Saturday, February 25, 2012

NorthJersey.com: Tenor Wayne Smith Sings Negro Spirituals Arranged by H.T. Burleigh, in Montclair Feb. 26, 4 PM


[Wayne Smith (Photo Courtesy of Le Voci Internazionali)]

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 
The Montclair Times
“Le Voci Internazionali of Montclair will present a program honoring African-American heritage on Sunday, Feb. 26, at 4 p.m., at St. John's Episcopal Church, 55 Montclair Ave. Tenor Wayne Smith is the featured artist, with soprano Alicia Fink, and Eric Olsen as accompanist.


“The program selections are from the Album of Negro Spirituals, arranged for solo voice by H.T. Burleigh for the Underground Railroad which helped slaves to escape from the South.” “Other works in the program are from "Pippin," "Porgy and Bess," and songs reflective of the African-American culture.

“Tenor Wayne Smith began performing while attending Upsala College.” “Soprano Alicia Fink, a registered nurse in the pharmaceutical industry, began singing in church choirs since childhood and acted in several Rutgers University productions.” “There is no admission charge, but a freewill offering for St. John's will be accepted.”

Henry "Harry" Thacker Burleigh (1866-1949) was an African American composer, arranger and baritone soloist who is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a comprehensive Works List by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com.  Burleigh was born in Erie, Pennsylvania and died in Stamford, Connecticut. In his lengthy career, Burleigh wrote 265 vocal works and made 187 choral arrangements. In 1916 Henry T. Burleigh published Jubilee Songs of the United States of America, a book of arrangements of spirituals for solo vocal performance.

Celebrates Black History Month with a
Vocal Recital
February 26th at 4PM
No charge – free will offering for artists

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