The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts > Calendar of Programs > Programs A/V Archive

Audio and Video Recordings of Past Public Programs

Songfellows Perform Songs of an Emerging Nation

On February 27, 1860, in Cooper Union’s Great Hall, Abraham Lincoln delivered his “right makes might” speech. Nearly 140 years later, in that same auditorium, the Performing Arts Library presented its public programs during the first two years of the renovation of the Library’s Lincoln Center building. As part of the programs-in-exile, Songfellows, a quartet which grew out of the Metropolitan Opera Chorus, was asked to perform Civil War Songs songs on a program titled “Songs of an Emerging Nation.” The four Civil War songs from that program, which the Library presented on June 5, 1999, are available here in mp3 format.

"Aura Lee"	"Tenting on the Old Camp Ground"
"The Battle Cry of Freedom"	"We Are Coming Father Abraam"