Marian Anderson – Let Freedom Ring!

The 1939 Lincoln Memorial Concert (First restored release)
The 1961 Copenhagen Concert (First Release)

By 1939 Marian Anderson was feted worldwide, but a concert planned for Washington’s Constitution Hall was blocked for one reason: she was black. With Eleanor Roosevelt’s support the concert took place instead on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It was a triumph - now, perhaps, too little recalled. 

This release would be merited simply because it is music-making of the highest order, but this is more - it's an important piece of American history.

The Copenhagen Concert is a further triumph. Held in especially high regard in Scandinavia (Sibelius adapted some of his works for her), Anderson basks in the audience's affection.

Track Listing:

MARIAN ANDERSON CONCERT ON THE STEPS OF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL, WASHINGTON, D.C. EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 1939. Live Broadcast Recording, First Restored Release - Kosti Vehanen - Piano
1. Opening announcement - 1:05   2. Speech by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes - 3:39   3. Traditional: America (My Country, ‘Tis of Thee) - 2:03   4. Donizetti: La Favorita: Fia dunque vero … O mio Fernando … Scritto in cielo - 5:38   5. Schubert: Ave Maria (Ellens dritter Gesang), D. 839 (Op. 52, No. 6) - 6:00   6. Intermission announcements - 4:39   7. Spiritual: Gospel Train (arr. H. T. Burleigh) - 1:31   8. Spiritual: Trampin’ (arr. Edward H. Boatner) - 3:24   9. Closing announcement - 0:17

MARIAN ANDERSON CONCERT AT FALKONER CENTRET, COPENHAGEN, OCTOBER 27, 1961. Live Recording, First Ever Release - Franz Rupp - Piano 
10. Brahms: Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer, Op. 105, No. 2 - 3:15   11. Brahms: Von ewiger Liebe, Op. 43, No. 1 - 3:44   12. Schubert: Die Forelle, D. 550 (Op. 32) - 1:59   13. Schubert: Ave Maria (Ellens dritter Gesang), D. 839 (Op. 52, No. 6) - 4:49   14. Schubert: Der Erlkönig, D. 328 (Op. 1 ) - 3:51   15. Saint-Saëns: Samson et Dalila: Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix - 4:48   16. Traditional: Comin’ Through the Rye - 1:39   17. Kilpinen: Von zwei Rosen, Op. 59, No. 3 - 1:41   18 Kilpinen: Det var i vårens ljusa tid, Op. 45, No. 2 (sung in German, as Es war zur holden Lenzeszeit) - 1:28   19. Traditional: Läksin minä kesäyönä käymään (arr. Selim Palmgren) - 2:05   20. Sibelius: Belsazars gästabud, Op. 51: Den judiska flickans sång (or Solitude) (arranged for Marian Anderson by Sibelius) - 2:17   21. Sibelius: Svarta rosor, Op. 36, No. 1 (sung in English as Black Roses) - 1:41   22. Spiritual: Done Foun’ My Los’ Sheep (arr. J. Rosamund Johnson) - 3:06   23. Spiritual: Hold On! (arr. Harold Johnson) - 2:40   24. Spiritual: He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands (arr. Hamilton Forrest) - 2:30   25. Spiritual: He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands (reprise) - 2:27   26. Spiritual: My Soul’s Been Anchored in de Lord (arr. Florence B. Price) - 1:47   27. Spiritual: Heav’n, Heav’n (arr. H. T.Burleigh) - 2:27   28. Spiritual: O What a Beautiful City! (arr. Edward Boatner) - 2.21