The Music of Yondering

The music for Yondering is an integral part of the work. Kevin Haigen, the assistant to Neumeier at the time of Yondering’s creation, claims it was what initially inspired Neumeier. The music is comprised of a selection of songs by the great 19th century American composer Stephen Foster as sung by the internationally acclaimed American baritone Thomas Hampson. According to Haigen, Neumeier was particularly moved by the folk-like quality of the musical material as sung by the classically refined voice of Hampson.

Stephen Collins Foster was born on July 4, 1826, in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania. He was the first American to attempt to make a career as a songwriter, publishing his first song, “Open They Lattice Love”, when he was only eighteen. Two years later he had his first big hit with “Oh! Susanna”. His songs would become the most popular songs of their day and exert a profound influence on the future development of music in America: songs such as “Camptown Races”, “Old Folks at Home” (also known as “Swanee River”), “My Old Kentucky Home”, “Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair” and “Beautiful Dreamer”, to name a few. Unfortunately, there were few legal protections for songwriters in Foster’s time and limited ways in which he could benefit from the great success of his work. He died almost penniless in New York City on January 13, 1864 at the age 37.

In addition to being one of America’s great baritones, Thomas Hampson is also the founder of The Hampsong Foundation, an organization devoted to exploring world cultures through their poetry and music.  One of the Foundation’s best-known projects, Song of America, explores the history of American culture through its classic songs. Created in connection with this project is a radio program, dedicated to the life and music of Stephen Foster, that examines “the varied artistic roots he drew from and the musical branches that grew from his work”. The program is narrated by Thomas Hampson who also served as its Artistic Director. In the program Hampson refers to Foster as the “trunk of the tree of American song, sturdy with the songs we love to sing."

For a comprehensive biography of Stephen Foster, click here.

For a comprehensive biography of Thomas Hampson, click here.

For more information on the songs of Stephen Foster used in Yondering, visit the Choreographic Structure page.