I Hear America Singing: Songs for the People and The American Songbook at St. Luke's Episcopal Church

Our Spring concert, "I Hear America Singing" is a fantastic, inspiring, joyful concert. The first half "Songs for the People" features gospel and spiritual music. The second half, "The American Songbook" focuses on music from the Songbook from 1924-1956.

Act I: Songs for the People

Music Inspires All - Words and Music by Rollo Dilworth  Incorporating the Spiritual “(Over My Head, I Hear) Music in the Air”

Songs for the People    Words by Frances E.W. Harper    Music by Rollo Dilworth

The Negro Speaks of Rivers    Words by Langston Hughes    Music by Margaret Bonds

I Dream a World    Words by Langston Hughes     Music by André J. Thomas

I Will Sing - Words and Music by Rosephanye Powell

I Hear America Singing - Words and Music by André Thomas   Quoting the Spiritual “Walk Together, Children”

United in Purpose   Words by Maya Angelou     Music by Rollo Dilworth

Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor          Words by Emma Lazarus        Music by Irving Berlin          Arranged by Roy Ringwald

Intermission

Act II: The American Songbook, 1924-1956

Fascinating Rhythm          Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin        Arranged by Mark Hayes

                                                                                  From Lady Be Good, 1924

Ain’t Misbehavin’         Words by Andy Razaf        Music by Thomas “Fats” Waller and Harry Brooks  Arranged by Mark Hayes  Waller recorded the song in 1929.  It was also included in the off-Broadway musical revue, Connie’s Hot Chocolates.

I’ve Got the World on a String      Words by Ted Koehler          Music by Harold Arlen   Arranged by Paul Langford

                                                                 Written for the Cotton Club Parade of 1932

It’s De-Lovely - Words and Music by Cole Porter           Arranged by Jay Althouse

                              Written for Red, Hot, and Blue for Ethel Merman and Bob Hope in 1936 

                                 Featured in the Anything Goes 1956 film and later, all stage versions.

They Can’t Take that Away from Me    Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin     Arranged by Mark Hayes

                                              Introduced by Fred Astaire in the 1937 film Shall We Dance?

All the Things You Are            Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II           Music by Jerome Kern   Arranged by Mark Hayes

                                                                      From Very Warm for May, 1939

Long Ago and Far Away          Lyrics by Ira Gershwin         Music by Jerome Kern     Arranged by Mark Hayes

                                                      Written for the film musical, Cover Girl, 1944

Too Darn Hot - Lyrics and Music by Cole Porter             Arranged by Mark Hayes            From Kiss Me, Kate! 1949

When Sunny Gets Blue    Words and Music by Jack Segal and Marvin Fischer               Arranged by Paul Langford

                                                                      Originally recorded by Johnny Mathis in 1956

Anything Goes - Words and Music by Cole Porter         Arranged by Philip Kern      From Anything Goes, 1934