Zenobia Powell Perry (1908-2004) decided to become a classical pianist when she heard Hazel Harrison (the first Black musician to perform with the Berlin Philharmonic) in concert, and went on to study with R. Nathaniel Dett! She became friends with Eleanor Roosevelt, who helped fund her studies. Her songs have a distinct sound, with some dissonance and notes of counterpoint and a level of interest in the piano parts that makes them fun for the singer and the pianist.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, Donovan Elliot Smith, tenor, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:From ThrenodyThrenodyFrom Songs on Poems of Paul Laurence DunbarSunsetLifeRecorded at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA, and the Carnegie Mellon School of Music Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, PA.***So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about its network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.You can follow Ellen and The Diction Police on Facebook and at www.dictionpolice.com.You can follow Toni Marie on Facebook at Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano and Instagram @ToniMariePalmertreeYou can follow Donovan Elliot Smith on his YouTube page.

Howard Swanson (1907-1978) studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music and went on to study at Fontainebleau with Nadia Boulanger. He was close with poet Langston Hughes and his settings of Hughes' texts are considered definitive. Swanson has a unique sound, which makes his music well-suited for more mature musicians, but is still very accessible for an audience. Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Donovan Elliot Smith, tenor, Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:One Day from Songs for PatriciaGoodnight from Songs for PatriciaPrelude 1 from Four PreludesWe also mentioned his settings of Langston Hughes texts, many of which are performed on this episode of Song of America radio series. UPDATE: We updated this episode to include a clip from a performance of Swanson's The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Nicolas Newton, bass-baritone, and Blair Salter, pianist, from the archives of Cincinnati Song Initiative!Recorded at the Carnegie Mellon School of Music Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, PA, and Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA.***So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about its network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.You can follow Ellen and The Diction Police on Facebook and at www.dictionpolice.com.You can follow Toni Marie on Facebook at Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano and Instagram @ToniMariePalmertreeYou can follow Donovan Elliot Smith on his YouTube page.For information on Nicolas Newton, see his website.For information on Blair Salter, see her website.

Undine Smith Moore (1904-1989) was a classical pianist who trained at several prestigious universities, and despite her professors urging her to become a professional, she chose to become a public school music teacher and professor. She preferred to compose vocal music; her songs have a sweep and line to them that make them a joy to play and sing. Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Gracyn Blu Louis, mezzo-soprano, Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:From An Anthology of African and African Diaspora SongsI Want To Die While You Love Me (sung by Gracyn)I Am In Doubt (sung by Toni Marie)From the Anthology of Art Songs by Black ComposersLove Let The Wind Cry... How I Adore Thee (sung by Toni Marie)Recorded at Carnegie Mellon School of Music Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, PA, and Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA.***So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about its network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.You can follow Ellen and The Diction Police on Facebook and at www.dictionpolice.com.You can follow Toni Marie on Facebook at Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano and Instagram @ToniMariePalmertreeFor more information on Gracyn Blu Louis, visit their website, or you can follow them on Instagram @gracynblu

Known as a symphonic composer, Florence Price was the first African-American female to have one of her composition performed by a major orchestra in the US. Her music was rediscovered in 2009 in her old summer home, which has led to many of her works being recently published and premiered. Also an excellent pianist, her art songs include some virtuostic playing for the pianist, along with melodies that capture the text in a way that feels very immediate and can work anywhere in a recital.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Ricky L. Owens, Jr., countertenor, Gracyn Blu Louis, mezzo-soprano, Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:Hold Fast to Dreams (sung by Ricky)Night (sung by Gracyn)The Heart of a Woman (sung by Toni Marie)Dawn's Awakening (sung by Gracyn)An April Day (sung by Toni Marie)Score are available from Classical Vocal Reprints:44 Art Songs and SpiritualsThe Heart of a WomanWe also mentioned our CSI colleague Karen Slack, soprano, who has the video podcast KikiConversations on YouTube--she has a new CD out of unpublished Florence Price songs with pianist Michelle Cann entitled Beyond the Years.Recorded at The Church Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon School of Music Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, PA, and Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA.***So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about its network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.You can follow Ellen and The Diction Police on Facebook and at www.dictionpolice.com.You can follow Toni Marie on Facebook at Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano and Instagram @ToniMariePalmertreeFor more information on Ricky L. Owens, Jr., countertenor, visit his website.For more information on Gracyn Blu Louis, visit their website, or you can follow them on Instagram @gracynblu

William Grant Still (1895-1978) was the first African-American to have a symphony performed by a major US orchestra (Symphony No. 1-"Afro-American" in 1931), to have an opera performed by a major US opera house (Troubled Island by New York City Opera in 1949), to conduct a major US orchestra (the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra in 1955), and to have an opera performed on television (A Bayou Legend in 1981). His songs have a very American sound, with hints of French harmonies and spirituals.Our special guest hosts today are baritone Lester Lynch, who balances his international career with teaching at San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and composer M. Roger Holland, II, from the University of Denver, who runs The Spirituals Project and composed Ubuntu: I Am Because You Are, premiered by Kantorei (as soon as there is a clip, we will add this to the show notes!).Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Aliyah Quill, soprano, Solomon Onyukwu, baritone, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist (click on the titles for purchase information):Songs of Separation:IdolatryPoèmePartedfrom the anthology William Grant Still: An Art Song Collection:Bayou HomeCitadelRecorded at the Carnegie Mellon School of Music Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, PA.***So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about its network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.You can follow Ellen and The Diction Police on Facebook and at www.dictionpolice.com.You can follow Toni Marie on Facebook at Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano and Instagram @ToniMariePalmertreeAliyah Quill and Solomon Onyukwu are students/graduates of Carnegie Mellon University.