For a number of years, I’ve collected recordings of performances by African American musicians, both Classical composers and performers–especially singers. A number of these recordings are rare, so I decided to share tracks on YouTube using the alias, Divaslair. A vast majority of the videos are performances of concert Negro Spirituals–reflecting my primary research interest; however, instrumental performances are also represented.
(Just between you and me, I’ve included seven videos with an asterisk (*) beside the title. I’d accidentally uploaded them to the wrong account and couldn’t transfer them to the right one, so I had to make them unlisted on YouTube. However, once you click on the linked image, they should play normally here.)
Please enjoy!
My Man’s Gone Now (Porgy and Bess) George Gershwin, composer, speaker and conductor Ruby Elzy, soprano |
Apres un reve – Gabriel Faure Charles Holland, tenor; Dennis Russell Davies, piano from L’Invitation au Voyage |
He Never Said a Mumberlin’ Word Roland Hayes, composer Charles Holland, tenor; Dennis Russell Davies, piano from My Lord What a Mornin’ |
Every Valley Shall Be Exalted (Messiah) George Frideric Handel, composer Seth McCoy, Tenor Messiah Highlights |
Thou Shalt Break… Hallelujah (Messiah) George Frideric Handel, composer Seth McCoy, tenor Eastman Chorale & Philharmonia Chamber Orch. Messiah Highlights |
The Symphony Sound with Henry Lewis and the Royal Philharmonic Henry Lewis, conductor and narrator |
City Called Heaven Marian Anderson, contralto Hall Johnson, composer From Prima Voce |
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hand Margaret Bonds, composer Leontyne Price, soprano From Leontyne Price reDiscovered |
It Takes a Long Pull to Get There (Porgy and Bess) George Gershwin, composer Edward Matthews, baritone |
Roun’ about de Mountain Roland Hayes, composer ; Inez Matthews, mezzo-soprano From Inez Matthews Sings Spirituals |
My Man’s Gone Now (Porgy and Bess) George Gershwin, composer Inez Matthews, mezzo-soprano |
Villanelle Eva Dell’Acqua, composer Florence Cole-Talbert, soprano (1919) From Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry |
Nocturne for Piano no. 7 in C sharp minor, op. 27/1, CT. 114 Frédéric Chopin, composer André Watts, piano From André Watts: The Chopin Recital |
Lit’l Boy (The Life of Christ) Roland Hayes, composer Roland Hayes, tenor From Favorite Spirituals |
Du Bist die ruh Franz Schubert, composer Roland Hayes, tenor From The Art of Roland Hayes: Six Centuries of Song |
Mississippi Suite Florence Price, composer The Women’s Philharmonic; Apo Hsu, conductor From The Oak/Mississippi River Suite/Symphony No. 3 |
There Is a Balm in Gilead Fisk Jubilee Quartet (1909) From Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, vol. 1 |
The Life of Christ, pt. 1 Roland Hayes, composer ; Roland Hayes, tenor Prepare Me One Body ; Three Wise Men to Jerusalem Came (Sister Mary Had-a but One Child) ; Lit’l Boy ; Live-a-Humble ; He Raised Poor Lazarus ; You Hear the Lambs a-Cryin’ ; Plenty Good Room From Favorite Spirituals |
The Life of Christ, pt. 2 Roland Hayes, composer ; Roland Hayes, tenor One of You Shall Betray Me ; Who Betrayed My Lord? ; They Led My Lord Away ; He Never Said a Mumberlin’ Word ; Did You Hear When Jesus Rose? ; Were You There? From Favorite Spirituals |
Songs of Separation William Grant Still, composer Robert Honeysucker, baritone Idolatry (Arna Bontemps) ; Poeme (Philippe Thoby Marcelin) ; Parted (Paul Lawrence Dunbar) ; If You Should Go (Countee Cullen) ; A Black Pierrot (Langston Hughes) From Works by William Grant Still |
Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion (Messiah) George Frideric Handel, composer Adele Addison, soprano New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein, conductor Handel Messiah |
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Calvary Medley Barbara Smith Conrad, mezzo-soprano Ev’ry Time I Think about Jesus, Crucifixion, Were You There, He Rose From Spirituals |
Spirituals: Medley Paul Robeson, bass-baritone Roll de old Chariot — Mary Had a Baby, Yes Lord — Swing Low, Sweet Chariot — Heav’n, Heav’n (I Got a Robe) From Spirituals: Original Recordings, 1925-1936 |
Card Aria (Carmen) Georges Bizet, composer Margaret Tynes, mezzo-soprano From private label recording |
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1812 Overture Peter Tchaikovsky, composer Oregon Symphony, James De Preist, conductor From 1812 Overture-The Tempest-Hamlet |
Roll, Jerd’n, Roll Hall Johnson, composer Todd Duncan, baritone From Negro Spirituals |
Oh, Glory Hall Johnson, composer Robert McFerrin, baritone From Deep River and Other Classic Negro Spirituals |
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There is a Man Goin Round Jessye Norman, dramatic soprano From The Jessye Norman Collection |
The Hills Frank LaForge, composer Marian Anderson, contralto From Rarities: Broadcast Performances 1943-1952 |
I Was There When They Crucified My Lord Robert MacGimsey, composer Marian Anderson, contralto From Rarities: Broadcast Performances 1943-1952 |
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My Lord, What a Mornin’ H. T. Burleigh, composer Roberta Alexander, soprano From Songs My Mother Taught Me |
I’ll Never Turn Back No More R. Nathaniel Dett, composer The Nathaniel Dett Chorale From Listen to the Lambs |
Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray Evelyn Dove, soprano From Negro Spirituals: The Concert Tradition, 1909-1948 |
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City Called Heaven Hall Johnson, composer Martina Arroyo, soprano From Spirituals |
