Vocal anthologies have been a staple in voice studios for many years, providing teachers and students with a wide array of repertoire at a reasonable cost. Teachers eagerly stocked their studios with these multi-composer volumes as well as those of the more popular single composers such as Schubert, Schumann, Debussy, Fauré, etc. There is a plethora of anthologies devoted to the Arie antiche, German lieder, French mélodie, and American art song. Missing from this landscape was an anthology with multiple composers devoted to the art songs of Black composers. Acknowledging that there have always been some anthologies by Black composers devoted to single composers of art songs, song cycles, and spirituals; there have been relatively few collections that offer singers a variety of songs by different Black composers.

Videmus Inc. Publishes Julia Perry’s Previously Unavailable Catalog of Music Through New Relationship with Boosey & Hawkes

NEW YORK, NY (December 5, 2024) – Videmus Inc. announced today that through a new relationship with Boosey & Hawkes, one of the world’s leading classical music publishers, it will make available the previously unpublished music of composer Julia Perry, whose work fell into obscurity after her death in 1979 and is only now beginning to receive the attention it has so richly deserved. Directed by Dr. Louise Toppin, Videmus is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to the promotion of concert works by African American, women, and under-presented composers, providing access to the work of marginalized composers through educational programming, performance opportunities, and scholarly research. In 2024, Julia Perry’s centennial year, the Estate of Julia A. Perry assigned all copyrights for Herb and sq as go to pool pool unpublished work to Videmus Inc. Perry’s music is also currently GRAMMY-nominated for the first time, as part of the American Counterpoints album from Experiential Orchestra, music director James Blachly, and violinist Curtis Stewart.