H. Leslie Adams
American Composer
Composer of instrumental, vocal solo and keyboard.
Past Events
11/24/2010
Adams Feted at the HistoryMakers 10th Anniversary Gala. Adams joins other selectees to commemorate the 10th Gala Celebration. At the Institute of Art, Chicago, IL. Among the on-stage presenters and performers are Poet Nikki Giovanni, Opera Mezzo Soprano Denyce Graves, Moderator Gwen Hill, Singer Dianne Warwick, Entertainer Melba Moore, and Founder Julieanna Richardson. The organization records and collects historical audio interviews of "sung and unsung community leaders" and archives them in its Chicago headquarters.
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11/24/2010
Adams Art Songs in Liverpool. Countertenor Darryl Taylor performs "Creole Girl," "For You There Is No Song" and "Sence You Went Away" at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, England. Raewyn Bailey is at the piano.
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10/05/2010
Art Songs of H. Leslie Adams: A Composer Portrait. Allanda Small, soprano-lecturer in an evening devoted to selected Adams art songs. Works include "Nightsongs," Five Millay Songs," and "The Wider View." At Moorer Auditorium, The University of Mobile, Mobile Alabama.
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09/17/2010
H. Leslie Adams in Back to School with The HistoryMakers. The Composer is presented in two sessions at Daniel E. Morgan K-8 School in Clevelanc, OH. Students heard Adams share information on his background and career and viewed a video of his choral works. Students then asked Adams spontaneous and prepared questions. Approximately four hundred students participated in this presentation.
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04/02/2010
"H. Leslie Adams: "Ecstasy of Love for Viola and Piano". Featured work on: Viola Workshop and Master Class. Eliesha Nelson, Cleveland Orchestra Violist and Workshop Leader, Dianna White - Goulc, pianist.
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02/21/2010
"Prayer" Music at St. Albans Series. Anthony Turner, baritone, Kenneth Hamrick, piano. St. Albans Episcopal Church, Eltingville, New York.
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02/20/2010
Adams in Live Composer Interview. "Weekend Morning Show". WKYC-TV, Channel 3, Kim Wheeler, host. Telecast throughout Greater Cleveland, Ohio.
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02/15/2010
Selected Art Songs. On: Concert in Tribute to Contemporary Composers. At the Performing Arts Center Eastside College, East Palo Alto, CA.
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01/24/2010
"Creole Girl", "Prayer", "Sence You Went Away", "For You There is No Song", and "Amazing Grace". Darryl Taylor, Countertenor, Gerald Daniel Recital Hall, Long Beach State University, Long Beach, CA.
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01/17/2010
"Prayer" and "Creole Girl". East Village Concert Series. Anthony Turner, baritone; Mimi Stern-Wolfe, piano. St. Marks in the Bowery, New York City.
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September - Great Academic/Concert Fiscal Year Begins
Blake
Work In Progress Highlights
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April 12, 2008 - BLAKE. Highlights from Music Drama. Presented by Opera North, Inc., Leslie Burrs, Gen. Manager; Kay George Roberts, Conductor; Doris Coleman, Artistic Director; Carol Evans, Choral Director; Bobby Goodrich, Production Director.
Cast: Albert Rudolph Lee (Blake) Lisa Edwards-Burrs (Miranda) Evan Boyer (Maj. Frank Stevens) Alejandra Valarino (Joanna Stevens) Angela Devine (Isabella Ballard). Trinity Center for Urban Life. Philadelphia PA.
April 10, 2008 - Music for Ensembles. "Intermezzo" and "Pastorale" (violin and piano) Madeleine Darmiento, violin; Maria Corley, piano. "Sonata for Horn and Piano" (two movements) Cheryl Stahenski, horn; Corley, piano. "I Want to Die Easy" and "Hosanna to the Son of David." Millerville Chorale; Jeffrey Gemmell, conductor. [Second half of program, music by Richard Thompson.]
April 9, 2008 - Art Songs and Piano Music. Maria Corley, piano; Guest Artist Countertenor Darryl Taylor. Georgia Katsourides, Kirstin Potteiger, Teresa Walker Jasmine Morrow, and Debra Lenssen, sopranos; Jonathan Kauffman, tenor; Nyemah Wisseh, Jeffrey Gemmel, baritones. Music Department Recital; Lyte Auditorium; Millersville University, Lancaster PA.
March 19, 2008 - Metropolitan Opera Mezzo Soprano Denyce Graves in a concert that featured Composer's art songs. At Glucksterns' in SoHo, New York City. [Proceeds going to AIDS Foundation.]
