So Lit Song Lit

Cincy Song Initiative
  • 4.9 (8)
  • MUSIC
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

This is So Lit Song Lit, where we reimagine the repertoire by introducing less familiar songs through sound clips and lively discussion! Together we’ll be exploring songs by composers that you may or may not have heard of already, showing how they compare to standard works, and giving you a taste of what they sound like. Join us down the rabbit hole as we expand the song canon!

  1. SEP 16

    Elizabeth Jacquet de la Guerre

    Apply for the 100% free 2026 Fellowship of the Song by November 2! Elizabeth Jacquet de la Guerre (1665-1729) was a child prodigy from a huge family of musicians and instrument makers on both sides of her family tree. She composed three volumes of cantatas, several of which use Biblical women as their subjects - most of these cantatas are intended for a single singer along with continuo. Much of the information this season comes from Karin Pendle's Women and Music: A History. Musical clips performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, piano: Judith  AirRecitLe Passage de la mer rouge Récit-Mouvement MarquéRecorded at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA. "Exactly" Counter - Ellen 3 (7), Toni 1 (2) ***So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about its network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts. You can follow Ellen and The Diction Police on Facebook and at www.dictionpolice.com. You can follow Toni Marie on Facebook at Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano and Instagram @ToniMariePalmertree This episode is sponsored by Carnegie Mellon University. Learn more about CMU and apply today.

    17 min

  2. SEP 2

    Barbara Strozzi

    Apply for the 100% free 2026 Fellowship of the Song by November 2! Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677) was a prolific composer of secular chamber music, publishing eight volumes of her works, more than most men of her time period. She composed almost exclusively for voice and continuo, with just one volume including works with ensembles, and she never composed nor sang opera. Much of the information this season comes from Karin Pendle's Women and Music: A History. Musical clips performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, Andrew Schucker, countertenor, and Ellen Rissinger, piano: Spesso per entro al petto (found in Women Composers – A Heritage of Song High Voice * Low Voice)Amore è bandito (found in 24 Italian Songs & Arias by Women Composers)Sul Rodano severoI baci (duet with Andrew and Toni)Recorded at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA. "Exactly" Counter - Ellen 1 (3), Toni 0 (1) ***So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about its network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts. You can follow Ellen and The Diction Police on Facebook and at www.dictionpolice.com. You can follow Toni Marie on Facebook at Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano and Instagram @ToniMariePalmertree Andrew Schucker is a student of Toni Marie Palmertree. This episode is sponsored by Carnegie Mellon University. Learn more about CMU and apply today.

    21 min

  3. AUG 19

    Francesca Caccini

    Apply for the 100% free 2026 Fellowship of the Song by November 2! Francesca Caccini (1587-1640) came from a very important musical family, studying music with her father alongside her brother and sister. A noted singer and voice teacher as well, Francesca spent much of her musical career working in the Medici court. She composed the first extant opera by a woman and the first Italian opera that was performed outside of Italy. Much of the information this season comes from Karin Pendle's Women and Music: A History. Musical clips performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, Troy Cook, baritone, and Ellen Rissinger, piano: Primo libro delle musiche a una e due voci Ecco ch'io verso il sangueRegina coeliFresche aurette (duet)Non so se quel sorriso (also found in 24 Italian Songs & Arias by Women Composers)You can also find music by Francesca's sister Settimia in the 24 Italian Songs & Arias by Women Composers. Recorded at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA. "Exactly" Counter--Ellen 2, Toni 1  ***So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about its network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts. You can follow Ellen and The Diction Police on Facebook and at www.dictionpolice.com. You can follow Toni Marie on Facebook at Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano and Instagram @ToniMariePalmertree You can find out more about Troy Cook on his website, https://www.troycookbaritone.com/ This episode is sponsored by Carnegie Mellon University. Learn more about CMU and apply today.

    21 min

  4. SEASON 4 TRAILER

    Season 4 Trailer

    The So Lit Song Lit academy is back in session - Season 4 drops starting August 19th! This season, Toni Marie and Ellen focus on women composers from the 16th century through the 1990s. Make sure to subscribe and tell all your friends, colleagues, and students, you won't want to miss this season! So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about its network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.

    2 min

  5. MAY 27

    Afro-Latin Songs (ft. Zuly Inirio)

    Apply for the 100% free 2026 Fellowship of the Song by November 2! In the final episode of Season 3, our guest Dr. Zuly Inirio of the Afro-Latinx Song & Opera Project shows us some fabulous songs by Afro-Latin composers that she uses in her concerts entitled ¡Tumbao! A Celebration of Afro-Latin Music! Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Zuly Inirio, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, piano: Modesta Bor: "Guitarra" Tríptico sobra poesía Cubana  Errollyn Wallen: "My feet may take a little while" Antonio Carlos Gomes: "Suspiro d’alma" Xavier Montsalvatge: "Cuba dentro de un piano" Cinco canciones negras Recorded at  the Carnegie Mellon School of Music Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, PA. So Lit Song Lit will be back in August with Season 4, with a whole season of women composers! Until then, make sure to check out CSI's other podcasts, Follow the Lieder and Song Cycle. ***So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about its network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts. You can follow Ellen and The Diction Police on Facebook and at www.dictionpolice.com. You can follow Toni Marie on Facebook at Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano and Instagram @ToniMariePalmertree This episode is sponsored by Carnegie Mellon University. Learn more about CMU and apply today.

