SKU: HL.148619

ISBN 9781495029684. UPC: 888680078515. 9.0x12.0x0.492 inches. With a Foreword by Thomas Riis.

Late in his life, composer J. Rosamond Johnson (Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing) submitted to his longtime publisher, E.B. Marks, a list of songs that would comprise a volume of his best early popular songs written with his pre-1910 partner Bob Cole and his brother, James Weldon Johnson (Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man). That list was never put into print...until now. Featuring an introductionby Dr. Thomas Riis (Just Before Jazz) and several rare photos, this new compilation is the latest legacy offering from the Marks archive, which contains a rich heritage of turn-of-the-century African-American, and thus distinctly American, pre-jazz-era popular song. Includes: Ain't Dat Scan'lous * Big Indian Chief * The Big Red Shawl * The Bleeding Moon * Congo Love Song * The Countess of Alagazam * Fishing * I Don't Want to Be No Actor Man No Mo' * I'll Always Love Old Dixie * I'll Keep a Warm Spot in My Heart for You * I've Got Troubles of My Own * The Katy-Did, the Cricket and the Frog * Lazy Moon * Lit'l Gal * Louisiana Lize * Lovely Daughter of Allah * Ma Mississippi Belle * The Maiden with the Dreamy Eyes * Mudder Knows * My Heart's Desiah is Miss Mariah * My Castle on the Nile * Nobody's Lookin' but de Owl an' de Moon * Oh, Didn't He Ramble * The Old Flag Never Touched the Ground * On the Road to Monterey * The Pathway of Love * Roll Them Cotton Bales * Save It for Me! * The Spirit of the Banjo! * Sugar Babe * Two Eyes * Under the Bamboo Tree * When de Jack O'Lantern Starts to Walk About * When It's All Goin' Out, and Nothin' Comin' In * Who Do You Love?

SKU: BT.PMC3865

The Two Songs on American Poems were composed in late May and early June of 2011 by candlelight at my rustic waterfront cabin on a remote island off the northwest coast of Washington State. It was in this locale that I havecompleted a number of works over the years, including the Lux Aeterna, O Magnum Mysterium, Nocturnes, Canticle/O Vos Omnes and others. Prayer was written in memory of Michael Jasper Gioia, Dana and Mary Gioia's infant son, whosebrief life was tragically ended by SIDS.Mr. Gioia served as Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts from 2003-2010 and has authored several books of poems, numerous anthologies, articles, essays and two opera libretti. Amonghis many awards are the American Book Award and Presidential Citizens Medal. He currently holds the Judge Widney Chair of Poetry and Public Policy at the University of Southern California. Sure on this Shining Night was originallycomposed as a choral piece, the third movement of my Nocturnes on poems by Rilke, Neruda and Agee. Rod Gilfry, an international star of opera, recital and musical theater, premiered the mixed duet version with his daughter, Carin,in 2009. He is Professor of Vocal Studies at the USC Thornton School of Music. Both he and Mr. Gioia are national treasures. The Two Songs are designed as a pair but may be sung independently - when paired, Sure On This ShiningNight should begin immediatelyfollowing the final, sustained chord of Prayer with no break in between the songs. Both of these songs, premiered by Mr. Gilfry accompanied by the composer at a USC Visions & Voices tribute to DanaGioia on September 27, 2011, have their roots in the American musical theater and should be sung as such.