June 10, 2008 - Composer's work featured on new CD entitled, "With a Song In My Heart." Gerald Blanchard, baritone. Blue Griffin Records, BGR 117.
August, 2010
Organ Anthology - Adams, H. Leslie. "Offertory." In: King of Kings - Organ Music of Black Composers, Past and Present, Vol. I., pp. 36-47. Comp. & ed. by James Abbington. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2008.
January/February, 2008
Article: Taylor, Darryl. "Songs of H. Leslie Adams." In: Journal of Singing, Vol.64, No. 3, pp. 317-327.
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12/05/2007
Composer on radio (WCLV-FM) featuring works for voice, piano, strings.
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11/07/2007
Ten-Year Work Completed. On this date Composer finished "Twenty Six Etudes for Solo Piano" (begun in 1997).
Reference: community-2 WebTv.net.
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09/09/2007
H. Leslie Adams: A Listening Party East Cleveland Library presents "H. Leslie Adams: A Listening Party". Greg L. Reese Performing Arts Center, East Cleveland, Ohio. September 9, 2007. Cavani String Quartet; Darryl Taylor, countertenor; Maria Thompson Corley, pianist; Kent Collier, cellist; William Marshall, bass.
"Gems of Cleveland"
Presented by Spectrum of Supportive Services
November 10, 2007
University Club, Cleveland OH
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From Left to Right: Les Roberts, Author; H. L. Adams, Composer; Stephen Morse, Spectrum CEO; Leon Bibb, News Anchor; Mary Deutchman, Painter; and Robert P. Madison, Architect.
Cavani Performs
September 9, 2007
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"H. Leslie Adams: A Listening Party 2" at East Cleveland Public Library, East Cleveland, Ohio at the Greg Reese Performing Arts Center.
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Artists: Cavani String Quartet, Pianist Maria Corley; Countertenor Darryl Taylor; Bass William Clarence Marshall; Cellist Kent Collier.
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AAASA Convention
February 11, 2007
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H. Leslie Adams on two panels of African American Art Song Alliance: A Time of Reflection Convention, University of California Irvine
Panel Discussion: "The Performer/Composer Dynamic," with Hilda Harris, Darryl Taylor, Louise Toppin, Olly Wilson, Moderator Naomi Andre.
Composer Forum: "State of the Art Song Today," with Wallace Cheatham, Adolphus Hailsrork, Jacqueline Hairston, Richard Thompson; Moderator Olly Wilson.
Works performs at Convention: "Five Millay Songs," with Robin Buck, baritone and Manuael Laufer, piano. "Nightsongs" excerpts, with Yolanda West, soprano and Byron Smith, piano.
H. Leslie Adams on two panels of African American Art Song Alliance: A Time of Reflection Convention, University of California Irvine
Panel Discussion: "The Performer/Composer Dynamic," with Hilda Harris, Darryl Taylor, Louise Toppin, Olly Wilson, Moderator Naomi Andre.
Composer Forum: "State of the Art Song Today," with Wallace Cheatham, Adolphus Hailsrork, Jacqueline Hairston, Richard Thompson; Moderator Olly Wilson.
Works performs at Convention: "Five Millay Songs," with Robin Buck, baritone and Manuael Laufer, piano. "Nightsongs" excerpts, with Yolanda West, soprano and Byron Smith, piano.
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Morehouse Residency
Atlanta, GA
January 29 to February 2, 2007
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January 31 - Seminar with Composition Students, Voice Performance Seminar.
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Febraury 2 - Concert, Sale Hall
Part I. Art Songs "Li'l' Gal,&quos", "Sence You Went Away", "On this Day", "Night Song", "Drums of Tragedy", "Prayer", "Amazing Grace", "The Return from Town". Student performers: Deon Embry, Edwin Cotton, Steven Booth, Theodore Norman, Lucan James Jarrett O'Neal and Preston Anderson, tenors; Maurice Wright, Kortland Whalum, and Kevin Johnson, baritones. Brandon Waddles, David Oliver, Aaron Mathews, and Carlos Simon, accompanists.
Part II Laura Robinson, soprano, head of voice, Spelman University in two selections: "The Heart of a Woman" and "Creole Girl." Dr. Jefferson Ethridge, piano.
Part III Selections from Sleep in the Stables. Overture, songs, duets and trio. Faculty performers: Pamela Dillard, Soprano, as Beulah; Mel Foster, Tenor, as Billey; and Uzee Brown, Jr., Baritone, as Blue. Timothy Boyd Miller, Tenor, as Blue's Descendant, and Ann McPhail, Soprano, as Carrie, Young Blue's Wife. Ms. McPhail and Mr. Miller, Narrators. Dr. Ethridge, piano. Student performers: Aaron Paige and Sheldon Ogbourne, drummers.
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Avava Artists Present
The Blake Suite
January 3, 2007
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Opening concert of National Opera Association's 52nd Annual Convention. Introductions by Avid Williams and Jonathon Field. Lillian Roberts and Loraine Rodriguez, Sopranos; Patricia Eaton, Mezzo Soprano; Darryl Anderson and Dominick Chenes, Tenors; Sidney Outlaw and Edward Pleasant, Baritones. William Hobbs, Music Director; Avid Williams, Stage Director. Schomburg Center for Research and Culture, New York, NY.
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Blake Suite Cast
November 7, 2007
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The "Blake Suite" is first performed in the New York area on November 7, 2006 on "Chamber Music Live" Series. Lefrak Concert Hall; Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College, Flushing, NY. The hour-long Suite consists of solos, duets, and trios, from the opera, Blake. A group photo of the November cast is shown below.
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Left to right: Edward Pleasant, baritone; Bernadette Hoke, piano; Patrice Eaton, soprano; Composer; Lillian Roberts, soprano; Loraine Rodriguez, soprano; Sidney Outlaw, bass-baritone; Avid Williams, tenor/producer. LeFrak Auditorium, Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College, City of New York.
Recent Performace
Blake
May 6, 2006​
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Excerpt by New York City Opera Company Orchestra & Soloists. On: "VOX Showcasing American Composers". Skirball Auditorium, New York University, NYC. (Concert reading of Act III, Scenes 1 & 2)
Adams: 2006 Legacy Awardee, National Opera Association & 2006 Distinguished Alumnus Recipient, Music Department, California State University, Long Beach.
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July, 15, 2006
Summer event: Ingenuity Festival of Cleveland presented "A Celebration of H. Leslie Adams" featuring Halida Dinova, pianist (www.metronomeinc.com) Heidi Albert, cellist; Lyric Opera Cleveland young affiliate vocalists. Jonathon Field, director; Emily Urbanek, Music Director. UCC Space, on WCLV Stage, Cleveland, Ohio.
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"Composer at the Piano"
Photo by William Armstrong, taken 01/09/05, Lakewood, Ohio.
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Performance Hightlights​
January 5, 2006 - December 5, 2007
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January 5, 2006 - Composer on Panel, National Opera Association, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
January 6, 2006 - "Daybirth," is discussed by Gail Robinson-Oturu. Poet lyricist Joette McDonald present. Songs, "Daybirth," and "Lullaby Eternal" are performed. NOA, Ann Arbor.
January 7, 2006 - Composer receives NOA Legacy Award. "Lullaby Eternal" reprised. Ann Arbor.
February 28, 2006 - "Prelude and Fugue" Norah Duncan IV, organ. Department of Music, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
March 9, 2006 - "Love Memory" and "Homesick Blues." Darryl Taylor, tenor, in recital. Kennedy Center, Washington, DC.
March 19, 2006 - "Etude in G Minor" Rochelle Sennet, piano. New Mexico State University Concert Series, Music Center Recital Hall, NMSU. Las Cruces, NM.
April 2, 2006 - Composer receives Annual "Celebrating Music Award" from California State University, Long Beach. Pianist Althea Waites performs Etudes in E Major, A Flat Minor and A Major. The Carpenter Center, Long Beach CA.
April 3, 2006 - Composer gives two two-hour presentations on life, career and music, with live performances by Tenor Darryl Taylor, Cellist Maggie Parkins, and Pianist Althea Waites. University of California, Irvine, CA., and University of California, Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA.
April 19, 2006 - "An Hour with H. Leslie Adams and his Music." On: 'Black Arts' hosted by A. Grace Lee Mims. Radio Station WCLV FM, Cleveland, Ohio.
April 23, 2006 - "Etude in F Minor" (first performance). "An Evening of Classical Music." Halida Dinova, piano. Jewish Community Center, Beachwood, OH.
April 24, 2006 - Adams at Juilliard. Piano etudes in C Major, A Minor, D Minor and G Flat Minor. Performed by Maria Corley, soloist. David Dubal, host. This event coincides with the official Albany Records CD release of Twelve Etudes, featuring Corley. The composer present. The Juilliard School, Lincoln Center, New York, NY.
May 5, 2006 - Adams at New York City Opera. Excepts from Blake are performed by the NYCO Company on its VOX Showcase. Cast includes Robert Mack, tenor (as Blake); Donita Volkwyn, soprano (as Miranda); Matthew Burns, baritone (as Ballard) and Jennifer Roderer, mezzo soprano (as Isabella). The NYCO Orchestra is conducted by Brian Garman. The composer present. New York, NY.
