LIFE & DEATH: Art songs by African American & African Diaspora composers is a performance by Cherry Duke, accompanied by Esequiel Meza, Jr. on piano. It was recorded by the UTEP Department of Music and produced by KTEP for broadcast.
“Life & Death” showcases works for voice and piano by underrepresented composers, specifically art songs by African American and African diaspora composers, including several women and two Latin American composers. In addition to English language pieces, the program includes songs in Italian, German, French, and Spanish, some of which have never before been performed in the United States. The texts address the gamut of life experience, including daily existence, celebration, passion, indecision, heartbreak, grief, and death.
The intention of this program is to demonstrate the availability, beauty, and universality of art music by Black composers, and generally to showcase lesser-known works. I urge you to take time to read about these composers and poets, and to learn even more about their lives after you leave today. Today’s program is just a snapshot of their output, and these composers deserve to be more fully integrated into traditional vocal repertoire.
For the complete program visit cherryduke.com/recital
The performance was recorded on October 2, 2022 by the Department of Music at University of Texas at El Paso.
Special Thanks to:
- Stephen Haddad
- Josh Lintz
- UTEP College of Liberal Arts
- UTEP Department of Music
This show originally aired on February 24, 2023
