b. 1938d. 2022

Simon Sargon

American composer and pianist Simon Sargon composed more than a dozen song cycles, setting the poetry of American poets from Walt Whitman and Sara Teasdale to Paul Laurence Dunbar and Edna St. Vincent Millay. Photo: Simon Sargon, https://simonsargon.com

Audio

“A Clear Midnight” (from “A Clear Midnight”)

Donnie Ray Albert (baritone), Greg Hustis (horn) & Simon Sargon (piano)4:07

Simon Sargon

Composer

Walt Whitman

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“A Negro Love Song” (from “Jump Back!”)

Barbara Hill Moore (soprano) & Richard Gordon (piano)1:56

Simon Sargon

Composer

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“A Prayer” (from “Jump Back!”)

Barbara Hill Moore (soprano) & Richard Gordon (piano)2:30

Simon Sargon

Composer

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“A Song” (from “Jump Back!”)

Barbara Hill Moore (soprano) & Richard Gordon (piano)1:44

Simon Sargon

Composer

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“A Song of Joys” (from “A Clear Midnight”)

Donnie Ray Albert (baritone), Greg Hustis (horn) & Simon Sargon (piano)2:44

Simon Sargon

Composer

Walt Whitman

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“Barter” (from “Let It Be You”)

Janeanne Houston (soprano) & Robert Jorgensen (piano)1:45

Simon Sargon

Composer

Sara Teasdale

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“Bitter For Sweet” (from “Bitter For Sweet”)

Eric Halfvarson (bass) & Simon Sargon (piano)1:48

Simon Sargon

Composer

Christina Rossetti

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“By the Waters of Babylon” (from “Bitter For Sweet”)

Eric Halfvarson (bass) & Simon Sargon (piano)3:36

Simon Sargon

Composer

Christina Rossetti

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“Compensation” (from “Jump Back!”)

Barbara Hill Moore (soprano) & Richard Gordon (piano)2:15

Simon Sargon

Composer

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“Florida Night” (from “Jump Back!”)

Barbara Hill Moore (soprano) & Richard Gordon (piano)3:50

Simon Sargon

Composer

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“Holy Innocents” (from “Bitter For Sweet”)

Eric Halfvarson (bass) & Simon Sargon (piano)2:23

Simon Sargon

Composer

Christina Rossetti

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“Huntsman, What Quarry?” (from “Huntsman, What Quarry?”)

Nancy Keith (soprano), Gregory Hustis French (horn) & Simon Sargon (piano)4:55

Simon Sargon

Composer

Edna St. Vincent Millay

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“Let It Be Forgotten” (from “Let It Be You”)

Janeanne Houston (soprano) & Robert Jorgensen (piano)1:37

Simon Sargon

Composer

Sara Teasdale

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“Let It Be You” (from “Let It Be You”)

Janeanne Houston (soprano) & Robert Jorgensen (piano)1:50

Simon Sargon

Composer

Sara Teasdale

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“Nocturne” (from “A Clear Midnight”)

Donnie Ray Albert (baritone), Greg Hustis (horn) & Simon Sargon (piano)4:43

Simon Sargon

Composer

Walt Whitman

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“Dirge For Two Veterans” (from “A Clear Midnight”)

Donnie Ray Albert (baritone), Greg Hustis (horn) & Simon Sargon (piano)6:07

Simon Sargon

Composer

Walt Whitman

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“O You Whom I Often” (from “A Clear Midnight”)

Donnie Ray Albert (baritone), Greg Hustis (horn) & Simon Sargon (piano)1:30

Simon Sargon

Composer

Walt Whitman

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“Song” (from “Bitter For Sweet”)

Eric Halfvarson (bass) & Simon Sargon (piano)2:45

Simon Sargon

Composer

Christina Rossetti

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“Sound Sleep” (from “Bitter For Sweet”)

Eric Halfvarson (bass) & Simon Sargon (piano)3:00

Simon Sargon

Composer

Christina Rossetti

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“The Buck In The Snow” (from “Huntsman, What Quarry?”)

Nancy Keith (soprano), Gregory Hustis French (horn) & Simon Sargon (piano)6:53

Simon Sargon

Composer

Edna St. Vincent Millay

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“The Last Invocation” (from “A Clear Midnight”)

Donnie Ray Albert (baritone), Greg Hustis (horn) & Simon Sargon (piano)3:18

Simon Sargon

Composer

Walt Whitman

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“There Will Be Rest” (from “Let It Be You”)

Janeanne Houston (soprano) & Robert Jorgensen (piano)2:04

Simon Sargon

Composer

Sara Teasdale

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“Wind Elegy” (from “Let It Be You”)

Janeanne Houston (soprano) & Robert Jorgensen (piano)1:27

Simon Sargon

Composer

Sara Teasdale

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

“Wrestling” (from “Bitter For Sweet”)

Eric Halfvarson (bass) & Simon Sargon (piano)1:07

Simon Sargon

Composer

Christina Rossetti

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

Used with the permission of the composer

About

Born in Bombay, India, Simon Sargon immigrated to the United States at a young age. After studying at Brandeis and the Juilliard School, he toured as the pianist for mezzo soprano Jennie Tourel throughout the United States and abroad.

Sargon is known for his sacred music, much of which was written during his tenure as the Director of Music at Temple Emanu-El in Dallas, Texas.

His many song settings are characterized by their sensitivity to text and melodic beauty. He has served on the faculty of the Juilliard School, Sarah Lawrence College, and the Rubin Academy of Music (Israel). Since 1983, he has taught at Southern Methodist University.

Sheet music for Mr. Sargon’s songs is available directly through the composer by contacting the following address: info@simonsargon.com.

–Christie Finn

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