Shows
So Lit Song LitPauline Viardot (ft. Dr. Melanie Taylor)Pauline Viardot (1821-1910) was one of the most important musicians of her time. An opera singer and concert pianist as well as a composer, she spoke at least 5 languages fluently and composed stylistically correct in each of those languages! She also taught voice and composed many of her songs to teach her students. This episode focuses on her French mélodies. We are very excited to have Dr. Melanie Taylor, soprano, with us for this episode; she did her doctoral thesis on Pauline Viardot's songs, and has lots of incredible stories of her life to share with u...
2025-12-0227 minSo Lit Song LitAugusta Browne, Jane Sloman, Faustina Hasse HodgesIn the 1800s, women in America were mostly only allowed to compose "Parlor Songs", sentimental pieces that were intended to be sung at home by amateurs rather than on the recital stage. But there are a lot of beautiful pieces that came out of this time period! This episode focuses on Augusta Browne (1820-1882), Jane Sloman (1824-after 1850), and Faustina Hasse Hodges (1823-1895).Musical clips performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, piano:Browne-The Courier DoveBrowne-The Song of the SkylarkSloman-Queen of the NightHodges-The Dreary Day Recorded at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA.
2025-11-1822 minSo Lit Song LitJosephine LangJosephine Lang (1815-1880) came from a musical family in Munich and her musical talent developed very early. She composed her first songs at age 13 and has about 150 Lieder to her credit, many of which were published by major publishing houses during her lifetime. Her songs are full-on Romantic, with incredible melodies and often a wide range required of the singer with a somewhat operatic sweep.Musical clips performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, Troy Cook, baritone, and Ellen Rissinger, piano:All of these songs are found in Josephine Lang: Selected Songs. Hildegard Publishing also has...
2025-11-0420 minSo Lit Song LitEmilie ZumsteegEmilie Zumsteeg's (1796-1857) father was a composer and her mother owned a music store, so her natural abilities were encouraged early. She made a living teaching voice and piano, and was a well-known composer in her time, with at least 60 Lieder, which were considered innovative by her contemporaries. Musical clips performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, piano:Die Unschuld (9 Lieder)Das Epheublättchen (9 Lieder)Die Kapelle (6 Lieder)Der Sternenhimmel (6 Lieder)Recorded at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA."Exactly" counter--Ellen 5 (16), Toni 0 (2)***So Lit Song Lit is a...
2025-10-2116 minSo Lit Song LitLouise ReichardtLouise Reichardt (1779-1826) came from a musical family in Berlin, and grew up to be a composer and choral conductor, establishing a choral society in Hamburg, Germany. Her Italian songs have a bel canto feel to them, and her German Lieder tend more toward folk melodies. Her mother Juliane was also a composer; some of her songs are available on IMSLP and more can be sourced through inter-library loan.Much of the information this season comes from Karin Pendle's Women and Music: A History.Musical clips performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger...
2025-10-0718 minSo Lit Song LitAnna Amalia and Corona SchröterAnna Amalia (1739-1807) was a German princess who became Duchess of Saxe-Weimar upon her marriage. Also a composer, her love of the arts made her court a cultural center and ushered in the era of Weimar Classicism.Corona Schröter (1751-1802) was a singer in the court of Anna Amalia, brought there by her close friend Johann Wolfgang von Goethe! Much of her compositional output has been lost, but two volumes of her songs were published.Much of the information this season comes from Karin Pendle's Women and Music: A History.Musical clips pe...
2025-09-3018 minSo Lit Song LitElizabeth Jacquet de la GuerreElizabeth Jacquet de la Guerre (1665-1729) was a child prodigy from a huge family of musicians and instrument makers on both sides of her family tree. She composed three volumes of cantatas, several of which use Biblical women as their subjects - most of these cantatas are intended for a single singer along with continuo.Much of the information this season comes from Karin Pendle's Women and Music: A History.Musical clips performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, piano:Judith AirRecitLe Passage de la mer rougeR...
2025-09-1615 minSo Lit Song LitBarbara StrozziBarbara Strozzi (1619-1677) was a prolific composer of secular chamber music, publishing eight volumes of her works, more than most men of her time period. She composed almost exclusively for voice and continuo, with just one volume including works with ensembles, and she never composed nor sang opera.Much of the information this season comes from Karin Pendle's Women and Music: A History.Musical clips performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, Andrew Schucker, countertenor, and Ellen Rissinger, piano:Spesso per entro al petto (found in Women Composers – A Heritage of Song High Voice * Low Vo...
2025-09-0220 minSo Lit Song LitFrancesca CacciniFrancesca Caccini (1587-1640) came from a very important musical family, studying music with her father alongside her brother and sister. A noted singer and voice teacher as well, Francesca spent much of her musical career working in the Medici court. She composed the first extant opera by a woman and the first Italian opera that was performed outside of Italy.Much of the information this season comes from Karin Pendle's Women and Music: A History.Musical clips performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, Troy Cook, baritone, and Ellen Rissinger, piano:Primo libro delle...
