About

Launched in November 2009, Song of America is a project of the Hampsong Foundation. Our goal is to build and curate a comprehensive archive of American song that tells the story of our culture and nation, through the eyes of our poets and the ears of our composers.

We invite performers, students, and all lovers of American song to explore the work of American composers and poets; to see what poems have been set by more than one composer; to explore the background of American art song. Listen to the songs, read about them, download the scores, and find links to relevant websites for more information. Song of America.net is an ever-expanding database and a resource for exploring the connections between poetry and music, history and culture.

We welcome your suggestions for improvements to this site. Your reactions and user experience are important to us. Please send constructive comments, as well as additional resources and useful related links, to cfinn@hampsongfoundation.org (Christie Finn, Song of America Content Manager and Managing Director of the Hampsong Foundation).

The Song of America website is licensed through ASCAP and BMI.

Website credits

Site Development Team

Artistic Director
Thomas Hampson, Hampsong Foundation
https://hampsongfoundation.org/
Managing Director, Hampsong Foundation; Content Manager, Song of America
Christie Finn
Website design & development
Catherine Pisaroni, Lenny's Studio
http://www.lennysstudio.com/
Copy editor
Miriam Lewin, Lavine Production Group, Inc.
http://www.lavinegroup.com/
Assistant Editor, Song of America
Lucy Koukoudian

Lucy Koukoudian began her journey working with Song of America in 2023 as a Song of America Fellow, writing artist profiles and song entries. She is passionate about recognizing the work of American composers, poets, and lyricists. She strives to provide classical musicians access to the American art song canon through Song of America.

Lucy is a classically trained mezzo-soprano and writer, receiving degrees in Vocal Performance and Creative Writing and Literature from the University of Michigan. She has produced and directed various concerts and musical theatre productions, exposing audiences to exciting and innovative performances.

Major Financial Support

The Hampsong Foundation
Spokane, Washington
https://hampsongfoundation.org/
Michael & Noémi Neidorff Family Foundation
Elinor Remick Warren Foundation
Los Angeles
Mr. and Mrs. Victor Reyniak

Principal sources for Timeline: Books

The Almanac of American History
Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., General Editor, Perigee Books, The Putnam Publishing Group, New York, c. Bison Books Corp. 1983

Read via Archive.org: https://archive.org/details/almanacofamericasch00sch
The History of American Classical Music: MacDowell Through Minimalism
John Warthen Struble, Facts on File, New York, c. 1995 by John Warthen Struble

Read via Archive.org: https://archive.org/details/historyofamerica00stru
Art-Song in America: A Study in the Development of American Music
William Treat Upton, Oliver Ditson Company, Boston and New York, c. Oliver Ditson Company 1930

Read via Archive.org: https://archive.org/details/artsonginamerica036944mbp

Principal sources for Timeline: Websites

The Library of Congress Performing Arts Encyclopedia: Song of America (2006)
https://www.loc.gov/performingarts/encyclopedia
[Page no longer available]

Learn more here: https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-06-127/library-of-congress-launches-performing-arts-encyclopedia-online/2006-05-26/

Explore via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20060601024253/http://www.loc.gov/performingarts/encyclopedia/
Voices Across Time: American History Through Music
https://voices.pitt.edu/
PBS: I Hear America Singing (1997)
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ihas/
[Page no longer available]

Explore via the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/19990210083030/http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ihas.cgi