[I, too; Icy Simpson, soprano; Artina McCain, piano; Longhorn Music LHM2012001]
I, too is a broad survey of African American spirituals and art songs by African American composers.
Soprano Icy Rene Simpson and pianist Dr. Artina McCain write of their CD:
"I, too began with our desire to perform lesser known vocal art songs and spirituals by African-American composers." "The selected songs offer a fascinating variety in text and insight into past and present African American culture. For example, Margaret Bonds' Dream Variations brings to life the poetry of Langston Hughes about the struggles of work life in minstrelsy, dreams of a black youth and the realities of being a house slave. Leslie Adams evokes a spirit of dance in Creole Girl through his use of text painting, rhythm, and harmonies. The unique arrangements of Amazing Grace and This Little Light of Mine by Hale Smith are refreshingly modern while still capturing the simple spirit of the text. We hope that anyone that hears this wonderful collection of spirituals and Art Songs will be uplifted, encouraged, and inspired."
"An
expressive and colorful pianist, Artina McCain enjoys an active
career as a solo and chamber performer, adjudicator, teacher, and
presenter. Dr. McCain has performed nationally and internationally in
Italy, San Antonio, Dallas, Cleveland, and the Czech Republic. This
summer, Dr. McCain and soprano Icy Simpson released a debut CD of
Black Art Songs and Spirituals through University of Texas at
Austin's Longhorn Records. She also regularly tours with her husband
Martin McCain, bass trombonist and Texas State University professor.
Dr. McCain's performances have been broadcast on Austin's "KMFA
89.5
Pianoforte
program as both a soloist and chamber musician. Excited about
bringing classical music to a broader audience, McCain has performed
in many chamber concert series across Texas.
"As a teacher, she
served on the keyboard faculty at Baldwin Wallace College
Conservatory of Music, University of the Incarnate Word and currently
on faculty at Huston-Tillotson University. Dr. McCain is also an
enthusiastic supporter of young musicians. She has coached at the
Austin Chamber Music Center, Cleveland Institute of Music Summer Chamber festival and appeared as guest artist at the Ennis
Arts Commission summer concert series and maintains a private studio
of students.
...
"Dr. McCain graduated cum laude from Southern
Methodist University with a Bachelor of Music with Dr. Carol Leone.
At the Cleveland Institute of Music she
obtained a Masters degree where she was awarded the Lecture Recital
Club Scholarship. She completed her Doctorate degree at the University of Texas at Austin with renowned pianist Anton Nel."
Icy Rene Simpson has a website at www.icyrsimpson, which includes this bio:
"Icy
Simpson has been hailed as a passionate singer whose love for music
flows through everyone that hears her. Ms. Simpson’s grace and
talent has been conveyed through many roles including Susannah in
Susannah, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel and Catherine in The Butler
Opera Center's world premiere of A View from the Bridge by William
Bolcom (the chamber orchestra version). Icy attended the American
Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria during the summer of
2006. She won the state and regional National Association of Teachers
of Singing Competitions (07-08), as well as the District Metropolitan
Opera Auditions in 2007, 2008, and 2011. Ms. Simpson is also the
winner of the 2008 Classical Singer Competition-University Division,
and the winner of the “Peoples’ Choice” Award in the Dallas
Opera Guild Competition-2008. In January 2009, Icy was invited to
participate in a Master class with Maestro James Levine via the
Marilyn Horne Foundation. Ms.Simpson has accumulated many recent
accomplishments include achieving 2nd place in the National
Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc
competition (July 2010) and appearing as Adina in the Butler Opera
Center’s 2010 production of L’elisir D’amore. Ms. Simpson made
her solo debut with the Marshall Symphony Orchestra in January 2011.
In April 2011, Ms. Simpson performed the role of Despina in Così fan
tutte with the Butler Opera Center.
"As of May 2011, Icy has
appeared as a solo artist with The South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra
and The Louisiana Symphony Orchestra. Furthermore, Icy Rene Simpson,
soprano, is one of the first to graduate from the newly-instituted
Artist Diploma Program from the University of Texas-Austin under the
tutelage of Professor Darlene Wiley."
The
artists have included the complete lyrics of the spirituals and art
songs they perform. Six of the composers and arrangers are African
American: H. Leslie Adams, Margaret Bonds, Hall Johnson, Undine
Smith Moore, Florence Beatrice Price and Hale Smith. The recording
also features arrangements by Boyd Bacon and Mark Hayes.
H. Leslie Adams (b. 1932), Margaret Allison Bonds (1913-1972), Florence Beatrice Price (1887-1953) and Hale Smith (1925-2009) are
profiled
at AfriClassical.com,
which features a comprehensive Works List and a Bibliography for each composer by Prof.
Dominique-René de Lerma, www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com.
H. Leslie Adams is represented by Lullaby Eternal (4:22), For you there is no song (2:33) and Creole Girl (2:36). Boyd Bacon arranged Give Me Jesus (2:53).Margaret Allison Bonds composed Three Dream Portraits with lyrics by Langston Hughes: Minstrel Man (1:59), Dream Variations (2:01) and I, Too (1:44). Wade in the Water (3:14) was arranged by Mark Hayes.
Hall Johnson arranged Ride On, King Jesus (2:11). Undine Smith Moore is represented by His Name So Sweet (1:46) and Watch and Pray (4:13). Florence Beatrice Price composed Night (1:52). Hale Smith arranged Amazing Grace (3:00) and This Little Light of Mine (4:56).
Longhorn Music is the label of The University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music. On August 4, 2011 AfriClassical reviewed another Longhorn Music recording of sacred music, Sacred Music of José Mauricio Nunes Garcia. The University of Texas at Austin Chamber Singers were conducted by James Morrow.
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