Michigan)
- Minstrel Man from Three Dream Portraits
- Brown, Charles (MM ’75, BM ’74 voice) – The Barrier
Charles Brown, baritone, and Richard Duncan, piano - Brown, Charles – Song without words
Charles Brown, baritone and Richard Duncan, piano - Cohen, Cecil – Death of an old Seaman
Willis Patterson, bass and James Demster or Barbara Wimunc, piano.
Art Songs by Black American Composers (1981, University of Michigan) - DaCosta, Noel
- Two Songs for Julie Ju (song 1)
Christine Jobson, soprano and Jenny Snyder, piano - Two Songs for Julie Ju
Richard Taylor, baritone and James Demster or Barbara Wimunc, piano.
Art Songs by Black American Composers (1981, University of Michigan)
- Two Songs for Julie Ju (song 1)
- Fax, Mark – Cassandra’s Lullaby from A Christmas Miracle
Brandie Sutton, soprano and Damien Sneed, piano.
Classically Harlem (2020, Lechateau Earl Records) - Fax, Mark – Love from Five Black Songs
Louise Toppin (DMA ’90 voice), soprano and piano - Hailstork, Adolphus – A Charm at Parting
Louise Toppin, soprano and John O’Brien, piano.
Songs of Love and Justice (2020, Albany Records) - Hailstork, Adolphus – I Loved You
Darryl Taylor (DMA ’95, MM ’91 voice), countertenor and Maria Corley, piano (2020) - Hancock, Eugene (MM’56 music literature) – Absalom
Carl DuPont, baritone and Gregory Thompson, piano.
The Reaction (2018, Albany Records) - Hancock, Eugene – Nunc Dimitis
Kevin Maynor, bass and Eric Olsen, piano.
Black Art Song (2000, Fleur De Son) - Kerr, Thomas – Riding to Town
Willis Patterson, bass and James Demster or Barbara Wimunc, piano.
Art Songs by Black American Composers (1981, University of Michigan) - Lloyd, Charles – Compensation
Lenora Green-Turner (DMA ’20, MM’08 voice), soprano and Louise Toppin, piano - Logan, Wendell – If there be sorrow
Frank Ward (DMA ’87, MM ’84 voice), bass and Louise Toppin, piano - Logan, Wendell – Marrow of my bone from Ice and Fire
Gail Mitchell, soprano and James Demster or Barbara Wimunc, piano. Art Songs by Black American Composers (1981, University of Michigan) - McCall, Maurice – Chanson Triste from In Parting
Gail Mitchell, soprano and James Demster or Barbara Wimunc, piano.
Art Songs by Black American Composers (1981, University of Michigan) - McCall, Maurice – Sweet Sorrow from In Parting
Erika Wheeler (MM ’80 voice), soprano and James Demster or Barbara Wimunc, piano.
Art Songs by Black American Composers (1981, University of Michigan) - Moore, Dorothy Rudd – Weary Blues
Richard Banks (MM ’85 voice), baritone, Tim Holley (DMA ’96, MM ’84 cello), cello, and Ed Paolantonio, piano. Performance at the Videmus at 25 Celebration, 2012, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill - Moore, Undine – Love let the wind cry
Pamela Dillard, mezzo-soprano and Vivian Taylor, piano.
Watch and Pray (1994, Koch Records) - Owens, Robert – Faithful One from Mortal Storm
Phillip Harris, baritone and Damien Sneed, piano.
Phillip Harris in Recital (2019, Lewis Newell Productions) - Owens, Robert – Genius Child from Mortal Storm
Kenneth Overton, baritone and Kevin Miller, piano.
Been in the Storm So Long (2012, American Spiritual Ensemble) - Perkinson, Coleridge-Taylor – Child’s Grace
George Shirley, tenor and James Demster or Barbara Wimunc, piano.
Art Sonbs by Black American Composers (1981, University of Michigan) - Perkinson, Coleridge-Taylor – Melancholy
George Shirley, tenor and James Demster or Barbara Wimunc, piano.
Art Songs by Black American Composers (1981, University of Michigan) - Price, Florence – Night
Darryl Taylor, countertenor and Deborah Hollis, piano.
Performance at the Videmus Centennial Celebration of Margaret Bonds, March 2, 2013 University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. - Price, Florence – Song to the Dark Virgin
Robert Honeysucker, baritone and Vivian Taylor, piano.
Watch and Pray (1994, Koch Records) - Smith, Hale – Velvet Shoes from Valley Wind
Hilda Harris, mezzo-soprano and Zita Carno, piano.
Music of Hale Smith (2997, Anthology of Recorded Music, Inc.) - Still, William Grant – Grief
Thomas Hampson, baritone and Wolfram Reiger, piano
(2001, Salzburg Festival Recording – songofamerica.net) - Swanson, Howard – A Death Song
Willis Patterson, bass and James Demster or Barbara Wimunc, piano.
Art Songs by Black American Composers (1981, University of Michigan) - Swanson, Howard – I will lie down in Autumn
James Patterson (MM ’82, BM 80 voice), bass and Patrick O’Donnell, piano.
Fare Ye Well (1998, Videmus Records) - Swanson, Howard –The Negro Speaks of Rivers
Oral Moses (DMA ’84, MM ’78 voice), bass and Rosalyn Floyd, piano.
Oral Moses Sings: Songs of America (2008, Albany Records) - Walker, George – Lament
James Martin, baritone and George Walker, piano.
Great American Chamber Music (2009, Albany Records) - Walker, George – A Red, Red Rose
Alison Buchanan, soprano and George Walker, piano
George Walker: Great American Concert Music (2012, Albany Records) - Wilson, Olly – Wry Fragments
George Shirley, tenor, Matthew Barber, Robert Gabriele, Don Luizzi, David Steinquist, percussion, and Carl St. Clair, conductor.
Art Songs by Black American Composers (1981, University of Michigan) - Work, John – Dancing In The Sun
Oral Moses, bass and Rosalyn Floyd, piano.
Oral Moses Sings: Songs of America (2008, Albany Records) - Work, John – Soliloquy
George Shirley, tenor and James Demster or Barbara Wimunc, piano.
Art Songs by Black American Composers (1981, University of Michigan)
