Composers

Robert Owens

1925 - 2017

About

Robert Owens (1925-2017) a native of Denison, Texas is known as one of the current leading names in the genre of African American art song. He has gained notoriety as a concert pianist, vocal accompanist, composer, and stage and television director. Learning to play the piano at a young age from his mother, Owens composed his first piano and art songs in his high school years and continued to develop his talent under Genevieve Longrus and Dora O’Neill.  After his time in the military, he continued his education in Europe and studied with various professors such as Jules Genty, Alfred Cortot, and Grete Hinterhofer. Owens briefly came back to America to pursue a teaching position in Georgia.  It was during this time that he was introduced to the African American poet Langston Hughes and wrote two song cycles based on his poetry, Silver Rain and Tearless. Once back in Europe, Robert Owens settled in Hamburg, Germany and resumed composing and started acting to support his career. The composer still considers Hamburg his home, however he has occasionally returned to the States as an artist-in-residence as various educational institutions such as University of Michigan and University of Wisconsin.

Related Information

www.darryltaylor.com/alliance/composers/robert--owens, http://afrovoices.com/robert-owens-biography/

Works by Robert Owens

Title Collection Voice Type Range Poet
A complaint Four Motivations, Op. 21 Baritone D3 - E4 William Wordsworth
A Cycle of Six Negro Spirituals for Bass and Piano: A Cycle of Six Negro Spirituals for Bass and Piano Bass B2 - D4 Biblical
A House in Taos Mortal Storm, Op. 29 Baritone B2 - D4 Langston Hughes
A Song 3 Songs, Op. 31 Coloratura Soprano G4 - C6 Paul Laurence Dunbar
Au Cabaret-Vert Rimbaud Cabaret, Op. 101 Countertenor A3 - E5 Arthur Rimbaud
Beale Street Border Line, Op. 24 Voice A3 - D5 Langston Hughes
Border Line Border Line, Op. 24 Voice F4 - D5 Langston Hughes
Bright Be the Place of Thy Soul Stanzas for Music: Four Songs for Tenor and Piano Tenor E3 - F#4 Lord Byron
Burden Border Line, Op. 24 Voice C4 - Eb5 Langston Hughes
Carolina Cabin Silver Rain, Op. 11 Tenor D3 - G4 Langston Hughes
Chippy Tearless Op. 9 Baritone Ab2 - Db4 Langston Hughes
Circles Border Line, Op. 24 Voice A3 - C#5 Langston Hughes
Convent Border Line, Op. 24 Voice A3 - C#5 Langston Hughes
Could I but ride indefinite Four Motivations, Op. 21 Baritone C3 - Eb 4 Emily Dickinson
Dancers Tearless Op. 9 Baritone D3 - Db4 Langston Hughes
Der verliebte Reisende 3 Lieder, Op. 19 Mezzo-Soprano Bb3 - F5 Joseph von Eichendorff
Desert Border Line, Op. 24 Voice G3 - D5 Langston Hughes
Desire Desire (Song Cycle for Tenor and Piano) Tenor E3 - F4 Langston Hughes
Die Beiden 3 Lieder, Op. 19 Voice G3 - D5 Hugo von Hofmannsthal
Die Nacht 3 Lieder, Op. 19 Mezzo-Soprano A3 - D5 Joseph von Eichendorff
Dream Desire (Song Cycle for Tenor and Piano) Tenor F3 - G4 Langston Hughes
Dustbowl Border Line, Op. 24 Voice A3 - E5 Langston Hughes
Eine Geige in den Gärten 3 Lieder for Baritone Op. 20 Baritone Ab2 - Eb4 Hermann Hesse
Exits Tearless Op. 9 Baritone Ab2 - Db4 Langston Hughes
Faithful One Mortal Storm, Op. 29 Baritone C3 - D4 Langston Hughes
For a Poet Three Countee Cullen Songs, Op. 27 for High Voice and Piano High F4 - A5 Countee Cullen
For dead mimes Heart on the Wall (5 Songs for Soprano and Piano) Soprano G4 - A5 Langston Hughes
Fragments Border Line, Op. 24 Voice Bbb3 - Eb5 Langston Hughes
Fremde Stadt 3 Lieder for Baritone Op. 20 Baritone Ab2 - C4 Hermann Hesse
From The Dark Tower Three Countee Cullen Songs, Op. 27 for High Voice and Piano High E4 - G5 Countee Cullen
Fulfillment Silver Rain, Op. 11 Tenor Eb3 - G5 Langston Hughes
Genius Child Mortal Storm, Op. 29 Baritone B2 - F4 Langston Hughes
Gifts Border Line, Op. 24 Voice B3 - D5 Langston Hughes
Girl Heart on the Wall (5 Songs for Soprano and Piano) Soprano D4 - A5 Langston Hughes
Go on, Brother A Cycle of Six Negro Spirituals for Bass and Piano Bass Bb2 - Eb4 Biblical
Grave Yard Border Line, Op. 24 Voice G3 - B4 Langston Hughes
Grief Tearless Op. 9 Baritone C3 - F3 Langston Hughes
Gypsy Melodies Border Line, Op. 24 Voice C4 - D5 Langston Hughes
Havana Dreams Heart on the Wall (5 Songs for Soprano and Piano) Soprano Eb4 - Cb6 Langston Hughes
Heart Heart on the Wall (5 Songs for Soprano and Piano) Soprano D4 - A5 Langston Hughes
Home in a Dat Rock A Cycle of Six Negro Spirituals for Bass and Piano Bass A2 - D4 Biblical
Hope Four Motivations, Op. 21 Baritone C3 - Eb 4 Emily Dickinson
I. I am Part of the Load Two Songs for Mezzo-Soprano & Cello, Op. 120 Mezzo-Soprano Bb3 - G5 Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
I. The Lame Goat Four Songs for Mezzo-Soprano & Viola, Op. 121 Mezzo-Soprano A3 - E5 Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
I. to Elenora Duse "Oh Beauty..." 4 Sonnets to Duse, Op. 102 Soprano C4 - G5 Sara Teasdale
If Images: Three Songs for a High Voice and Piano, Op. 15 Voice Db4 - Ab5 Paul Laurence Dunbar
If We Must Die 3 Songs, Op. 41 Baritone G2 - Eb4 Claude McKay
II. A Craftsman Four Songs for Mezzo-Soprano & Viola, Op. 121 Mezzo-Soprano D4 - D5 Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
II. Drum sound rises on the air Two Songs for Mezzo-Soprano & Cello, Op. 120 Mezzo-Soprano A3 - F5 Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi
II. to a picture of Elenara Duse in "The Dead City" "Your face is set" 4 Sonnets to Duse, Op. 102 Soprano C4 - Fb5 Sara Teasdale
Composer Title Work Instrumentation Level Number of Movements Accompanied Size Duration Range
Robert Owens California Sonata Piano 1 No Solo
Robert Owens Carnival Piano 8 No Solo