The Department of Music presented its annual faculty chamber recital Sunday afternoon in the Goodwin Recital Hall featuring soprano Rosephanye Powell and pianist Jeremy Samolesky.
Accompanied by Samolesky, Powell performed an original composition titled “Miss Wheatley’s Garden.”
Powell said she named the work, which consists of three pieces, after the poetry of Phillis Wheatley, a slave in America in the 1700s, whose poetry was published and internationally known.
“It is probably best to name (the composition) ‘Miss Wheatley’s Garden’ because every work is based on her work,” she said.
The lyrics of the first piece, “A Winter Twilight,” come from a poem by Angelina Grimké about a woman who is visited by the spirit of her lover who has passed away.
Powell said the song has a recurring theme that represents the ghost of her lover.
“I hope you could hear the spirit,” Powell told the audience.
The second piece is titled “I Want to Die While You Love Me” and is based on a poem by Georgia Douglas Johnson.
“When I read the poetry, it immediately spoke to me because it reminded me of my husband, so I dedicate this song to William Powell,” she said.
The final song of the composition is “Songs For the People,” based on a poem by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.
Powell said she enjoyed premiering her work.
“After laboring to compose them, it was exhilarating to perform and share them with an audience,” she said. “Each of the songs from ‘Miss Wheatley’s Garden’ is special because I have become so close to the depth and beauty of the poetry and the poets.”
She said she was thrilled to hear the audience’s response.
“To perform is to be vulnerable before an audience,” Powell said. “When that vulnerability, through sharing of heart and musical expression, is reciprocated by the audience with applause, sighs, smiles and words of appreciation, it is one of the greatest feelings in the world.”
In addition to premiering her composition, Powell also performed other works.
She opened the concert with three pieces composed by Georg Friedrich Händel. Ann Knipschild accompanied Powell on the oboe in two of the Händel pieces.
“I don’t think you’ll find finer oboe playing than Dr. Knipschild,” Powell said.
Ramon Vasquez accompanied Powell on the trumpet on the final Händel piece.
Powell also performed a work by Franz Schubert in which David Odom accompanied her on the clarinet.
Powell said she enjoyed the opportunity to perform with her colleagues.
“This time was extra special because I had the opportunity to share the stage with such remarkable, artistic solo performers,” she said. “As faculty, we don’t often get a chance to collaborate since all of our schedules are so busy.”
Samolesky also said he enjoyed working with other faculty members.
“It’s great when a recital involves a diversity of musicians and instruments — there’s really nothing better than making music together with friends,” he said.
Powell said a great deal of preparation went into the recital.
“Preparing a recital takes hours of hard work and dedication as the singer studies the vocal score, the poetry and rehearses alone and with the accompanying instruments,” she said.
Powell is the associate professor of voice at Auburn. She conducts the Women’s Choir, and she performs regularly at a variety of functions.
She is also recognized nationally as a composer and arranger of choral music.
“I felt the recital was a huge success,” he said. “The Music Department has an extremely talented faculty, which was demonstrated by the highly artistic and inspiring performance of Dr. Rosephanye Dunn-Powell.”
Samolesky serves as assistant professor of piano at Auburn and teaches applied music and skills. He has performed throughout the United States and Canada.
For more information about Auburn University’s Department of Music and for a calendar of upcoming events, visit http://media.cla.auburn.edu/music/.
