Vocal Duets with Piano

Dear Friends

Date of Birth: 
1982
Date of Death: 
2000

Dear Friends was the ensemble-in-residence at the Stephen Foster Memorial at the University of Pittsburgh from 1982 through 2000. The ensemble was originally devoted to performing 19th century American Music, much of which was drawn from the University's Center for American Music's Foster Hall Collection, but expanded their repertory to reflect the diverse musical life of 19th and 20th century America, as well as traditional European and Latin Music.

Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)

Date of Birth: 
July 4, 1826
Date of Death: 
January 13, 1864

Stephen Foster (b. July 4, 1826, Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania; d. January 13, 1864, New York) was one of the first American songwriters to earn a living through composition alone. Many of his songs, most of which were for the parlor or minstrel stage, achieved great popularity during his lifetime and continue to be popular today. His songs depicting African Americans, however, have been controversial since they were written.

Mine Is the Mourning Heart

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1861

“Mine Is the Mourning Heart” was entered for copyright on January 17, 1861, and deposited on February 1, 1861, by Daughaday & Hammond of Philadelphia. 

On February 1, 1861, Daughaday & Hammond deposited a caption title for the song cut from a January 17, 1861, issue of Clark’s School Visitor, however no copy is known to survive. Like other songs that first appeared in Clark’s, “Mine Is the Mourning Heart” was later published in sheet music form, in this case by Root & Cady in May, 1863.

Mr. & Mrs. Brown

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1864

“Mr. & Mrs. Brown” was submitted for copyright deposit on January 23, 1864, by Horace Waters of New York. George Cooper authored the lyrics.

Stephen Foster Collection

Stephen C. (Collins) Foster (1826–1864) was born in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, outside of Pittsburgh. He wrote songs in his youth to perform in amateur blackface minstrel shows and in parlors with his friends. After the immense success of “Oh! Susanna” and “Uncle Ned,” in 1849 Foster signed contracts with music publishers and embarked on a career as a songwriter.

Suffer Little Children to Come unto Me

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1863

“Suffer Little Children to Come unto Me” was submitted for copyright deposit on January 31, 1863.

Turn Not Away!

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1850

“Turn Not Away!” was entered for copyright on October 15, 1850, by F. D. Benteen of Baltimore. 

According to Evelyn Foster Mornweck’s The Chronicles of Stephen Foster’s Family:

Wilt Thou Be Gone, Love?

Artist (Composed By): 
Foster, Stephen C. (Collins)
1851

“Wilt Thou Be Gone, Love?” was submitted for copyright deposit on March 12, 1851, by Firth, Pond & Co. in New York. The lyrics were adapted anonymously from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Act 3, Scene 5.

According to Evelyn Foster Mornweck’s The Chronicles of Stephen Foster’s Family: