Two Songs on Texts by Abbey Lincoln: Bird Alone and Rainbow, by Valerie Capers.  For soprano and piano. 

Commissioned by the African American Composer Initiative in 2012

Live concert video: Bird Alone - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZdKj3MsyM8; Rainbow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atKSdfzTTr4

Notes by the composer:

 “Abbey Lincoln was an artist with exceptional talents. She was a painter, musician, actress and a poet. We know and love her poetry through the lyrics of her original songs. Bird Alone is sad and somewhat haunting. I believe it reflects the ending of a long-term relationship with Max Roach, a profound and personal loss in her life. Rainbow is a song of hope and optimism.

 “For years the beautiful melodies of Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky and others have been borrowed from classical music and adapted into a popular music form. I decided to go in the opposite direction and set these two songs in Euro-centric styles and traditions: Bird Alone in a Ravelian impressionistic style and color; and Rainbow, more or less in a late romantic, early twentieth century style. I found Abbey Lincoln’s child-like and enthusiastic lyric was perfect for singing this song with the delight and amazement of a child.”