2025-08-1919 minSo Lit Song LitSeason 4 TrailerThe So Lit Song Lit academy is back in session - Season 4 drops starting August 19th! This season, Toni Marie and Ellen focus on women composers from the 16th century through the 1990s. Make sure to subscribe and tell all your friends, colleagues, and students, you won't want to miss this season!So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about its network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.
2025-08-0502 minSo Lit Song LitAfro-Latin Songs (ft. Zuly Inirio)In the final episode of Season 3, our guest Dr. Zuly Inirio of the Afro-Latinx Song & Opera Project shows us some fabulous songs by Afro-Latin composers that she uses in her concerts entitled ¡Tumbao! A Celebration of Afro-Latin Music!Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Zuly Inirio, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, piano:Modesta Bor: "Guitarra" Tríptico sobra poesía Cubana Errollyn Wallen: "My feet may take a little while"Antonio Carlos Gomes: "Suspiro d’alma"Xavier Montsalvatge: "Cuba dentro de un piano" Cinco canciones negras Record...
2025-05-2726 minSo Lit Song LitB. E. Boykin and M. Roger Holland IIB.E. Boykin is a graduate of Spelman college, Westminster College, and holds a doctorate from Georgia State University. In addition to Moments in Sonder, she has an extensive catalog of choral works as well. Her music is sold through Graphite Publishing.M. Roger Holland II has been a guest on several episodes of So Lit this season, so we couldn't leave him out of the musical line-up! Make sure to check out the episodes on William Grant Still and Margaret Bonds to hear him discuss composing and poetry with us. His music is sold through GIA...
2025-05-0615 minSo Lit Song LitCarlos Simon and Dave Ragland: SongsThis episode was inspired by the program of a colleague that was posted on Facebook! Both Carlos Simon and Dave Ragland are modern composers working with some of the most important companies and singers of our time, creating all kinds of new works that are powerful, accessible to audiences, and absolute gems of the repertoire.Carlos Simon:Caro mio ben (sung by Solomon)Vocalise (sung by Toni)Prayer (Gather Up) (sung by Solomon)Dave Ragland:I Believe (High Voice score, Low Voice score) (sung by Ricky)Posting a quote here from Carlos...
2025-04-2913 minSo Lit Song LitSongs from the AnthologiesThis episode offers a taste of a few different songs from the anthologies that we've been talking about all season, all of which would be a great addition to everyone's library. Those anthologies are: An Anthology of African and African Diaspora Songs Anthology of Art Songs by Black American Composers A New Anthology of Art Songs by African American Composers The Second Anthology of Art Songs by African American Composers Musical clips featured on this episode, performed by Solomon Onyukwu, baritone, Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, piano:Compensation (Charles Lloyd, Jr...
2025-04-1513 minSo Lit Song LitDorothy Rudd Moore: Songs (plus a few other composers)This episode is an eclectic mixture of pieces and composers, starting with two song cycles by Dorothy Rudd Moore! Born and raised on the East Coast, she studied with Nadia Boulanger, and was one of the co-founders of the Society of Black Composers. Her music has enough dissonance to bring out the colors of the texts beautifully, while still being very accessible to an audience. Jonathan Bailey Holland is currently the Dean of Music at Northwestern University, and has some stunningly beautiful pieces - he was a student of Ned Rorem.We also included both settings of...
2025-04-0117 minSo Lit Song LitRosephanye Powell and Betty Jackson King: Songs (ft. Sonya Baker)On this episode we focus on some songs of Rosephanye Powell and Betty Jackson King, both amazing women with some fabulous songs to their credit. All of these songs are sure to be accessible and exciting to audiences, while offering enough challenge to performers to make their songs worth digging into!Our guest today is Dr. Sonya Baker, Professor of Voice at James Madison University. Sonya performs a lecture recital based on Marian Anderson's 1939 concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and helped curate a new song literature curriculum for NATS that can be downloaded from...
2025-03-1832 minSo Lit Song LitAdolphus Hailstork: Songs (ft. Darryl Taylor and Kenneth Overton)Adolphus Hailstork is an active, award-winning composer with a great output of art songs - and he's another name in our growing list of fabulous composers who studied with Nadia Boulanger! His works blend African, American, and European musical traditions in a unique way that is satisfying to both performers and audiences. We also have personal stories about Hailstork today from countertenor Darryl Taylor of the African American Art Song Alliance and baritone Kenneth Overton.The exciting news from the episode intro: you can order Tyson Deaton's new anthology Songs of Joseph Bologne de Saint-Georges Vol 3 from C...
