Anthology of Opera Arias by African American Composers for Low Voice Singers of African Descent

Abstract

Some helpful tools for opera singers today are aria anthologies. These anthologies provide music, synopsis, and translations of arias by various composers whose music represents the standard repertoire for each voice. These arias are used as a guide for both auditioning artists and potential opera professionals with hiring companies. Examples of such anthologies include G. Schirmer's group of Aria Anthologies, and G. Schirmer's group of American Aria Anthologies. One area of operatic repertoire that has not been included in such anthologies is those composed by African American composers. What I propose to do is research repertoire by some of the most prominent African American composers and group selected arias from their works into an anthology specifically for low voice, African American singers. The composers included in this anthology will be Terence Blanchard, Anthony Davis, Duke Ellington, Scott Joplin, Nkeiru Okoye, and William Grant Still.