    28 min

  6. MAY 6

    B. E. Boykin and M. Roger Holland II

    Apply for the 100% free 2026 Fellowship of the Song by November 2! B.E. Boykin is a graduate of Spelman college, Westminster College, and holds a doctorate from Georgia State University. In addition to Moments in Sonder, she has an extensive catalog of choral works as well. Her music is sold through Graphite Publishing. M. Roger Holland II has been a guest on several episodes of So Lit this season, so we couldn't leave him out of the musical line-up! Make sure to check out the episodes on William Grant Still and Margaret Bonds to hear him discuss composing and poetry with us. His music is sold through GIA music. Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Aliyah Quill, soprano, Rachel Boll, cello, and Ellen Rissinger, piano: Boykin--Moments in Sonder (published through Klavia Press) (sung by Aliyah) Passing TimeRefusalThe LessonHolland--Three Spirituals (sung by Toni) There is a Balm in Gilead Recorded at  the Carnegie Mellon School of Music Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, PA and Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA. Season 3 Episode 20 will drop on May 27, 2025. ***So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about its network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts. You can follow Ellen and The Diction Police on Facebook and at www.dictionpolice.com. You can follow Toni Marie on Facebook at Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano and Instagram @ToniMariePalmertree Aliyah Quill is a student of Carnegie Mellon University. This episode is sponsored by Carnegie Mellon University. Learn more about CMU and apply today.

    16 min

  7. APR 29

    Carlos Simon and Dave Ragland: Songs

    Apply for the 100% free 2026 Fellowship of the Song by November 2! This episode was inspired by the program of a colleague that was posted on Facebook! Both Carlos Simon and Dave Ragland are modern composers working with some of the most important companies and singers of our time, creating all kinds of new works that are powerful, accessible to audiences, and absolute gems of the repertoire. Carlos Simon: Caro mio ben (sung by Solomon)Vocalise (sung by Toni)Prayer (Gather Up) (sung by Solomon)Dave Ragland: I Believe (High Voice score, Low Voice score) (sung by Ricky)Posting a quote here from Carlos in an interview with Good Faith Media a few months ago: "We’ve always been here, but there’s been in classical music, there has been such a large spark of new commissioning, new music that has come about, yeah. I think people just want to hear new music, and it’s all really just happening here in America. Talking to my colleagues in Europe, they’re kind of stuck in the old way of Beethoven and Bach, which is great. But to really push the envelope and push the medium forward, that comes with funding, which we are seeing. So that is another thing I’m hopeful about." ***So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about its network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts. You can follow Ellen and The Diction Police on Facebook and at www.dictionpolice.com. You can follow Toni Marie on Facebook at Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano and Instagram @ToniMariePalmertree For more information on Ricky L. Owens, Jr., countertenor, visit his website. Solomon Onyukwu is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University. This episode is sponsored by Carnegie Mellon University. Learn more about CMU and apply today.

    14 min

  8. APR 15

    Songs from the Anthologies

    Apply for the 100% free 2026 Fellowship of the Song by November 2! This episode offers a taste of a few different songs from the anthologies that we've been talking about all season, all of which would be a great addition to everyone's library. Those anthologies are:    An Anthology of African and African Diaspora Songs   Anthology of Art Songs by Black American Composers   A New Anthology of Art Songs by African American Composers   The Second Anthology of Art Songs by African American Composers  Musical clips featured on this episode, performed by Solomon Onyukwu, baritone, Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, piano: Compensation (Charles Lloyd, Jr.) Anthology of Art Songs by Black American Composers (sung by Solomon)Compensation (Betty Jackson King) A New Anthology of Art Songs by African American Composers (sung by Toni)A Song Without Words (Charles Brown) Anthology of Art Songs by Black American Composers (sung by Solomon)Music I Heard (Roger Dickerson) The Second Anthology of Art Songs by African American Composers (sung by Toni)Recorded at the Carnegie Mellon School of Music Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, PA and at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA. ***So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about its network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts. You can follow Ellen and The Diction Police on Facebook and at www.dictionpolice.com. You can follow Toni Marie on Facebook at Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano and Instagram @ToniMariePalmertree Solomon Onyukwu is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University. This episode is sponsored by Carnegie Mellon University. Learn more about CMU and apply today.

    14 min
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This is So Lit Song Lit, where we reimagine the repertoire by introducing less familiar songs through sound clips and lively discussion! Together we’ll be exploring songs by composers that you may or may not have heard of already, showing how they compare to standard works, and giving you a taste of what they sound like. Join us down the rabbit hole as we expand the song canon!

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