2025-03-0424 minSo Lit Song LitRobert Owens: SongsRobert Owens (1925-2017) funded his musical studies in Europe on the GI bill after serving in the military. He lived most of his adult life in Germany and in addition to composing, he was also a much-sought-after actor! All of his scores are available at Classical Vocal Reprints, and he has lots of songs in English, French, and German to choose from.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Hanna Atsedewoin, soprano, Ricky L. Owens, Jr., countertenor, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:Op 14 Heart On The Wall (sung by Hanna)Havanna DreamsGirl...
2025-02-1814 minSo Lit Song LitValerie Capers: Song of the Seasons (ft. Louise Toppin)Valerie Capers (b. 1935) was Juilliard's first blind student pianist, earning both her bachelor's and master's degrees there, and at the encouragement of her brother has gone on to become a noted jazz pianist (if you want to hear her play, check out this YouTube video). Song of the Seasons is her only song cycle, and it definitely should be in the standard repertoire! She also composed an operatorio based on the life of Sojourner Truth.Our special guest today is Dr. Louise Toppin, a coloratura soprano who has sung all over the world, who teaches at University...
2025-02-0419 minSo Lit Song LitJohn D. Carter: Cantata (ft. Casey Robards)John D. Carter's Cantata was premiered in 1959 by Leontyne Price and David Garvey. A great pianist in his own right, Carter's song cycle is challenging for the pianist as well as the singer, with rhythmic displacements and dissonances that bring the melodies of the spirituals he chose into the classical realm. Our guest today, Dr. Casey Robards, earned her doctorate with a dissertation on John D. Carter. Be sure to check out Casey Robards' new CD with Kenneth Overton: What Dreams We Have: The Poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar! We also talk about Cecil Cohen, a pianist a...
2025-01-2121 minSo Lit Song LitH. Leslie Adams: Songs (ft. Darryl Taylor)H. Leslie Adams (1932-2024) is best-known for his vocal compositions, with a large output of art songs and song cycles to choose from, and his works have been performed all over the world. His music is accessible to audiences and performers alike, and our guest today, countertenor Darryl Taylor, of the African American Art Song Alliance, offers amazing insight into Leslie as a person and a composer, as well as shows us the deeper meaning in the songs we discuss.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, Ricky L. Owens, Jr., countertenor, Donovan...
2024-12-1728 minSo Lit Song LitMargaret Bonds: Six Songs on Poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay (ft. Lester Lynch, M. Roger Holland II)Margaret Bonds (1913-1972) is probably best known for her setting of "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands", but has an extensive repertoire of art songs, which have a lot more crunch than most people expect!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...
2024-12-0322 minSo Lit Song LitZenobia Powell Perry: SongsZenobia 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...
2024-11-1916 minSo Lit Song LitHoward Swanson: SongsHoward 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 s...
2024-11-0519 minSo Lit Song LitUndine Smith Moore: SongsUndine 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...
2024-10-2916 minSo Lit Song LitFlorence Price: SongsKnown 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...
2024-10-1521 minSo Lit Song LitWilliam Grant Still: Songs of Separation (ft. Lester Lynch, M. Roger Holland, II)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...
2024-10-0133 minSo Lit Song LitR. Nathaniel Dett & Hall Johnson: SongsR. Nathaniel Dett was a Canadian-American composer and concert pianist with a degree from Oberlin College. His arrangements of spirituals use the piano to great effect in bringing out the text--he also has an extensive repertoire of choral music. Hall Johnson was a professional violinist/violist who formed many choirs, the most famous of which (the Hall Johnson Choir) sang on over 30 major motion pictures (including several Disney films!). His Ride On, King Jesus should be a staple of the canon.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Ricky L. Owens, Jr., countertenor, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:
2024-09-1719 minSo Lit Song LitSamuel Coleridge-Taylor: SongsSamuel Coleridge-Taylor was a British composer and conductor with strong ties to the United States. His songs have a very "salon-music" feel to them, romantic and accessible for audiences. His daughter Avril was also a composer-conductor and we would love to find out how to access her music, so if anyone knows, please reach out!Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Donovan Elliot Smith, tenor, Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, Hanna Atsedwoin, soprano, Aliyah Quill, soprano and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:Lucy (from 3 Songs, Op. 27)Tears (from Southern Love Songs, Op. 12)Elëanore (found in the Anthology o...
2024-09-0319 minSo Lit Song LitHarry Thacker Burleigh: Songs of Laurence Hope (ft. Kenneth Overton)Harry Thacker Burleigh was the first Black composer to have a major influence on classical music, both by his own compositions and by his influence on Antonín Dvořak. His art songs were composed before his collection of spirituals and have recently been collected and edited by Louise Toppin, Ann Sears and Jean Snyder (who also wrote a biography of Burleigh) into 47 Art Songs by Harry T. Burleigh as part of the Videmus African American Art Song Series published by Classical Vocal Reprints.Our special guest host on this episode is baritone Kenneth Overton, whose CD wi...
