Joan Morris
Encyclopedia
Joan Morris, is a mezzo-soprano
,
Born in Portland, Oregon
, she is one half of the famous music
al duo of Bolcom and Morris. Her musical partner and husband is composer
/pianist
William Bolcom
. Together, they specialize in older popular songs, primarily from the first half of the 20th century, but extending beyond that to include both contemporary cabaret songs and a number of songs dating back to the American Civil War. In general, her performance practice is historically informed, rarely deviating from the original versions of songs for the sake of political correctness
. Her singing voice is known for exceptional clarity, such that the lyrics are almost always completely intelligible.
Mezzo-soprano
A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
,
Born in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, she is one half of the famous music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
al duo of Bolcom and Morris. Her musical partner and husband is composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
/pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
William Bolcom
William Bolcom
William Elden Bolcom is an American composer and pianist. He has received the Pulitzer Prize, the National Medal of Arts, two Grammy Awards, the Detroit Music Award and was named 2007 Composer of the Year by Musical America. Bolcom taught composition at the University of Michigan from 1973–2008...
. Together, they specialize in older popular songs, primarily from the first half of the 20th century, but extending beyond that to include both contemporary cabaret songs and a number of songs dating back to the American Civil War. In general, her performance practice is historically informed, rarely deviating from the original versions of songs for the sake of political correctness
Political correctness
Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,...
. Her singing voice is known for exceptional clarity, such that the lyrics are almost always completely intelligible.
Select Discography
- After the Ball: A Treasury of Turn-of-the-Century Popular Songs, Morris, mezzo-soprano, Bolcom, piano. Nonesuch RecordsNonesuch RecordsNonesuch Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Bros. Records.-Company history:Nonesuch was founded in 1964 by Jac Holzman to produce "fine records at the same price as a trade paperback", which would be half the price of a normal LP...
, 1974, H-71304 - Vaudeville: Songs of The Great Ladies of The Musical Stage, NonesuchNonesuchThe word nonesuch means something with nothing like it; an unrivalled thing; a paragon. Nonesuch can also refer to the following:*Nonesuch Press*Nonesuch Records*Nonesuch River*Nonesuch River Golf Course...
, 1976 - Wild About Eubie (With Eubie Blake), ColumbiaColumbiaColumbia may refer to:-Places:* Columbia , a poetic name for the Americas, and the feminine personification of the United States of America* District of Columbia, the federal district in which the capital of the United States is located...
, 1977 - These Charming People (with Max Morath), RCA Red Seal, 1978
- Songs By George and Ira Gershwin, NonesuchNonesuchThe word nonesuch means something with nothing like it; an unrivalled thing; a paragon. Nonesuch can also refer to the following:*Nonesuch Press*Nonesuch Records*Nonesuch River*Nonesuch River Golf Course...
, 1978 - The Girl On The Magazine Cover, RCARCARCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
, 1979 - Blue Skies, NonesuchNonesuchThe word nonesuch means something with nothing like it; an unrivalled thing; a paragon. Nonesuch can also refer to the following:*Nonesuch Press*Nonesuch Records*Nonesuch River*Nonesuch River Golf Course...
, 1979 - Rodgers and Hart, RCARCARCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
, 1981 - More Rodgers and Hart (with Max Morath), RCARCARCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
, 1983 - Silver Linings, Arabesque, 1984
- Let's Do It, Omega, 1989
- Night and Day, Omega, 1993
- Fountain Favorites From The World of Coca-Cola (with Max Morath), Coke, 1994
- Orchids In The Moonlight, Arabesque, 1996
- The Carioca, Arabesque, 1997
- Moonlight Bay, Albany, 1999
- Sing Yip Harburg (with Max Morath), Original Cast, 2003
- Sing Gus Kahn (with Max Morath), Original Cast, 2004
- Someone Talked!, Equilibrium, 2009