I,
too
Icy Simpson, soprano
Artina McCain, piano
I, too
began with our desire to
perform lesser known vocal art songs and spirituals
by African-American composers. We further desire
to share this music with all audiences and increase
awareness of this particular musical heritage and
style. It was a thrill to perform music that we felt
naturally drawn to, and we are overjoyed that the
project has generated so much interest and support!
The music offers great variety in text and insight
into past and present African American culture.
For example, Margaret Bonds’ Dream Variations
brings to life the poetry of Langston Hughes about
the struggles of work life in minstrelsy, dreams of a
black youth and the realities of being a house slave.
Leslie Adams evokes a spirit of dance in Creole Girl
through her use of text painting, rhythm, and harmonies. And, the unique arrangements of Amazing
Grace and This Little Light of Mine by Hale Smith
are refreshingly modern while still capturing the
simple spirit of the text. We hope that anyone that
hears this wonderful collection of spirituals and art
Songs will be uplifted, encouraged, and inspired.
Icy Simpson and Artina McCain
Artina McCain
is an active performer,
teacher, and presenter.
McCain has solo and
chamber performances
in the United States
and abroad including
China, Czech Republic
and Italy. Dr. McCain’s
performances have
been broadcast on
Austin’s KMFA 89.5
Pianoforte program
as both a soloist and
chamber musician. She
graduated with her
Masters degree from
the Cleveland Institute
of Music. She has
served on the keyboard
faculty at Baldwin
Wallace Conservatory
of Music, University
of the Incarnate Word
and currently HustonTillotson University.
McCain completed her
Doctorate degree at the
University of Texas at
Austin with Anton Nel.
www.artinamccain.com
Icy Simpson has been
hailed as a passionate singer
whose love for music flows
through everyone that hears her.
Ms. Simpson’s grace and talent
has been conveyed through
many roles with the Butler Opera
Center including Adina in L’elisir
D’amore, and Despina in Così
fan tutte. Icy attended the American Institute of Musical Studies in
Graz, Austria in 2006. She won
the District Metropolitan Opera
Auditions in 2007, 2008, and
2011. In January 2009, Icy was
invited to participate in a Master
class with Maestro James Levine
via the Marilyn Horne Foundation. In May 2011, Ms. Simpson
made her professional debut as
a soloist with the South Arkansas
Symphony Orchestra and Shreveport Summer Music Festival
Symphony Orchestra. Icy Rene
Simpson, soprano, received her
Bachelors Degree in Vocal Performance from Nebraska Wesleyan
University under the instruction of
Dr. Jana Holzmeier, her Master
of Music and Artist’s Diploma
in Opera from the University of
Texas-Austin under the tutelage
of Professor Darlene Wiley.
Lyrics
Amazing Grace
arr. Hale Smith
Amazing grace, how sweet
the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now I am
found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T’was grace that taught my
heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace
appear,
The hour I first believed.
Three Dream Portraits
By Margaret Bonds
Minstrel Man
Because my mouth is wide with
laughter
And my throat is deep with
song
You do not think I suffer
After I have held my pain so
long
Because my mouth is wide with
laughter
You do not hear my inner cry
Because my feet are gay with
dancing
You do not know
I die
His Name So Sweet
arr. Undine Smith Moore
Dream Variations
To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and to dance
Till the white day is done.
Then rest at cool evening
Beneath a tall tree
While night comes on gently,
Dark like meThat is my dream!
To fling my arms wide
In the face of the sun,
Dance! Whirl! Whirl!
Till the quick day is done.
Rest at pale evening...
A tall, slim tree...
Night coming tenderly
Black like me.
I, Too
I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother (sister).
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.
Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed--
Oh Lord I just come from the
fountain,
I’m just from the fountain Lord.
I just come from the fountain,
His Name so sweet.
Po’ sinner do you love Jesus?
Yes, yes I do love my Jesus.
Sinner do you love Jesus?
His name so sweet.
Oh Lord I just come from the
fountain,
I’m just from the fountain Lord.
I just come from the fountain,
His Name so sweet.
Class leader do you love Jesus?
Yes, yes I do love my Jesus.
Leader to you love Jesus?
His Name so sweet.
Oh Lord I just come from the
fountain,
I’m just from the fountain Lord.
I just come from the fountain,
His Name so sweet.
‘Zidn elder do you love Jesus?
Yes, yes I do love my Jesus.
Elder do you love Jesus?
His Name so sweet.
Just come from the fountain,
I’m just from the fountain Lord.
I just come from the fountain,
His Name so sweet.
Watch and Pray
arr. Undine Smith Moore
Mama, is Massa goin’ to sell us
tomorrow?
Yes, Yes, Yes.
Oh watch and pray.
Is he a-goin’ to sell us down to
Georgia?
Yes, yes, yes.
Oh! down to Georgia,
Watch and pray.
Oh mama don’t you grieve after me.
Oh, watch and pray.
Wade in the Water
arr. Mark Hayes
Wade in the water, wade in the
water children.
God’s gonna trouble, God’s gonna
trouble the water.
Wade in the water, wade in the
water children.
God’s gonna trouble the water.
Down in the valley, down on my
knees,
Wade in the water.
Asking my Lord to save me please,
Wade in the water.