May 5, 2006 - "Miranda Arias" from "Blake." Lillian Roberts, soprano; Shelby Rhoades, piano. Opera America Convention, Seattle, WA.
May 6, 2006 - "Blake" Act Three, Scenes 1 & 2 read by the New York City Opera Orchestra and Soloists: Donita Volkwijin, soprano; Jennifer Roderer, mezzo soprano; Robert Mack, tenor; Matthew Burns, baritone. Brian Garman, conductor. On: "VOX: Showcasing American Composers." Skirball Auditorium, New York University, Washington Square Park South,; New York City.
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May 13, 2006 - "For You There Is No Song" and "Night Song." Rosalind Coles and Susan Ungham, sopranos; Roberta May Whitely, piano. Ok-Sim Kim, director. Cleveland Music School Settlement, Cleveland, OH.
July 15, 2006 - Ingenuity Festival of Greater Cleveland presents "A Celebration of H. Leslie Adams." Halida Dinova, pianist. Heidi Albert, cellist. Jonathon Field, director. Emily Urbanek, Music Director/Accompanist. Lyric Opera Cleveland young affiliate vocalists: Dana Zenobi, soprano; Kimberly Lauritsen and Kasey Stewart, mezzo sopranos; Jeremy Blossey and Joshua Hart, tenors; and Jonathan Stuckey, bass. UCC Space, on WCLV Stage, Clevelaand, OH.
November 2, 2006 - Basso Moderno Duo, in recital. Featuring Double Bassist Allan von Schenkel. Women's Club of Arlington, Arlington VA.
November 7, 2006 - BLAKE SUITE "Chamber Music Live Series." Lillian Roberts, Loraine Rodriguez, Patrice Eaton, sopranos; Avid Williams, tenor; Sidney Outlaw, Edward Pleasant, baritones; Bernadette Holk, piano. Lefrak Concert Hall, Aaron Copeland School of Music, Queens College, Flushing, NY.
January 3, 2007 - BLAKE SUITE New York premiere. Presented by Avava Artists. Introductions by Avid Williams and Jonathon Field. Lillian Roberts and Loraine Rodriguez, Sopranos; Patricia Eaton, Mezzo Soprano; Darren Anderson and Dominick Chenes Tenors; Sidney Outlaw and Edward Pleasant, Baritones. William Hobbs, Music Director; Avid Williams, Stage Director. (Opening concert of 52nd Annual Convention, National Opera Association.) Schomburg Center for Research and Culture, New York, NY.
January 21, 2007 - H. Leslie Adams Sampler: A Listening Party" Cavani String Quartet; Darryl Taylor, tenor; Maria Corley, piano; Heidi Albert, cello; Jonathan Stuckey, bass. Gregory L. Reese Performing Arts Center, East Cleveland Public Library, East Cleveland, OH.
January 29 - February 2, 2007 - "H. Leslie Adams Week-long Residency." Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA. Culminating in concert of art Songs.
February 10 - 11, 2007 - Adams on Composers Panel, African American Art Song Alliance Convention, Irvine, CA.
September 9, 2007 - "H. Leslie Adams: A Listening Party 2" Special return engagement from January 21, 2007 (above). Same artists except for William Clarence Marshall, bass. East Cleveland Public Library, East Cleveland, OH.
November 10, 2007 - Composer feted as one of "Gems of Cleveland" by Spectrum of Supportive Services. Other honoree's: Leon Bibb, News Anchor; Mary Deutschman, Painter; Robert P. Madison, Architect; Les Roberts, Author. University Club, Cleveland OH.
December 5, 2007 - Vocal and instrumental works featured on hour-long radio broadcast over WCLV FM, originating from Cleveland, OH. Composer interview, A. Grace Lee Mims, host.
Review quote: "These Etudes for Piano certainly are lovely. They are studies in varying styles, moods, tonalites and thematic natures . . . my favorite is the B Flat Minor with its hint of jazz influence."
- Gerri Gribi (CreativeFolk.com, 4/04.)
On Record: "Twelve Etudes"
A dozen, varied keyboard studies, brilliantly peformed by Pianist Maria Corley.
This major work is comprised of studies in different tonalities, tempos, meters, moods, themes, rhythmic patterns and structures. Corley executes these pieces with deep understanding and technical virtuosity, engaging the essence of their heart while taking the listener on a special journey.
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CD presented by Vidamus and released in 2004.
