THE ALICE PARKER RECORDING PROJECT

 

 

The scope of Alice Parker compositions represents, in and of itself, a documented preservation of the American folk song tradition.  From colonial hymns through 20th century African-American Spirituals to original operas and cantatas, her published work has been performed by generations of professional and amateur singers alike.  Much of this material, however, remains unrecorded.

 

In 1999, Melodious Accord began an initiative to record and preserve this large body of work:  The Alice Parker Recording Project.  Not only does this project document the work of Alice Parker, one of our country’s leading choral artists for over five decades, it celebrates her work in a manner appropriately fitting—through song.

 

Melodious Accord is committed to preserving this impressive collection of American music as performed by The Musicians of Melodious Accord with soloists, and recorded with great care under the direction of the composer herself.

 

To date, with the generous support of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc., the New York State Council for the Arts, GIA Publications, and gifts from hundreds of individual donors, we have made 8 recordings:

 

            My Love and I, featuring the men of The Musicians of 

            Melodious Accord singing some of the favorite Alice

            Parker/Robert Shaw arrangements of love songs for male

            voices.  (Gothic Records)

           

            Listen, Lord, a cantata based on poems by James Weldon

            Johnson, and a collection of spirituals.  (Gothic Records)

           

            The Family Reunion, a back-yard opera depicting an

            American tradition.  (Melodious Accord)

           

            O Sing the Glories, a collection of 17 Choral anthems  (GIA)

           

            Angels and Challengers, settings of poems by Emily

            Dickinson, May Sarton, Edna St. Vincent Millay and Elinor

            Wylie.   (Melodious Accord)

           

            Singers Glen, a folk-opera based on the life of Joseph Funk

            and the early American Singing School tradition.  (Melodious Accord)

 

           Saints Bound for Heaven, a collection of favorite hymns and anthems

           selected by Alice and supporters of Melodious Accord.  (Melodious Accord)

 

           And Glory Shone, arrangements and compositions of Christmas music by

           Alice Parker.  (Melodious Accord)   

 

We would welcome your contributions to this on-going project.  You may do so on-line here through PayPal or you may send a check to:

          Melodious Accord, Inc.

          P O Box 20801

          Park West Station

          New York, NY  10025

 

 

Contribute now online