Song of America

Singing Self, Hearing Nation · Ep 5In this final program of the Singing Self, Hearing Nation Supplementary Series, Song of America Fellow Emma Beachy cover

Singing Self, Hearing Nation · Ep 4In this program, Song of America Fellow Emma Beachy returns to Langston Hughes to examine two of his lesser-known patrio

Singing Self, Hearing Nation · Ep 3This program turns to the ugliness of racism in American life with Shawn E. Okpebholo’s Two Black Churches, a song cycle

Singing Self, Hearing Nation · Ep 2This program covers Songs for the African Violet, a song cycle by Jasmine Barnes that addresses the experiences of Black

Singing Self, Hearing Nation · Ep 1In this program, Song of America Fellow Emma Beachy explores Margaret Bonds’s song cycle Three Dream Portraits, which se

Places That Sing to Us · Ep 13There are places in the American landscape that are part of our collective consciousness, thanks to music. In this progr

Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance · Ep 12Langston Hughes, one of America’s great poets, gave jubilant voice to the lives of African Americans. His poetry has ins

Songs We’ve Always Sung · Ep 11Aaron Copland’s “Old American Songs” have become recital standards, but traditional texts and tunes have attracted many

Emily Dickinson: Letter to the World · Ep 10The reclusive poet explored all of life’s emotions, and there are hundreds of compelling settings of her poems, by compo

“There is No Gender in Music” · Ep 9So said composer Elinor Remick Warren. In this program we look at the lives and songs of generations of American women c

Arthur Farwell, American Pioneer · Ep 8At the beginning of the 20th century, deeply influenced by Dvorak’s challenge to Americans to find their own musical voi

Champions of American Song · Ep 7Over the course of the 20th century, our classical singers were enthusiastic advocates for songs by American composers.

Ives the Chronicler · Ep 6Charles Ives was unprecedented at suiting his musical style to the story he wanted to tell, and he created dozens of sur

War Cries · Ep 5Throughout our history, America has gone to war with bravado and with anguish. Songs have helped shape those emotions,

Many are the Voices · Ep 4Many Americans have had to raise their voices to be recognized or even heard in America. In this program, we hear songs

Song of Walt Whitman · Ep 3Whitman, the “Bard of Democracy,” was the founder of a new American language. With music built deep into his poetry, it’

Stephen Foster · Ep 2“Stephen Foster’s music is the trunk of the tree of American song, sturdy with songs we love to sing,” says Thomas Hamps

American Characters · Ep 1Songs about real and fictional characters in American history, including poets, preachers, and a president. The program

Concerts & Playlists

View all →

Soul and Reconciliation

1“Must All Then Amount to But This?”Ann Marie McPhail, soprano; Gwynne Kuhner Brown, piano3:03

2“O Children of Men” (from “Hidden Words”)Ann Marie McPhail, soprano; Gwynne Kuhner Brown, piano3:09

3In VainDarryl Taylor, countertenor; Junko Nojima, piano2:26

My Sister’s Keeper: Celebrating the 150th Birthday of Paul Laurence Dunbar

1We wear the maskAlexis Davis-Hazell, mezzo-soprano and Rosalyn Wright Floyd, piano3:02

2“Dawn” (from “A Set of Three Dunbar Poems”)Minnita Daniel Cox, soprano and Rosalyn Wright Floyd, piano2:16

3“Theology” (from “A Set of Three Dunbar Poems”)Alexis Davis-Hazell, mezzo-soprano and Rosalyn Wright Floyd, piano1:28

A Salute to Margaret Bonds (1913-1972)

1The Sea GhostNicole Jenkins, soprano; Lorna Griffitt, piano1:14

2“Minstrel Man” (from “Three Dream Portraits”)Thalia Moore, soprano; Amelia Hammond, piano2:04

3“Dream Variations” (from “Three Dream Portraits”)Thalia Moore, soprano; Amelia Hammond, piano2:07

“Singing Justice” Seminar Recital

1The ComplaintColleen Cole Beucher, soprano; Josh Marzan, piano2:06

2Gardé Piti Mulet LàColleen Cole Beucher, soprano; Josh Marzan, piano1:24

3Lord, How Come Me Here?Louise Toppin, soprano1:43

An Anthology of African and African Diaspora Songs

1Amazing GraceAlan Williams, bass-baritone; Kathryn Goodson, piano4:26

2Christmas LullabyChristine Amon, mezzo-soprano; Sara Chiesa, piano3:58

3“The Heart of a Woman” (from “Nightsongs”)Aria Minasian, mezzo-soprano; Sara Chiesa, piano2:32

Wondrous Free

1My Days Have Been So Wondrous FreeThomas Hampson (baritone) & Wolfram Rieger (piano)1:28

2ShenandoahThomas Hampson (baritone) & Wolfram Rieger2:48

I Hear America Singing

1“O Lovely Rose” (from “Six Love Songs, Op. 40”)Thomas Hampson (baritone) & Wolfram Rieger (piano)1:13

2To HelenThomas Hampson (baritone) & Wolfram Rieger (piano)3:16

3Evening SongThomas Hampson (baritone) & Wolfram Rieger (piano)3:27

Fires of Justice

1Martin Luther King, Jr.Anthony Léon, tenor; Leonard Hayes, piano2:51

2“I Who Would Encompass Millions” (from “The Black Experience”)Albert Lee, tenor; Kathryn Goodson, piano0:42

3“The Insurgent” (from “The Black Experience”)Albert Lee, tenor; Kathryn Goodson, piano3:36

In Memorium–Dorothy Rudd Moore 1940-2022

1“O Black and Unknown Bards” (from “From the Dark Tower”)Daveda Karanas, mezzo-soprano; Michael Ippolito, piano; Karla Hamelin, cello4:26

2“Southern Mansions” (from “From the Dark Tower”)Daveda Karanas, mezzo-soprano; Michael Ippolito, piano; Karla Hamelin, cello3:51

3“Willow Bend and Weep” (from “From the Dark Tower”)Daveda Karanas, mezzo-soprano; Michael Ippolito, piano; Karla Hamelin, cello2:05

American Song Institute 2022 Recital

1Ethiopia Saluting the ColorsThomas Hampson, baritone; Martin Katz, piano5:23

2“Tom Sails Away” (from “Three Songs of the War”)Thomas Hampson, baritone; Martin Katz, piano2:52

3“Creole Girl” (from “Nightsongs”)Tyrese Byrd, tenor; John Morefield, piano2:26

Celebrating 250 Years of American Song

Discover songs, composers, poets and writers, and more.

ComposerWilliam (Bill) BanfieldAn award-winning composer of many different styles of music and the Founding Director of Africana Studies at the Berklee College of Music, William Banfield has distinguished himself as one of the most successful contemporary composers of his generation. Photo: William (Bill) Banfield, billbanfieldmusic.com

BookAmerican Negro Poetry: An Anthology

Poet & WriterSusan StewartSusan Stewart's poetry has been set to music by American composer James Primosch. Photo: Susan Stewart, publicity photo

Artist, Movement & IdeaThe American Renaissance and TranscendentalismTranscendentalism was a visionary way of thinking that was widespread in 19th-century American art and thinking. Among those associated with the movement were Emerson, Thoreau, and the Alcotts. Composers who were influenced by Transcendentalist thinking include Edward MacDowell, Charles Ives, and Charles Griffes.

Your Support Makes a Difference

Song of America is free to access for all because of your donations. Please consider supporting this website and our behind-the-scenes work with a monetary gift. Even small donations make a big difference!

Timeline of American Song