“Singing Justice” Seminar Recital

This concert was recorded live during the American Song Institute 2022, a four-day event which took place on the campus of the University of Michigan from Sept. 7–10, 2022 under the direction of Thomas Hampson. This particular concert was part of the Humanities Collaboratory “Singing Justice” seminar-recital research project, and all of the songs on this concert was composed by Black composers. Photo: Amber Merritt (soprano) and Joshua Marzan (piano) performing "Gospel Blues" as part of this seminar-recital.

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The Complaint

Colleen Cole Beucher, soprano; Josh Marzan, piano2:06

Ignatius Sancho

Composer

William Shakespeare

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.

Gardé Piti Mulet Là

Colleen Cole Beucher, soprano; Josh Marzan, piano1:24

Maud Cuney Hare

Composer

Creole Folk Song

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.

Lord, How Come Me Here?

Louise Toppin, soprano1:43

Traditional

Composer

Spiritual

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.

My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord

Colleen Cole Beucher, soprano; Josh Marzan, piano2:43

Florence Price

Composer

Spiritual

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.

Gospel Blues (from “Lyric Suite”)

Amber Merritt, soprano; Joshua Marzan, piano4:12

Robert Morris

Composer

Spiritual

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.

My Good Lord Done Been Here

Tyrique McNeal, baritone; Joshua Marzan, piano3:03

Hall Johnson

Composer

Spiritual

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.

Little David, Play on Your Harp

Louise Toppin, soprano; Joshua Marzan, piano1:47

Henry T. Burleigh

Composer

Spiritual

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.

Little David, Play on Your Harp

Louise Toppin, soprano; Joshua Marzan, piano1:57

Margaret Bonds (arr.)

Composer

Spiritual

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.

Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal

Tyrese Byrd, tenor; Joshua Marzan, piano2:13

Henry T. Burleigh

Composer

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

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.

“Worth While” (from “Five Songs of Laurence Hope”)

Aria Minasian, mezzo-soprano; Joshua Marzan, piano2:31

Henry T. Burleigh

Composer

Laurence Hope

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.

“Die Nacht” (from “3 Lieder für Mezzosopran mit Klavier,” Op. 19)

Aria Minasian, mezzo-soprano; Joshua Marzan, piano1:58

Robert Owens

Composer

Joseph von Eichendorff

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.

“Minstrel Man” (from “Three Dream Portraits”)

Amber Merritt, soprano; Joshua Marzan, piano1:53

Margaret Bonds

Composer

Langston Hughes

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.

“I, Too” (from “Three Dream Portraits”)

Tyrique McNeal, baritone; Joshua Marzan, piano1:59

Margaret Bonds

Composer

Langston Hughes

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.

Dream Variations

Tyrese Byrd, tenor; Joshua Marzan, piano2:33

Brandon J. Spencer

Composer

Langston Hughes

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.

I Want to Die While You Love Me

Tyrese Byrd, tenor; Joshua Marzan, piano3:25

Rosephanye Powell

Composer

Georgia Douglas Johnson

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.

I Want to Die While You Love Me

Aria Minasian, mezzo-soprano; Joshua Marzan, piano2:44

Undine Smith Moore

Composer

Georgia Douglas Johnson

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.

“Sence You Went Away”

Tyrese Byrd, tenor; Joshua Marzan, piano2:45

J. Rosamond Johnson

Composer

James Weldon Johnson

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.

“Sence You Went Away”

Colleen Cole Beucher, soprano; Josh Marzan, piano3:29

Lori Hicks

Composer

James Weldon Johnson

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.

“Decisions” (from “Songs of Love and Justice”)

Colleen Cole Beucher, soprano; Josh Marzan, piano2:51

Adolphus Hailstork

Composer

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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.

Related Information

Hampsong Foundation

hampsongfoundation.org/project/classic-song-research-initiative

Michigan Humanities Collaboratory

sites.lsa.umich.edu/collaboratory/funded-projects/singing-justice-recovering-the-african-american-voice-in-song

Composers