2024-08-2028 minSo Lit Song LitSeason 3 TrailerSeason 3 drops starting August 20th, this time on Tuesdays! This season, Toni Marie and Ellen focus on Black composers, with an incredible array of guest hosts and performers. Make sure to subscribe and tell all your friends, colleagues, and students, you won't want to miss this season!So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about its network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.
2024-08-0602 minSo Lit Song LitCraig Bohmler: Quatre petites chansons pour le petit déjeunerAmerican composer Craig Bohmler has an extensive list of musicals as well as operas, art songs, concerti, etc. He has at least ten song cycles to his credit, and his music is highly accessible for audiences while still giving musicians as fun challenge to perform!His cycles Love Letters and Quatre Petites Chansons pour le Petit Déjeuner are available from Sheet Music Plus as well as many other outlets.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:Love LettersUnconditional LoveQuatre Petites Chansons pour le Petit Déje...
2024-05-1618 minSo Lit Song LitLouise Talma: Terre de FranceAnother student of Nadia Boulanger, Louise Talma was an American composer who taught at the American Conservatory at Fontainebleau as well as Hunter College. She was the first American female composer to have a full-scale opera performed in Europe. Terre de France uses traditional harmonies, but in the 1950s Talma started experimenting with serial techniques.The score to Terre de France is available at Sheet Music Plus. We also mention her cycle Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird several times on the episode.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano...
2024-05-0214 minSo Lit Song LitLaura Kaminsky: SongsLaura Kaminsky is the composer of the opera As One, which has become one of the most performed operas since it premiered in 2014. Her music is many-faceted, with dissonance and harmony, as well as rhythmically interesting moments.Laura's works can be purchased through Bill Holab Music.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:Whitman SongsTo a StrangerFive Songs of Fauset and GrimkéYour HandsWords! Words!FragmentRecorded at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA.***So Lit Song Lit is a production of C...
2024-04-1820 minSo Lit Song LitPeggy Glanville-Hicks: 5 SongsAustralian composer Peggy Glanville-Hicks studied composition with Ralph Vaughan Williams and Nadia Boulanger, among other teachers. In addition to songs, she also composed several operas and orchestral works, and worked as a music critic for the New York Herald Tribune for a time.Mimic Heaven, or 5 Songs to texts by A.E. Housman, is available through the Australia Music Center or through Inter-Library Loan (OCLC number is 1850131) in case the other company doesn't ship to the U.S.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:Mimic H...
2024-04-0413 minSo Lit Song LitAugusta Holmès: MélodiesAugusta Holmès was a French composer of Irish descent in the 19th century. Her music was received negatively by many famous male composers of the time as being "too virile", so she published some early works under a pseudonym. The songs in this episode are in French but with a distinct Spanish flair to them.A huge shout-out to Allen Armstrong, Nicole Asel, and Deborah Popham for researching and bringing attention to Holmès!The book Augusta Holmès: Selected Songs (from the Women Composers Series by Da Capo Press) seems to be out of...
2024-03-2114 minSo Lit Song LitDavid del Tredici: Songs for Baritone and PianoAmerican composer David del Tredici is considered a pioneer of neo-Romanticism, and his art songs definitely show that. With many art songs, song cycles, vocal chamber works, and compositions for voice and orchestra, it is well worth perusing his website (which also lists clips to hear the pieces!) to check out the rest of his output.His volume Songs for Baritone and Piano (with 11 songs, including the cycle Gay Life) is available at Sheet Music Plus.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Troy Cook, baritone, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:Ballad in Yellow2. In...
2024-03-0717 minSo Lit Song LitJuliusz Wertheim: SongsJuliusz Wertheim was a Polish composer, pianist, and conductor from the turn of the last century who was close friends with Arthur Rubinstein. His songs are lovely and lilting, accessible for an audience, and definitely should be a part of the standard repertoire!His music is available online through a website that is working to keep more Polish music available. Because of this, they have made his works downloadable on IMSLP. University of North Texas also has him listed on their Lost Composers page - composers whose music has been lost because of the Holocaust, so research...
2024-02-2916 minSo Lit Song LitIngolf Dahl: A Cycle of Sonnets/3 Songs to Poems of Albert EhrismannIngolf Dahl was a German-born, naturalized American composer, who was well-connected throughout the entire entertainment industry as well as in classical music. His art songs are marked by intricate rhythms and atonal vocal lines that bring the texts to life.Purchase information:A Cycle of Sonnets - not available for purchase, but is available through Inter-Library Loan. The OCLC number is 12263419.Three Songs to Poems of Albert Ehrismann is available at Sheet Music Plus.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Gracyn Blu Louis, mezzo-soprano, Sarah Austin, mezzo-soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:...
