Why the Caged Bird Sings

Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem, Sympathy, speaks through poetic metaphor of the suffering of repression. It inspires us to lift up our voices and to speak out in sympathy. Author Maya Angelou used the line, "I know why the caged bird sings" as the title of her autobiographical novel, and also of her own poem of the same name. Commissioned by the Young People's Chorus of New York City, this setting is energetic and colorful, with skillful painting of the text and a deft piano accompaniment which moves things along without obscuring the vocal writing. Duration: 4:45