RADIO SERIES

Program 12: Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance

Langston Hughes, one of America’s great poets, gave jubilant voice to the lives of African Americans. His poetry has inspired settings by dozens of composers; we hear some of that music and learn about the world that inspired him.

 

Song listings with composer / poet, performers, CD label, and CD number:

The Negro Speaks of Rivers
Margaret Bonds / Langston Hughes
Thomas Hampson, baritone; Vlad Iftinca, piano
recital, Winona, Wisconsin, July 2011

My People
from Genius Child: A Cycle of 10 Songs
Ricky Ian Gordon  / Langston Hughes
Harolyn Blackwell, soprano; Warren Jones, piano
RCA 09026-61944-2

I’m Just Wild About Harry
from Shuffle Along
Eubie Blake / Noble Sissle
Al Jolson, singer with orchestra
Al Jolson: Fifty Favorites

I, Too
Langston Hughes recites his poem
Smithsonian Folkways SFW47001

I, Too
from Three Dream Portraits
Margaret Bonds / Langston Hughes
Kevin Maynor, bass; Eric Olsen, piano
Fleur de Son: The Black Art Song

Bound No’th Blues
from Dreamer: 7 Poems of Langston Hughes
Erik Santos / Langston Hughes
Darryl Taylor, tenor; Maria Corley, piano; Patricia Terry-Ross, harp
Naxos 8.559136

Minstrel Man
Paul Robeson reads the poem by Langston Hughes
EMI Classics 509992155 8627

Minstrel Man
from Three Dream Portraits
Margaret Bonds / Langston Hughes
Kevin Maynor, bass; Eric Olsen, piano
Fleur de Son: The Black Art Song

Lonely People
from Four Songs
Jean Berger / Langston Hughes
Thomas Hampson, baritone; Malcolm Martineau, piano
Orfeo d’Or C707062

A Black Pierrot
from Songs of Separation
William Grant Still / Langston Hughes
Darryl Taylor, tenor; Maria Corley, piano
Naxos 8.559136

Joy
Howard Swanson / Langston Hughes
Darryl Taylor, tenor; Maria Corley, piano
Naxos 8.559136

Lovely Dark and Lonely One
Henry T. Burleigh / Langston Hughes
Regina McConnell, soprano; Michael Cordovana, piano
CRC 2252

Daybreak in Alabama
from Daybreak in Alabama: A Langston Hughes Song Cycle
John Stone / Langston Hughes
Amy Bartram, soprano; John Stone, piano
Mp3: Daybreak in Alabama: A Langston Hughes Song Cycle

Litany
from Shadow of the Blues
John Musto / Langston Hughes
Paul Sperry, tenor; Irma Vallecillo, piano
Albany Records TROY 081

Drum
from My Dark Hands
Hermann Reutter / Langston Hughes
Thomas Hampson, baritone; Malcolm Martineau, piano
Orfeo d’Or C707062

Peace
from The Face of War
Elie Siegmeister / Langston Hughes
Esther Hinds, soprano; Alan Mandel, piano
CRI 814

Dream Variations
Ricky Ian Gordon / Langston Hughes
Audra McDonald, soprano; ensemble conducted by Eric Stern
Nonesuch 79626

 

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