2024-02-1519 minSo Lit Song LitHans Werner Henze: Fünf Neapolitanische Lieder/Three Auden SongsHans Werner Henze was a German composer who grew up during the time period of the Hitler Youth and went on to become a communist, leaving Germany because of his political views and its intolerance toward homosexuality. His music is influenced by serialism, atonality, jazz, and Arabic music, as well as standard compositional practices.For purchase information, click on the set titles below. Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, Zachary Dean Smith, tenor, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:I. Aggio saputo cala morte vene (Fünf Neapolitanische Lieder)V. Arbero pi...
2024-02-0119 minSo Lit Song LitNewMusicShelf Anthology of New Music: Trans and Non-Binary VoicesNewMusicShelf is a website dedicated to the production and distribution of scores by living composers. Their Anthology of New Music Series includes a volume of Trans & Non-Binary Voices.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Gracyn Blu Louis, mezzo-soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:At a Dinner Party (Hope Salmonson)Captain of my Soul (Yoshi Weinberg)Solitaire (Rossa Crean)Breathe (Keith Allegretti)Recorded 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 their n...
2024-01-1817 min
Song CycleSeason 3 Holiday Party!Apply for the 100% free 2026 Fellowship of the Song by November 2!The Season 3 finale crossover extravaganza is here! Sam invites the hosts of CSI's other podcasts, So Lit Song Lit and Follow the Lieder to join him to discuss what their shows are all about. More importantly, though, is your chance to see if you can guess even fewer music trivia questions correctly than this band of hooligans did. Happy holidays to all, and here's to a bright and musically fulfilling new year!Song Cycle is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn...
2023-12-2852 minSo Lit Song LitJennifer Higdon: SongsComposer Jennifer Higdon has won a Pulitzer Prize and THREE Grammy awards! With a long list of prizes and commissions to her credit, she has a substantial output of songs, as well as vocal chamber music and songs with orchestra.Her songs are available for purchase on her website.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, Zachary Dean Smith, tenor, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:LilacsTo HomeMorning OpensRecorded at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA.***So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. Y...
2023-12-0713 minSo Lit Song LitIsabella Leonarda: MotetsOne of the most prolific female composers of the 17th century, Isabella Leonarda, was also a high-ranking nun in an Ursuline convent, fulfilling all of her duties as a nun before composing on her own time - which we assume means she never slept! Her motets would be an excellent way to begin a recital.While several of her works are available for purchase, the motets we discuss on this episode are on IMSLP - make sure to click on the "collections" tab to find several of her motets.Recordings featured in this episode, performed b...
2023-11-3015 minSo Lit Song LitMathilde von Kralik: LiederMathilde von Kralik was an Austrian composer with an extensive list of art songs in a very Romantic style. Shout-outs to tenor Donald George for sending us her name and some ideas to get started (you can listen to his recording of Kralik Lieder with pianist Lucy Mauro on Spotify) and to Ars Augusta, a non-profit society with the mission to promote "forgotten musical heritage especially Lied or Baroque operas", who sent us her Lied der Sappho (please contact them for purchase information of the score).Her Liederbuch Maia (a collection of 54 songs in 3 volumes) is available...
2023-11-1615 minSo Lit Song LitHenriëtte Bosmans: 10 MélodiesDutch composer Henriëtte Bosmans survived the war-torn Netherlands through both WWI and WWII, saving her mother from a concentration camp. She composed Dix Mélodies starting in 1949, after the war, after the death of her mother, and just a few years before her own passing. You can hear Henriëtte and her partner Noémie Perugia performing some of these songs on YouTube. The score is available through Sheet Music Plus.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Sarah Austin, mezzo-soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:La chanson des marins halésLe regard éternelLa chanso...
2023-11-0220 minSo Lit Song LitEthel Smyth: Songs and LiederDame Ethel Smyth was a leader of the British women's suffragette movement in the early 20th century, and the first woman composer to have her opera, Der Wald, performed at the Metropolitan Opera in NYC. The Ethel Smyth dot org website is run by Women's Philharmonic Advocacy, and includes a complete list of works with purchase information for every piece.We also talked a bit about the Rachel Peter's song "Ethel Smyth Plays Golf in Limbo." Click on the song set below for purchase information for the scores.Recordings featured in this episode, p...
2023-10-1917 minSo Lit Song LitKarol Szymanowski: Songs (Polish and German)Karol Szymanowski was a notable Polish composer, with a vast repertoire of song literature in many languages. His musical styles span from late German Romanticism to impressionistic and atonal, and can be a great introduction to singing atonal music!With many thanks to Mark Trawka at the Pittsburgh Opera for his help with Polish Diction!To clarify one point in the podcast, the Hafisliebeslieder, Op. 24, were originally poems by the 14th century Persian poet Hafiz of Shiraz. Szymanowski set the paraphrased German translation created by Hans Bethge, so German is the appropriate language for this...
