Thomas Hampson PBS NewsHour

A sampling of songs discussed in the July 2026 PBS NewsHour segment focused on Thomas Hampson and Song of America
Watch the PBS NewsHour segment (YouTube)
Thomas Hampson PBS NewsHour

Listen

My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free
Thomas Hampson (baritone) & Wolfram Rieger (piano)1:28

Francis Hopkinson

Composer

Thomas Parnell

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2009

Date

From the album "Wondrous Free"; used with the permission of the performers

“The Circus Band” (from “Five Street Songs”)
Thomas Hampson (baritone) & Craig Rutenberg (piano)3:11

Charles Ives

Composer

Charles Ives

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2009

Date

Minnesota Beethoven Festival; Winona, Minnesota

Location

Recorded for Instant Encore as part of American Public Media's Performance Today series; available for download via Instant Encore with the download code: THSOA2009

Ethiopia Saluting the Colors
Thomas Hampson (baritone) & Wolfram Rieger (piano)6:20

Henry Burleigh

Composer

Walt Whitman

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2001

Date

Salzburg Festspiele

Location

The Negro Speaks of Rivers
Thomas Hampson (baritone) & Vlad Iftinca (piano)5:11

Margaret Bonds

Composer

Langston Hughes

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2011

Date

Minnesota Marine Art Museum

Location

“To What You Said” (from “Songfest”)
Thomas Hampson (baritone) & Wolfram Rieger (piano)5:57

Leonard Bernstein

Composer

Walt Whitman

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2001

Date

Salzburg Festival

Location

Shenandoah
Thomas Hampson (baritone) & Wolfram Rieger2:48

Traditional

Composer

Traditional

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2009

Date

From the album "Wondrous Free"; used with the permission of the performers

Songs

My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free1759Francis HopkinsonThomas ParnellThe Circus Band1894 · Five Street SongsCharles IvesCharles IvesEthiopia Saluting the Colors1915Henry T. BurleighWalt WhitmanThe Negro Speaks of Rivers1941Margaret BondsLangston HughesTo What You Said1977 · SongfestLeonard BernsteinWalt WhitmanShenandoah1800

Related Information

PBS NewsHour: Under-Told stories

undertoldstories.org/2026/07/29/song-of-america