Published on Jan 28, 2013
Baritone George Spitzer and reed organist Artis Wodehouse, members of MELODEON perform “We Will Rest Awhile” from African-American Scott Joplin’s opera, Treemonisha. This is one of several video selections taken from their live performance of “Treemonisha Suite” given by MELODEON on 1/6/13 at Church of the Epiphany, NYC. “We Will Rest Awhile” is a song originally scored by Joplin for a chorus of male workers resting after their labors in a field. Arranger Artis Wodehouse has adopted it for a vintage folding pump reed organ (also known as a “Preacher’s” organ) and baritone.
MELODEON is a chamber group founded by Artis Wodehouse for the performance of 19th and early 20th century American music. Wodehouse chose and arranged 14 numbers from Joplin’s 1911 opera, Treemonisha for concert performance by soprano, baritone and keyboard.
Videographer and sound recordist is Whitney Slaten.