2023-10-0521 minSo Lit Song LitGian Carlo Menotti: Canti della lontananza/Five SongsMost of us probably know of Gian Carlo Menotti as an opera composer, with 25 operas to his credit, but he also had a small output of art songs to his own texts. His songs sound very much like miniatures of his operas and can be a great introduction to his style prior to working on the arias.The scores for today are available at Sheet Music Plus: Canti della lontananza, Five SongsRecordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, Zachary Dean Smith, tenor, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:Mattinata di neveIl...
2023-09-2118 minSo Lit Song LitSiegfried Wagner: LiederSiegfried Wagner, the oldest son of Richard Wagner, was surrounded by some of the most important musicians in Europe (including his grandfather, Franz Liszt), and his compositional style is influenced by all of them. He also composed operas and was artistic director of the Bayreuth Festival in the early 1900s.His songs are collected in Sämtliche Klavierlieder--Volume 1 is the high key, and Volume 2 is the medium key of the same songs.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:FrühlingsglaubeNacht am NaroczEin HochzeitsliedRecorded at...
2023-09-0714 minSo Lit Song LitHenri Sauguet: MélodiesBetter known in his home country of France than in the United States, Henri Sauguet has over 200 Mélodies, many of which have not yet been recorded. His music is characterised by its simplicity (even when using polytonality!) and clarity.His music is published by Salabert and distributed through Presto Music--the scores we used for today's episode are Mélodies et chansons and Visions infernales, and there are several other sets of songs by Sauguet on that site. To see a more comprehensive list of his art songs, check out his listing on Liedernet.Recordings fe...
2023-08-3114 minSo Lit Song LitCharles T. Griffes: Songs and LiederCharles Tomlinson Griffes is best known for his song "The Lament of Ian the Proud", but he has many more art songs and German Lieder to his credit. Having studied with Engelbert Humperdinck for a time, his German Lieder have an intense German sound, while many of his English songs have a definite French influence."In a Myrtle Shade" and "Symphony in Yellow" are in the book Songs of C.T. Griffes Vol. 1 (available at Classical Vocal Reprints), as is "The Lament of Ian the Proud". There is also a Vol. 2 in that series with different songs...
2023-08-1716 minSo Lit Song LitSeason 2 TrailerSeason 2 drops starting August 17th! This season Toni Marie and Ellen are focusing on queer composers, with guest host Zachary Dean Smith. Make sure to subscribe and tell all your friends, colleagues, and students!
2023-08-0302 minSo Lit Song LitVocalisesFor the last episode of the season, we wanted to present a special topic: Vocalises! Not just for warming up, they can be incredible pieces for an audience as well. This episode covers the Fauré and Copland vocalises, as well as Turina's Op.74, his song cycle Vocalizaciones, with special guest, Jennifer Aylmer, Associate Professor of Voice at Carnegie Mellon University.Since recording the podcast we've found a couple of other cycles of vocalises, including Daniel Pinkham's Vowels and Prokofiev's Op. 35 Пять песен вез слов (Five Songs without Words--also often performed by violinists). Let us know if you find any others!Recordings featu...
2023-05-1826 minSo Lit Song LitPinkham: Three Songs from EcclesiastesEllen was first introduced to the music of Daniel Pinkham by tenor Kenneth Riegel (who played Don Ottavio in the 1979 movie with Raimondi). Pinkham taught composition at New England Conservatory and Boston Conservatory for six decades, but he also had a church job, so many of his works have a religious element like his Three Songs from Ecclesiastes. The score is available from Sheet Music Plus.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Michael Vallikappil, tenor (Instagram @mgvtenor), and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:I. Vanity of vanitiesII. Go thy way, eat thy bread with joyIII. To every...
2023-05-0412 minSo Lit Song LitLe Chevalier de St. GeorgesLe Chevalier de St. Georges, Joseph Bologne, composed many songs, which are now being compiled by New York-based conductor Tyson Deaton! These pieces are the perfect way to introduce young singers to French repertoire and help them get comfortable with the language before venturing into more advanced tonalities. Anyone interested in purchasing these songs can contact Tyson through his website.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:Complainte de Marie StuartDans un bois solitaireEn vain des tormentsRecorded at The Camp Recording Studio in Elizabethtown, PA.
2023-04-2019 minSo Lit Song LitAlma Mahler: Fünf LiederThere are only 17 extant songs by Alma Mahler (wife of Gustav), and her Fünf Lieder were the first pieces she had published. They are available in Alma Mahler: Sämtliche Lieder (Selected Songs) from Stanton's Sheet Music.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:Die stille StadtLaue SommernachtIch wandle unter BlumenRecorded at The Camp Recording Studio in Elizabethtown, PA.***So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about their network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.or...