Alleluia (Exsulate, Jubilate) W. A. Mozart, composer Marian Anderson, contralto From Marian Anderson: Rare live broadcast performances |
Solitude (Belshazzar’s Feast) Jean Sibelius, composer Marian Anderson, contralto From Marian Anderson: Rare live broadcast performances |
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Silent Night Franz Xaver Gruber, composer Marian Anderson, contralto From Favorite Christmas Hymns |
On My Journey Now Edward Boatner, composer Ruby Elzy, soprano From Ruby Elzy in Song |
Let Us Break Bread Together William Lawrence, composer Robert McFerrin, baritone From Deep River and Other Classic Negro Spirituals |
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Oh, What a Beautiful City Edward Boatner, composer Vinson Cole, tenor From Vinson Cole, Tenor |
Give Me Jesus Hall Johnson, composer Vinson Cole, tenor From Vinson Cole, Tenor |
I Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray Lawrence Winters, baritone From Lawrence Winters |
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Witness Hall Johnson, composer Todd Duncan, baritone From Negro Spiritual |
O Freedom Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, composer George Shirley, tenor From The New Negro Spiritual |
Come Unto Him (Messiah) George Frideric Handel, composer Adele Addison, soprano New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein, conductor Handel Messiah |
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Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful) Marian Anderson, contralto From Favorite Christmas Hymns |
By an’ By* Harry T. Burleigh, composer Roland Hayes, tenor From Black Europe: The Sounds and Images of Black People in Europe pre-1927 |
Calvary* Betty Jackson King, composer Robert Honeysucker, baritone From Watch and Pray: Spirituals and Art Songs by African-American Women Composers |
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City Called Heaven Edward Boatner, composer Mattiwilda Dobbs, soprano From Tva Sidor Av Mattiwilda Dobbs Och Gotthard Arner |
Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child* Sam Morgenstern, composer Lucretia West, mezzo-soprano with orchestra From Spirituals |
Wade in de Water* Sam Morgenstern, Composer Lucretia West, mezzo-soprano Men’s Vocal Quartet From Spirituals |
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Lord, I Don’t Know* Inez Matthews, soprano From Inez Matthews Sings Spirituals |
Chanson triste* Henri Duparc, composer Vinson Cole, tenor From Vinson Cole, Tenor |
Sweet Little Jesus Boy Robert MacGimsey, composer Carol Brice, contralto From The Christmas Album: Holiday Melodies from Around the World |
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Hear de Lambs Roland Hayes, composer Charles Holland, tenor From My Lord What a Mornin’ |
Gospel Blues (from Lyric Suite) Robert L. Morris, composer Calesta Day, soprano From Swing Low, Sweet Chariot |
All God’s Chillin Got Wings John Rosamond Johnson, composer Todd Duncan, baritone From Todd Duncan Sings Spirituals |
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He’s Got the Whole World in His Hand Hamilton Forrest, composer Martina Arroyo, soprano From Spirituals |
Is There Anybody Here Undine Smith Moore, composer Pamela Dillard, mezzo-soprano From Watch and Pray: Spirituals and Art Songs by African-American Women Composers |
Standin’ in de Need o’ Prayer John C. Payne, composer John C. Payne, baritone Lawrence Brown, vocalist and piano From Black Europe : Sounds & Images of Black People in Europe Pre-1927 |
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Toccata (Ride on, King Jesus) / Cantata John D. Carter, composer Ray Wade, Jr., tenor From Sence You Went Away |
Go Down, Moses Florence B. Price, composer Richard Heard, tenor From My Dream: Art Songs and Spirituals |
I’m a Poor Little Orphan in This World! Julia Perry, composer Shirley Verrett, mezzo-soprano From Shirley Verrett Recital |
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God Is a God Wendell Whalum, composer Kenneth Overton, baritone From Been in de Storm So Long: Songs My Fathers Taught Me |
There’s a Man Goin’ Roun’ Takin’ Names-Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho Kenneth Spencer, baritone From American Spirituals |
Summertime (Porgy and Bess) George Gershwin, composer, conductor, piano, vocals Abbie Mitchell, soprano Porgy And Bess Rehearsal Performance, July.19, 1935: Introduction; Summertime From Gershwin Performs Gershwin: Rare Recordings, 1931-1935 |
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Were You There Betty Allen, mezzo-soprano From On Wings of Song |
Po’ Mourners got a Home at las’ (from A Cycle of Six Negro Spirituals for Bass (baritone) and piano) Robert Owens, composer Oral Moses, bass-baritone From Come Down Angels and Trouble the Water |
Glory, Glory, Hallelujah Lena McLin, composer Mark Rucker, baritone From Mark Rucker Sings Lena McLin |
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Go Down Moses Harry T. Burleigh, composer Harry T. Burleigh, baritone From Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry, 1891-1922 |
Great Day Thomas Kerr, Jr., composer Jessye Norman, soprano From Spirituals |
Hear de Lam’s a-Cryin’ Lawrence Brown, composer Kenneth Spencer, bass-baritone From American Spirituals |
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Goin’ Ride Up in de Chariot Lawrence Brown, composer Kenneth Spencer, bass-baritone From American Spirituals |
City Called Heaven Hall Johnson, composer Kenneth Spencer, bass-baritone From American Spirituals |