A Note from the Artistic Director

The Great American Songbook – with a Modern Spin

May 2 & 3, 2026

What is the Great American Songbook—and who gets to belong in it?

Traditionally, “Great American Songbook” has referred to a body of enduring popular songs written primarily between the two World Wars—music of extraordinary craft, where melody and lyric are so seamlessly intertwined that they become, in the words of pianist and historian Michael Feinstein, “beautifully and perfectly inseparable.” These songs, by composers such as George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, and Jerome Kern, were the popular music of their day—heard on Broadway stages, in films, and on radios across the country. And yet, they have proven to be far more than ephemeral entertainment: they have endured, inviting each new generation of performers to rediscover and reinterpret them.

As Cantemus Chamber Chorus marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this program offers a distinctly musical reflection on American identity—not through speeches or historical texts, but through song. The Great American Songbook represents one of this nation’s most lasting cultural contributions: a repertoire that reflects optimism, sophistication, nostalgia, and—increasingly—a willingness to question and expand its own boundaries.

The Songbook is not a closed canon, but a living tradition. While its roots lie in the early twentieth century, its spirit continues in the work of later songwriters—artists like Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, and Paul Simon—whose music carries forward the same essential qualities: memorable melodies, deeply expressive texts, and a capacity to connect across time and experience.

This evening’s program unfolds in three parts, tracing that evolution.

Part I places us in the heart of the classic Songbook, as Cantemus presents beloved standards by Gershwin, Porter, Berlin, and Arlen. These songs capture both the elegance and the emotional directness that have made them timeless—from the playful wit of “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” to the poignant intimacy of “Every Time We Say Goodbye.” This set also honors the legacy of conductor Robert Page—dubbed a “national treasure,” a formative teacher and mentor to me, and a significant contributor to the Songbook tradition through his refined, high-style choral arrangements of hundreds of these canonical works. Whether buoyant or reflective, each piece reveals the remarkable craftsmanship that defines the genre.

Part II shifts the focus to the later twentieth century and beyond, as Miranda Russell and her band explore repertoire that expands the boundaries of the Songbook tradition. Here, the storytelling becomes more personal, the musical language more varied, and the themes often more searching. From the haunting lyricism of “Georgia on My Mind” to the social consciousness of “Deportee,” and from the introspective poetry of Bob Dylan to the narrative richness of Paul Simon, these songs suggest how the Songbook continues to grow—absorbing new voices and perspectives while maintaining its core expressive power.

Finally, Part III brings the chorus and band together in a series of collaborative arrangements by David Sparr, created especially for this performance. These selections—ranging from the soulful urgency of “Respect” to the iconic sound world of “Purple Rain”—highlight the extraordinary versatility of this repertoire and the creative possibilities that emerge when musical traditions intersect. In these moments, the boundaries between genres dissolve, and the Songbook reveals itself not as a fixed archive, but as a vibrant, evolving conversation.

At its heart, this music endures because it invites connection: between lyric and melody, performer and audience, past and present. It offers both joy and reflection, familiarity and discovery. And perhaps most importantly, it reminds us of something uniquely powerful about American music—that across styles, generations, and perspectives, it continues to give voice to shared human experience.

It is our hope that tonight’s performance offers not only a celebration of an extraordinary musical tradition, but also a moment of unity, uplift, and renewed listening.

—Jason Iannuzzi, Artistic Director