2023-04-0611 minSo Lit Song LitPizzetti: Cinque liricheJennifer Aylmer, Associate Professor of Voice at Carnegie Mellon University, joins us to discuss Ildebrando Pizzetti's Cinque liriche. The score is available at SheetMusicPlus.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:1. I pastori3. San Basilio5. Passeggiata4. Il cleft progioneRecorded at The Camp Recording Studio in Elizabethtown, PA.***So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about their network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.You can follow Ellen and The Diction Police on Facebook a...
2023-03-3017 minSo Lit Song LitGlière RomancesComposer Reinhold Glière is lesser-known even in Russia, but his songs are well worth digging into! They are available through IMSLP; since recording this episode, IMSLP now has the disclaimer that only the pieces before 1928 are public domain in the US, which seems to include all of his Romances (Russian art songs). If you are interested in the Azerbaijani traditional opera style that he created, the aria from Shakh-senem is available on YouTube.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Maika Madison, baritone, Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:Я Атлас (I, Atlas)Русалка (Rusalka)Как светла, как нарядна весна (How light and elegant is the spring)
2023-03-1616 minSo Lit Song LitNorth American Women Composers: Laitman, Dunphy, HagenThis week we are focusing on three contemporary women composers in North America: Lori Laitman, Melissa Dunphy, and Jocelyn Hagen, all of whom have a great deal of Art Song repertoire to explore! To find more women composers, check out the Kassia Database, and for even more current composers or broader repertoire, the Facebook groups we recommended were: American Art Song Composers, American Vocal Chamber Music Composers, and The African American Art Song Alliance.Since we recorded the episode, pianist Sandra Mogensen has also compiled lists of women composers' Lieder and Mélodies repertoire -the lists include I...
2023-03-0227 minSo Lit Song LitLili Boulanger: Clairières dans le cielThis week, we talk about the Boulanger sisters, focusing on Lili Boulanger and her Clairières dans le ciel, a set of 13 songs for soprano. Lili was the first woman to win the Grand Prix de Rome in composition. The score for this stunning work is available through Classical Vocal Reprints.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:Elle était descendue au bas de la prairieUn poète disaitRecorded at The Camp Recording Studio in Elizabethtown, PA.***So Lit Song Lit is a p...
2023-02-1615 minSo Lit Song LitKrenek: Reisebuch aus den österreichischen AlpenFor those of you who love Die schöne Müllerin and Winterreise, Ernst Krenek's Reisebuch aus den österreichischen Alpen is another epic song cycle to fall in love with! The scores (in four volumes) is available at Classical Vocal Reprints.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Michael Vallikappil, tenor (Instagram @mgvtenor), and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:No. 1: MotifNo. 4: WetterNo. 14: HeimwehNo. 20: EpilogPerformances recorded at Carnegie Mellon University's Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, PA. Jingle and theme music recorded at The Camp Recording Studio in Elizabethtown, PA.***So Lit Song Lit is a p...
2023-02-0215 minSo Lit Song LitSantoliquido: Tre poesie persianeHappy 2023! We are starting the second half of Season 1 off with an amazingly beautiful set of songs by Francesco Santoliquido. The score for Tre poesie persiane is available at Sheet Music Plus.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Michael Vallikappil, tenor (Instagram @mgvtenor), and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:I. Quando le domandaiII. Io mi levai dal centro della TerraIII. Le domandaiPerformances recorded at Carnegie Mellon University's Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, PA. Jingle and theme music recorded at The Camp Recording Studio in Elizabethtown, PA.***So Lit Song Lit is a...
2023-01-1915 minSo Lit Song LitDuets for Soprano & BaritoneWe're halfway through the season, so we wanted to do something special! Episode 10 covers duets for soprano and baritone that are not "Là ci darem la mano" :-) including some by Peter Cornelius (whose Op 16 has four duets) and works included in the book Joys Abiding: Soprano and Baritone Duets by Historical Women Composers, available at Classical Vocal Reprints.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Hannah Wolfe, soprano (Instagram @hannahwolfesoprano), Maika Madison, baritone (Instagram @maika.madison.baritone), and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:Peter Cornelius: Brennende LiebeHensel: Die Mitternacht war kalt und stummViardot: Habanera (main theme a...
2022-12-1517 minSo Lit Song LitPasatieri: Bel Canto SongsThomas Pasatieri has a large catalog of Art Songs, as well as 24 operas to his credit! Today's focus is on his Bel Canto Songs, a set of 6 songs on poems by William Blake, which are available through Classical Vocal Reprints.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:The Garden of LoveLaughing SongThe LambHear the Voice Recorded at The Camp Recording Studio in Elizabethtown, PA.***So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about their n...
2022-12-0115 minSo Lit Song LitInspired by A French CollectionJennifer Aylmer, Associate Professor of Voice at Carnegie Mellon University, joins us today to discuss some lesser-known songs found on the album A French Collection (featuring Martyn Hill, tenor, Graham Johnston, piano, and Alber Ferber, piano). Jennifer found this recording on a music streaming service called Tidal. Links to the scores for these pieces can be found by clicking on the recording titles below.Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:Fauré: MandolineDebussy: Mandoline Dupont: MandolineChabrier: Chanson pour JeanneFranck: NocturneRecorded at The Camp Recording Studio in...
