Great Voices Singing H. T. Burleigh
Soprano, researcher, and Grinnell College Library staff member, Randye Jones will present, "Great Voices Singing H. T. Burleigh," sharing a century of recordings of Negro Spirituals by some of the world's greatest vocalists on the 150th anniversary of the composer's birth. The free, public event begins at 4:15 p.m. Thursday Dec. 1, 2016, in the Burling Library Lounge.
The program draws from the music collection at Grinnell College's Burling Library and from Jones' private collection of rare recordings. Singers represented include:
- Burleigh,
- Nellie Melba,
- Marian Anderson,
- Paul Robeson,
- Ezio Pinza,
- Martina Arroyo,
- Sherrill Milnes, and
- Barbara Hendricks.
"Since Burleigh published 'Deep River,' the first Negro Spiritual set for solo voice and piano, in 1916, his settings have become standard repertoire for untold numbers of developing and professional singers," Jones says. "The composer used some of the most powerful folk music ever produced. Combined with the performances by these wondrous singers, the music created can not help but move the souls of most of its listeners."
Jones, media collections coordinator, earned her bachelor's in music education from Bennett College, and her master's from Florida State University. She is currently a doctoral student in vocal literature at the University of Iowa.
She has gained recognition for her research of and published writings on African-American vocalists and composers, in addition to being a performer and lecturer herself. Frequently presenting lecture-recitals, Jones has been a panelist for events such as the Research, Education, and Activism and Performance National Conference on Spirituals, and the National Association of Negro Musicians conference.
The program is free and open to the public. For more information, contact 641-821-0188.
Grinnell College welcomes the participation of people with disabilities. You can request accommodations from Conference Operations and Events.
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