Picture by William Sharp, from "A Treasury of Stephen Foster" (published by Random House, 1946)
Description
This is a presentation of the tragic and creative life of Stephen Foster, the American songwriter. The story of his life is told through Foster's own works.
Stephen Foster was the first original American Composer. Born July 4, 1826, he lived only 37 years. He suffered cyclic mood disorder which influenced his creative process as well as his human relations. This resulted in a very disorganized life which is related in an autobiographical fashion in his songs. He lived a see-saw battle between self-actualization and self-destruction. Expressing this inner turmoil in his songs, he shows the struggle which shadowed his short existence. There is ample evidence to demonstrate that he committed suicide in New York at the age of 37 years and 6 months.
This story is told and sung by Richard Wagner M.D., a Board Certified Psychiatrist who has made a life work of studying and treating the Affective Disorders and their relationship to creativity and genius.
This is a two-hour presentation that can be adjusted to meet the scheduling needs of the community.
The full two-hour concert is also available on a double-volume set of compact discs. For more information about ordering, please see the purchasing page.
Included Works
VOLUME I
Open Thy Lattice, Love (Listen!)
Oh! Susanna (Listen!)
Lou’siana Belle (Listen!)
Away Down Souf (Listen!)
Old Uncle Ned
My Brudder Gum
Nelly was a Lady
Oh! Lemuel
Camptown Races
Angelina Baker
Nelly Bly
Ring de Banjo
My Hopes Have Departed Forever
Sweetly She Sleeps, My Alice Fair
Ellen Bayne
Some Folks
VOLUME II
Oh! Boys, Carry Me Along
Hard Times Come Again No More
Old Folks at Home
Massa’a in de Cold Ground
My Old Kentucky Home
Old Dog Tray
Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair
Laura Lee
Gentle Annie
Old Black Joe
Down among the Cane Brakes
The Glendy Burk
Beautiful Dreamer