Wade in the water, wade in the
water children.
God’s gonna trouble the water.
Up on a mountain, Jehova, He spoke,
Wade in the water.
Out of His mouth came fire and
smoke,
Wade in the water.
I heard a rumblin’ up in the sky,
Wade in the Water.
Must’ve been Jesus passin’ by
Wade in the water.
You gotta wade in the water,
You gotta wade in the water
children.
You gotta wade in the water,
God’s gonna trouble the water.
Wade in the water, wade in the
water children.
God’s gonna trouble, God’s gonna
trouble the water.
Night
by Florence B. Price
Night comes, a Madonna
Clad in scented blue
Rose red her mouth
And deep her eyes
She lights her starts
And turns to where
Beneath her silver lamp the moon
Upon a couch of shadow lies
A dreamy child
The wearied day
Lullaby Eternal
by H. Leslie Adams
Sleep my little one
Lie still upon my breast
I know the world is waiting for you
But stay with me and rest
Tonight you light my life
With tender smiles
Stay close within my arms
You’re mine, but for a while
Soon tomorrow comes child
Time calls out to you
All the world is waiting
With things that you must do
So sleep, sleep, lie still in my arms
lie still and dream and know
The world waits, waits for you
Sleep my little one
Rest my little gentle one
Lie upon my breast
I know the world is
Waiting for you
But stay with me and rest
I know the world is
Waiting for you
But stay with me and rest
But stay with me and rest
Ride On, King Jesus
by Hal Johnson
Ride on, King Jesus, no man can
hinder me!
Ride on, King Jesus, ride on, no
man can hinder me!
For He is King of Kings, He is Lord
of Lords,
Jesus Christ, the First and Last, no
man works like Him.
He is the King, He is the Lord,
Ha! Yes,
He is the King, He is the Lord, Ha!
Jesus Christ, the First and Last,
No man works like Him!
Ride on, ride on Jesus!
This Little Light of Mine
arr. Hale Smith
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,
Let it shine…
Everwhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine,
Let it shine…
All through the night, I’m gonna let it shine,
Let it shine…
For you there is no song
by H.Leslie Adams
For you there is no song
Only the shaking of the voice that meant to sing
The sound of the strong voice breaking
Strange in my hand appears the pen
And yours broken
There are ink and tears on the page
Only the tears, only the tears
Only the tears have spoken
Creole Girl
by H. Leslie Adams
When you dance do you think of Spain
Purple skirts and clipping castanets
Creole Girl, Creole Girl, Creole Girl, Creole Girl
When you laugh do you think of France?
Golden wine and mincing minuets
Creole Girl, Creole Girl, Creole Girl, Creole Girl
When you sing do you think of young America
Grey guns and battling bayonets
When you cry
Do you think of Africa
Blue nights and casual canzonets
When you dance
Do you think of Spain
Purple skirts and clipping castanets
Creole Girl, Creole Girl, Creole Girl, Creole Girl
Give Me Jesus
arr. Boyd Bacon
Oh when I come to die, give me Jesus.
Dark midnight was my cry, give me Jesus.
Acknowledgments
Recording information
and Personnel
Executive Producer: B. Glenn Chandler
Producers: Icy Simpson, Artina McCain and
Andy Murphy
Recorded and mixed by Andy Murphy
Mastered by Jerry Tubb and Andy Murphy at
Terra Nova Digital Audio
Recorded at the Butler School of Music
Recording Studio
Produced by Icy Simpson, Artina McCain and
Andy Murphy
Thank you!
We would like to thank Jesus for the gifts he
blessed us with, and allowing us to share
them with the world. Furthermore, we would
like to thank all of our family and friends for
being so supportive. To everyone who helped
bring this project to fruition: Glenn Chandler,
Admiral Inman, Andy Murphy, Glenn
Richter, Anton Nel, Darlene Wiley, Kathryn
Hutchinson, Evan Leslie and everyone who
has been an inspiration to us and this project,
we thank you.
1. Amazing Grace (3:00)
arr. Hale Smith
Three Dream Portraits
by Margaret Bonds
2. Minstrel Man (1:59)
3. Dream Variations (2:01)
4. I, Too (1:44)
5. His Name So Sweet (1:46)
arr. Undine Smith Moore
6. Watch and Pray (4:13)
arr. Undine Smith Moore
7. Wade in the Water (3:14)
arr. Mark Hayes
8. Night (1:52)
by Florence B. Price
9. Lullaby Eternal(4:22)
by H. Leslie Adams
10. Ride On, King Jesus (2:11)
by Hal Johnson
11. This Little Light of Mine (4:56)
arr. Hale Smith
12. For you there is no song
By H.Leslie Adams (2:33)
13. Creole Girl (2:36)
by H. Leslie Adams
14. Give Me Jesus (2:53)
arr. Boyd Bacon
(1,11) © Halsco Music Publishers, 1980
(2–4) © Filmtrax Copyright Hldgs Inc.
OBO EMI Mills Music Inc.
(5, 10) Carl Fischer, Inc.
(6) © Undine Smith Moore
(7) © Alfred Publishing Co., Inc.
(8) © Edward B. Marks Music Company
(9, 12, 13) © H. Leslie Adams
(14) © Boyd Bacon
I,
too