"Here I Stand"
Celebrating Paul Robeson on the 75th Anniversary of the Peekskill Riots
Our inaugural program, “Here I Stand”, was named after Robeson’s seminal book first published in 1958 in which he explains his unwavering commitment to the liberation of all people, encouraging others to follow.
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After graduating as Valedictorian from Rutgers University in 1919, Robeson went on to Columbia law school intending to work towards the liberation on black America from within the system. His plans derailed by the systemic racism of his time, Robeson found his voice as an actor and singer, using his talents to challenge structural racism.
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What better way to carry Robeson’s message forward but to celebrate his legacy through his music on the 75th anniversary of the Peekskill Riots, a tipping point moment in our nation’s journey towards the civil rights movement.
Please enjoy these excerpts recorded live at our events.​​​
“The past is never dead. It's not even past. All of us labor in webs spun long before we were born, webs of heredity and environment, of desire and consequence, of history and eternity.”
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William Faulkner - Requiem for a Nun
Emcee, Dr. Aaron Mair talks about the genesis of the Peekskill Riots and mission of the Robeson in Peekskill Project.
Please enjoy these excerpts recorded live at our events.
Filmed and edited by Sweetstory Media
Recital Repertoire
Paul Robeson was an exceptional scholar and brought this rigor to his preparations of classic recital repertoire. Robeson embraced and celebrated diverse cultures as he traveled the world. A polyglot who spoke over 20 languages, his linguistic abilities reflected his commitment to understanding and connecting with cultures worldwide.
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Here Mark performs a 19th century masterpiece of German Lieder, Franz Schubert's "Erlkönig" (The Erlking).
Representing the musical depth of Robeson’s singing, the song is a dramatic musical setting of Goethe's poem. It tells a chilling tale of a father racing through the night with his sick child, who is haunted by the sinister Erlking. As the son’s terror grows, the father tries to comfort him, dismissing the supernatural threat.
In a tragic twist, the journey ends with the child’s death, making "Erlkönig" a gripping exploration of fear, helplessness, and loss.
Erlkönig by Schubert arr. by Karen Hakobyan for piano and string quartet (Sung in German)
Spirituals
Paul Robeson was the son of Lincoln University graduates: Father, reverend William Drew Robeson was a runaway slave and mother, Maria Louisa Bustill was the daughter of abolitionist and an educator.
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This was “the rock” on which Paul Robeson’s life was founded. Robeson brought the Negro Spiritual repertoire into concert halls, performing them exclusively for a period of five years, bringing the African-American experience as well as its music to largely white audiences.
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Here are three selections performed by Mark S. Doss and Pegasus: The Orchestra.
"There is a Balm in Gilead" - arr by Mark Hayes for piano and string quartet
"He's Got the Whole World in His Hand" - arr by Stephen A. Taylor for string quartet (after Margaret Bonds)
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" –- arr by J. Rosamond Johnson
Russia
When underappreciated in the United States, despite critical acclaim, he turned to Europe to further his career and intellectual growth.​ He enrolled at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London. There, he deepened his understanding of global imperialism and its impact on the achievements of people of color.
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During his ideological awakening (1933–1937), Robeson visited the Soviet Union, where he was struck by the absence of racial prejudice and the promise of a classless society—an experience he contrasted sharply with Jim Crow America. The exposure to socialist ideals profoundly influenced his worldview.
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Here is a work by Russian composer, Modest Mussorgsky entitled "Pjesne a blaxe" (Song of the Flea) - a satirical art song adapted from Goethe's Faust. It tells of a king who favors a flea over his subjects, dressing it in finery and elevating it to high status, despite the people's suffering. The lively, humorous melody underscores the absurdity, serving as a sharp critique of authoritarian folly.
"Pjesne a blaxe" (Song of the Flea) - Modest Mussorgsky - arr by Karen Hakobyan for piano and string quartet {Sung in Russian}
Ol’ Man River
Though Robeson initially declined the role of "Joe" in Showboat, the character was reworked for him by Kern and Hammerstein. Robeson objected to the negative portrayal of African Americans and had the lyrics of "Ol' Man River" revised multiple times, continuing to modify them in his live performances.
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Here is a portion of the lyrics in their original text and as Robeson revised. As you listen to this performance, hear Mark's revision of the very last phrase.
Original
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Git a little drunk,
An' you land in jail,
Ah gits weary
An' sick of tryin';
Ah'm tired of livin'
An skeered of dyin'
Robeson Revision
You show a little grit and
You land in jail
But I keeps laffin'
instead of cyrin'
I must keep fightin'
Until I'm dyin'
"Ol' Man River" from Showboat by Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern arr. by Karen Hakobyan for piano and string quartet