Episode 234. Carol Brice (Black History Month 2021 – V)
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This Listeners’ Favorites episode serves a dual purpose: first it is a celebration the publication this week of my partner David Savran’s new book, Tell It to the World: The Broadway Musical Abroad, by Oxford University Press. (I’ll be doing two episodes with David on this book in March in conjunction with the book launch.) Second, David introduces us to one of his favorite Countermelody episodes, a 2021 Black History Month celebration of the life, voice, and career of the great African American contralto Carol Brice (1916-1985), whose career encompassed both Broadway and opera. It’s that very versatility that most attracted David to Brice’s work. He describes to us his first exposure to a variety of her recordings, from Falla to Finian’s Rainbow. I myself first heard Carol Brice in her recording of “Sweet Little Jesus Boy,” which exemplifies all her musical virtues: simplicity and directness of utterance, lack of sentimentality, and deep identification with both text and music. Add to this a voice of such depth and refinement and a technique so secure that she is almost without equal. From her early career outings as the first African American to win the coveted Naumburg Award, through her appearances on the Broadway stage and in Porgy and Bess, Carol Brice brought an emotional honesty to her performances such as is rarely encountered in any field of genre. On this episode I feature her in a wide range of live and commercial recordings from Marc Blitzstein’s Regina to concert pieces by Brahms and Mahler, focusing in particular on a matchless 1947 song recital with her brother Jonathan Brice as her collaborator. Brice’s second husband, the baritone Thomas Carey is also featured in a pair of recordings. Thank you, David, for re-introducing my listeners to this great artist, and congratulations on your monumental new book!
RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE
Traditional Spiritual, arr. Edward H. Boatner: On My Journey. Carol Brice; Jonathan Brice [1947]
Giuseppe Sarti: Lungi dal caro bene. Carol Brice; Jonathan Brice [1947]
Frederick John Easthope Martin, Helen Taylor: Come to the Fair. Carol Brice [V-Disc, released May 1946]
Johann Sebastian Bach: Esurientes implevit bonis (Magnificat, BWV 243). Carol Brice; Daniel Saidenberg, Columbia Broadcasting Concert Orchestra [1947]
Johannes Brahms, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Ist auf deinem Psalter (Alt-Rhapsodie, Op. 53). Carol Brice; Serge Koussevitzky, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Tanglewood Festival Chorus (dir. Robert Shaw) [live Tanglewood 03 August 1946]
Manuel de Falla, Gregorio Martínez Sierra: Canción del amor dolido (El amor brujo). Carol Brice; Fritz Reiner, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra [1946]
Manuel de Falla, Théophile Gautier: Séguedille (Trois mélodies, No. 3). Carol Brice; Jonathan Brice [1947]
Gustav Mahler: Die zwei blauen Augen von meinem Schatz (Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, No. 4). Carol Brice; Fritz Reiner, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra [1947]
Robert Franz, Wilhelm Osterwald: Im Frühling, Op. 17/5. Carol Brice; Jonathan Brice [1947]
Franz Schubert, Friedrich von Matthison: Geistertanz, D. 117. Lucretia West; Leo Taubmann [1955]
Jean Berger (né Arthur Schloßberg): They All Dance the Samba. Carol Brice; Jonathan Brice [1947]
John Alden Carpenter, Rabindranath Tagore: The Day Is No More. Carol Brice; Jonathan Brice [1947]
Marc Blitzstein: Miss Birdie, ma’am… Night could be time to sleep (Regina). Carol Brice, Elisabeth Carron; Samuel Krachmalnick, New York City Opera Orchestra [1958]
Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer: Gettin’ a Man (Saratoga). Carol Brice, Odette Myrtil; Orchestra conducted by Jerry Arlen [1959]
Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer: Goose Never Be a Peacock (Saratoga). Carol Brice; Orchestra conducted by Jerry Arlen [1959]
Burton Lane, Yip Harburg: Necessity (Finian’s Rainbow). Carol Brice; Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Max Meth [1960]
Claibe Richardson, Kenward Elmslie: If There’s Enough Love (The Grass Harp). Carol Brice; Orchestra conducted by Theodore Saidenberg [live New York 06 November 1971]
Claibe Richardson, Kenward Elmslie: Marry with Me (The Grass Harp). Carol Brice; Orchestra conducted by Jonathan Tunick
George Gershwin, DuBose Heyward, Ira Gershwin: What do you think you’re doing… I hates yo’ struttin’ style (Porgy and Bess). Carol Brice, Larry Marshall; John DeMain, Houston Grand Opera [1976]
Traditional Spiritual, arr. Roland Hayes: Sister Mary Had-a But One Child. Thomas Carey; Urs Schneider, Nürnberger Symphoniker [1970]
Stephen Foster: I Dream of Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair. Thomas Carey; Thomas Carey; Urs Schneider, Nürnberger Symphoniker [1970]
Stephen Foster: Ah! May that Red Rose Live Alway. Carol Brice; Jonathan Brice [1947]
Traditional Spiritual, arr. Hall Johnson: Witness. Carol Brice; Jonathan Brice [1947]
Robert MacGimsey: Sweet Little Jesus Boy. Carol Brice; Jonathan Brice [1947]
Charles Albert Tindley, Lucille Simmons: We Shall Overcome. Carol Brice; Male Quartet [recording details unknown]