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"Sneak Preview" of songs from new drama with music, Sleep in the Stables, a/k/a Slaves [2006, pre- production]. "Sleep in the Stables, a/k/a Slaves " (book and lyrics by Sidney Goldberg). Performers for Preview of June 26, 2005: Michelle Robinson, contralto; David Wittmer, tenor; William Dempsey, baritone; Roderick Williams, narrator.
The drama tells the moving story of Beulah and Billey, lovers during the time of slavery, and of Blue, their friend who ultimately has a rash of good fortune after several tribulations.
The presentation is in concert form, with the narration estabishing the situations and moods.
Also on this program: Etude in A Minor, performed by Robyn Lanier, pianist; and Composer's arrangement of spiritual, "I Want to Die Easy," performed by the Greater Cleveland PanHellenic Choir, Lamont Johnson, conducting. [At Euclid Avenue Congregational Church, Cleveland, Ohio.]
Special performance: "Branch by Branch" [from Five Millay Songs] Kim Lauritsen, mezzo soprano. Lyric Opera Apprentice Concert, June 10, 2005. Space Art Gallery, Cleveland Ohio.
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Sheet music and printed scores may be found at American Composers Alliance
PO Box 1108, New York, NY.
"Sleep in the Stables"
"Sleep in the Stables" a/k/a Slaves, (2005) is a series of songs (to lyrics by Sidney Goldberg) for a theater piece.
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The magnificent voice of Tenor Darryl Taylor performing 22 songs. On texts of Paul Laurence Dunbar, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Langston Hughes, Joette McDonald and many others. (Presented by Videmus.)
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CD Second Edition now available
"Love Rejoices: Songs of H. Leslie Adams" CD has just been repressed for its second edition by Albany Records, and is now available. Produced by Videmus, featuring the great voice of Tenor Darryl Taylor.
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"H. Leslie Adams (b. 1932) proves to be an eminently enjoyable composer. . . . The songs are tuneful, often simple, but just as often they take the most unexpected and delightful harmonic turns. Each song is beautiful in an individual way. They seldom fail to impress. Here is an American song writer who deserves more attention. Tenor Darryl Taylor is a joy to hear--he sounds like Darryl Taylor and no one else."
- American Record Guide. (May/June 2001)
"This is a wonderful listening experience . . . [Adams music runs] from the very rhythmic to (the very) liquid."
- American Guild of Organists Cleveland Chapter Review (March Newsletter, 2001)
"This collection of songs from H. Leslie Adams is a breathtaking showcase."
- Gerri Gribi, BH Resource Page (2-20-01).
"Taylor is a young singer of extraordinary talent . . . and with a depth of emotion that betrays his youthful age."
- D. Miller, Amazon.com (1-17-01).
***** (Five Stars) "A superb recording . . . not only can the listener receive inspiration from a single hearing, but one tends to return again and again, as this music weaves its haunting magic."
- Amazon.com (1-26-01)
"Rarely does one hear a perfect match of singer, pianist and repertoire. 'Love Rejoices,' a new cd containing a rich assortment of the masterful songs by H. Leslie Adams, has that magic. The Adams songs are beautifully crafted. / This composer knows what musical line is all about and sets his texts with love of words and musical technique to match the poetry. / The piano parts are at once intricate and a perfect match for the nuances of text. / Darryl Taylor's tenor and Ms. Guy's sensitive accompanying meld perfectly. / Mr. Taylor knows how to change his timbre from warm and luxurious to moody and dark . . . wonderful."
- M. Limkemann, Worldwide Web, Webtv.net (2-9-91).
"Adams writes in a lyrical style that fuses elements of jazz and . . . folksong with 20th-century compositional techniques."
- J. Wright, The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Second Edition, Vol. I, 2001.
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"Conversation with H. Leslie Adams"
"Musical Landscapes in Color"
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Section: The Arrived and the Acknowledged, including full page composer photo.
Author: William C. Banfield. Scarecrow Press, 2003
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"The highly varied and enormously interesting first-person accounts and interviews contained in this work will appeal to both music scholars and general readers alike."
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African American History & Heritage
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New Work: Quartet in D Flat, for Strings (in four movements). Performed by the Black River String Quartet on March 7, 2004 at the East Cleveland Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio. [Also music of Dolores White. Program celebrating Ohio BiCentennial.] Other artists included Baritone Alvin Nix, Sopranos Rosalind Coles and Bonnie Savage, and Pianist Roberta Whitely.
Performed again on March 27, 2004 by the Black River String Quartet at the Stocker Center of Lorain County Community College. Three Songs. In: The New Anthology of Art Songs by African American Composers. Ed. Simmon & Wagner. Southern Illinois University Press. Release date: April 14, 2004.
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