I, tooIcy Simpson, sopranoArtina 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 har-monies. 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 Huston-Tillotson 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 Ameri-can 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 Founda-tion. In May 2011, Ms. Simpson made her professional debut as a soloist with the South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and Shreve-port Summer Music Festival Symphony Orchestra. Icy Rene Simpson, soprano, received her Bachelors Degree in Vocal Perfor-mance 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.

Amazing Gracearr. Hale Smith

Amazing grace, how sweet the soundThat 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 PortraitsBy Margaret Bonds

Minstrel ManBecause my mouth is wide with laughterAnd my throat is deep with songYou do not think I sufferAfter I have held my pain so longBecause my mouth is wide with laughterYou do not hear my inner cryBecause my feet are gay with dancingYou do not knowI die

Dream VariationsTo fling my arms wideIn some place of the sun,To whirl and to danceTill the white day is done.Then rest at cool eveningBeneath a tall treeWhile night comes on gently,Dark like me-That is my dream!

To fling my arms wideIn the face of the sun,Dance! Whirl! Whirl!Till the quick day is done.Rest at pale evening...A tall, slim tree...Night coming tenderlyBlack like me.

I, TooI, too, sing America.I am the darker brother (sister).They send me to eat in the kitchenWhen company comes,But I laugh,And eat well,And grow strong.

Tomorrow,I’ll be at the tableWhen company comes.Nobody’ll dareSay to me,“Eat in the kitchen,”Then.Besides,They’ll see how beautiful I amAnd be ashamed--

His Name So Sweet arr. Undine Smith Moore

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.

Lyrics

Watch and Prayarr. 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.

Soon tomorrow comes childTime calls out to youAll the world is waitingWith things that you must do

So sleep, sleep, lie still in my arms lie still and dream and knowThe world waits, waits for youSleep my little oneRest my little gentle oneLie upon my breast

I know the world isWaiting for youBut stay with me and restI know the world is Waiting for youBut stay with me and restBut 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!

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.

Nightby Florence B. Price

Night comes, a MadonnaClad in scented blueRose red her mouthAnd deep her eyesShe lights her startsAnd turns to whereBeneath her silver lamp the moonUpon a couch of shadow liesA dreamy childThe wearied day

Lullaby Eternalby H. Leslie Adams

Sleep my little oneLie still upon my breastI know the world is waiting for youBut stay with me and rest

Tonight you light my lifeWith tender smilesStay close within my armsYou’re mine, but for a while

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 songby H.Leslie AdamsFor you there is no songOnly the shaking of the voice that meant to singThe sound of the strong voice breakingStrange in my hand appears the penAnd yours brokenThere are ink and tears on the pageOnly the tears, only the tearsOnly the tears have spoken

Creole Girlby H. Leslie AdamsWhen you dance do you think of SpainPurple skirts and clipping castanetsCreole Girl, Creole Girl, Creole Girl, Creole GirlWhen you laugh do you think of France?Golden wine and mincing minuetsCreole Girl, Creole Girl, Creole Girl, Creole GirlWhen you sing do you think of young AmericaGrey guns and battling bayonetsWhen you cryDo you think of AfricaBlue nights and casual canzonetsWhen you danceDo you think of SpainPurple skirts and clipping castanetsCreole 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.

Recording information and PersonnelExecutive Producer: B. Glenn ChandlerProducers: Icy Simpson, Artina McCain and Andy MurphyRecorded and mixed by Andy MurphyMastered by Jerry Tubb and Andy Murphy at Terra Nova Digital AudioRecorded at the Butler School of Music Recording StudioProduced 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.

Acknowledgments

1. Amazing Grace (3:00)arr. Hale Smith

Three Dream Portraitsby 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 songBy H.Leslie Adams (2:33)

13. Creole Girl (2:36)by H. Leslie Adams

14. Give Me Jesus (2:53)arr. Boyd Bacon I,

too(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