Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance

Song of America

Ep 12 · 59 min

Langston Hughes, one of America’s great poets, gave jubilant voice to the lives of African Americans. His poetry has inspired settings by dozens of composers; we hear some of that music and learn about the world that inspired him.

Info / Credits

Additional recordings:

I’m Just Wild About Harry
from Shuffle Along
Eubie Blake / Noble Sissle
Al Jolson, singer with orchestra
Al Jolson: Fifty Favorites

I, Too
Langston Hughes recites his poem
Smithsonian Folkways SFW47001

Minstrel Man
Paul Robeson reads the poem by Langston Hughes
EMI Classics 509992155 8627

Songs

The Negro Speaks of Rivers1941Margaret BondsLangston Hughes My People1995 · Genius Child: A Cycle of 10 SongsRicky Ian GordonLangston Hughes I, Too1959 · Three Dream PortraitsMargaret BondsLangston Hughes Bound No’th Blues2001 · Dreamer: 7 Poems of Langston HughesErik SantosLangston Hughes Minstrel Man1959 · Three Dream PortraitsMargaret BondsLangston Hughes Lonely People1951 · Four SongsJean BergerLangston Hughes A Black Pierrot1949William Grant StillLangston Hughes Joy1946Howard SwansonLangston Hughes Lovely, Dark, and Lonely One1935Henry T. BurleighLangston Hughes Daybreak in Alabama2009 · Daybreak in AlabamaJohn StoneLangston Hughes Litany1987 · Shadow of the BluesJohn MustoLangston Hughes Drum1957 · My Dark HandsHermann ReutterLangston Hughes Peace1966 · The Face of WarElie SiegmeisterLangston Hughes Dream Variations1997 · Only HeavenRicky Ian GordonLangston Hughes