b. 1932d. 2024

H. Leslie Adams


H. Leslie Adams
H. Leslie Adams' compositions are infused with jazz and elements of African American folksong. He has set the poetry of American poets Paul Laurence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and many others. Photo: H. Leslie Adams, http://www.hleslieadams.com/

Listen

Amazing Grace
Alan Williams, bass-baritone; Kathryn Goodson, piano4:26

H. Leslie Adams

Composer

Traditional

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2021

Date

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Location

This recording was made possible by a grant from the University of Michigan, as part of the "Black Composer Speaks" Project.

Christmas Lullaby
Christine Amon, mezzo-soprano; Sara Chiesa, piano3:58

H. Leslie Adams

Composer

H. Leslie Adams

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2021

Date

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Location

This recording was made possible by a grant from the University of Michigan, as part of the "Black Composer Speaks" Project.

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

H. Leslie Adams

Composer

Leslie Morgan Collins

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2022

Date

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Location

This recording was part of a concert during the American Song Institute 2022, which took place on the campus of the University of Michigan.

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

H. Leslie Adams

Composer

Georgia Douglas Johnson

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2021

Date

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Location

This recording was made possible by a grant from the University of Michigan, as part of the "Black Composer Speaks" Project and the Classic Song Research Initiative partnership between the Hampsong Foundation and the University of Michigan, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance.

About

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Harrison Leslie Adams studied at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music as well as California State University, Long Beach and Ohio State University. Since earning his Ph.D. at Ohio State University in 1973, Adams has taught at several universities throughout the United States.

H. Leslie Adams is a champion of lyrical song repertoire and is known for his incredibly tonal and highly enjoyable music, which always has a specific emphasis on brilliantly expressing the poetry. In Adams music, contemporary compositional techniques are fused with elements of African American folksong and jazz.

–Christie Finn

Source: Josephine Wright’s article in the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians

Related Information

Songs

Amazing GraceH. Leslie AdamsH. Leslie AdamsBranch by Branch1960 · Five Millay SongsH. Leslie AdamsEdna St. Vincent MillayCreole Girl1961 · NightsongsH. Leslie AdamsLeslie Morgan CollinsDaybirth1993H. Leslie AdamsJoette McDonaldDrums of Tragedy1961 · NightsongsH. Leslie AdamsLangston HughesFive Millay Songs1960H. Leslie AdamsEdna St. Vincent MillayFor You There is No Song1960 · Five Millay SongsH. Leslie AdamsEdna St. Vincent MillayGone Again is Summer the Lovely1960 · Five Millay SongsH. Leslie AdamsEdna St. Vincent MillayHomesick Blues1988 · The Wider ViewH. Leslie AdamsLangston HughesLi’l Gal / My Man1988 · The Wider ViewH. Leslie AdamsPaul Laurence DunbarLove Come and Love Gone1988 · The Wider ViewH. Leslie AdamsGeorgia Douglas JohnsonLove MemoryH. Leslie AdamsPaul Laurence DunbarLove Rejoices1988 · The Wider ViewH. Leslie AdamsJames Dillet FreemanLove RequestH. Leslie AdamsPaul Laurence DunbarNightsongs1961H. Leslie AdamsLangston Hughes, Georgia Douglas Johnson, Clarissa Scott Delany, James Weldon Johnson, Leslie Morgan CollinsNight Song1961 · NightsongsH. Leslie AdamsClarissa Scott DelanyPrayer1961 · NightsongsH. Leslie AdamsLangston HughesSence You Went Away1961 · NightsongsH. Leslie AdamsJames Weldon JohnsonThe Heart of a Woman1961 · NightsongsH. Leslie AdamsGeorgia Douglas JohnsonThe Return from Town1960 · Five Millay SongsH. Leslie AdamsEdna St. Vincent MillayThe Wider View1988H. Leslie AdamsPaul Laurence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, Georgia Douglas Johnson, R. H. Grenville, James Dillet FreemanThe Wider View1988 · The Wider ViewH. Leslie AdamsR. H. GrenvilleTo the Road!1988 · The Wider ViewH. Leslie AdamsPaul Laurence DunbarWild Swans1960 · Five Millay SongsH. Leslie AdamsEdna St. Vincent Millay

Video

Records

2021

Dreams of a New Day: Songs by Black Composers

H. Leslie Adams, Margaret Bonds, Henry T. Burleigh, Thomas H. Kerr, Shawn E. Okpebholo, Robert Owens, Damien Sneed

Sheet Music