Birds, U.S.A.

Birds, U.S.A., included in Eight Songs published by Boosey & Hawkes, (1981), was completed in June 1972 in New York City. It is dedicated to Billie Lynn Daniel, an African-American soprano who trained at The Juilliard School. She was known for her beautiful voice and marvelous expression. Daniel sang in the 1950's revival of Virgil Thomson's opera, Four Saints in Three Acts. --Esther Jane Hardenbergh