2022-11-1720 minSo Lit Song LitMarschner: Ein Liederheft vom RheinHeinrich Marschner was the most important German opera composer between Carl Maria von Weber and Richard Wagner, and he composed 430 Lieder! Dr. Jeffrey Williams, creator of the Marschner Song Database, joins Ellen to discuss Op. 186 Ein Liederheft vom Rhein (also available as PDF download). Dr. Williams has compiled several scores of Marschner's Lieder duets and opera arias for Classical Vocal Reprints, and his recording Marschner: Songs for Baritone with Jennifer McGuire, piano, can be found on Spotify.
Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Maika Madison, baritone , and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:
Still an der kühlen F...
2022-11-0324 minSo Lit Song LitDonaudy: 36 Arie di stile anticoNew York-based vocal coach Susan Morton of SingThrough Central joins us today to discuss the rest of Stefano Donaudy's songs (besides O del mio amato ben!). These songs are appropriate for singers at all levels and the score can be purchased at Classical Vocal Reprints. The recording that Susan recommended with Ernesto Palacio and Samuele Pala is available on Spotify .
Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:
Amorosi miei giorni
Freschi luoghi, prati aulenti
Amor mi tiene in pugno
Tregua non ho
Recorded at The Camp Recording Stu...
2022-10-2022 minSo Lit Song LitGomezanda: Mexican Song CollectionEpisode 5 introduces Gomezanda's Mexican Song Collection, a 3-volume set available at Classical Vocal Reprints. Our guest is Dr. Juanita Ulloa, who collected and edited the volumes; her direct email is juanitavoicetrainer@gmail.com. Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:Tiernamente (Tenderly-vol. 2)Detente (Wait-vol. 1)A una golondrina (To a Swallow-vol. 1) Recorded at The Camp Recording Studio in Elizabethtown, PA.***So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about their network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts....
2022-10-0619 minSo Lit Song LitHoiby: Three Ages of WomanThis episode is about the songs of Lee Hoiby, particularly his short cycle Three Ages of Woman (settings of Elizabeth Bishop poetry), which can be purchased at Sheet Music Plus. His song album, Thirteen Songs, is also available at Sheet Music Plus. There is a brief cameo appearance from conductor Tyson Deaton who performed Three Ages of Woman with soprano Barbara Paver; recordings of that performance are available on YouTube.
Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:
always it's spring (e.e. cummings poetry, in Thirteen Songs)
Filling...
2022-09-2914 minSo Lit Song LitIsabelle Aboulker: Savoir vivre et usages mondainsEpisode 3 focuses on Isabelle Aboulker's Savoir vivre et usage mondains, found in her song album Mélodies, which can be purchased at Presto Music.
Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:
À propos de la chaussette blanche...
Comment on offre le bras...
Violon (Fiançailles pour rire, Poulenc)
Et à propos de gant...
Recorded at The Camp Recording Studio in Elizabethtown, PA.
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So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about their network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcast...
2022-09-1511 minSo Lit Song LitWolf: LiederstraußThis week, we discuss Hugo Wolf's Liederstrauß (with texts by Heinrich Heine) which were published posthumously. They are available for purchase through Amazon or Stretta Music.
Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Michael Vallikappil, tenor (Instagram @mgvtenor), and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:
No. 1: Sie haben heut Abend Gesellschaft
No. 2: Ich stand in dunkeln Träumen
No. 6: Mein Liebchen wir saßen beisammen
No. 4 Aus meinen großen Schmerzen
Performances recorded at Carnegie Mellon University's Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, PA. Jingle and theme music recorded at The Camp Recording Studio in Elizabethtown, PA.
To hear the en...
2022-09-0114 minSo Lit Song Lit24 Italian Songs and Arias by Women ComposersIn the inaugural episode of So Lit Song Lit, we discuss the 24 Italian Songs and Arias by Women Composers, compiled and annotated by Nicole Leone and Randi Marazzo, available for purchase at Hildegard Publishing. Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist: Chi brama in amore (Strozzi)Gia la notte s’avvicina (Colbran)La Speranza al cor mi dice (Colbran)Se spiegar (Szymanowska) Recorded at The Camp Recording Studio in Elizabethtown, PA.***So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can lear...
2022-08-1814 minSo Lit Song LitSeason 1 TrailerIntroducing So Lit Song Lit, where we reimagine the repertoire by examining less familiar art songs with lively discussion and sound clips! Join vocal coach Ellen Rissinger and soprano Toni Marie Palmertree as they explore the treasure trove of Lieder, Mélodies, Romances, and Art Songs. First episode drops August 18!This podcast is sponsored by Cincinnati Song Initiative.
2022-08-1301 min