We're wrapping up 2025 by bringing Cincinnati Song Initiative's podcast hosts together for our annual Holiday Party! Join us in looking back on a wonderful year with peaks and pits from all of our hosts, then test your knowledge with games like "Guess that Song" and "Two Truths and a Lie: Composer Edition." Which composer walked the streets of Paris with a hammer in his suit pocket? Which composers did - and didn't - study with Nadia Boulanger? (Spoiler: even our hosts get stumped plenty of times!)

Thanks for a great year of song, and here's to a musically rewarding 2026!

Follow Song Cycle with Sam Martin and Laura Strickling here.
Follow Follow the Lieder with Mandee Madrid-Sikich here.

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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.

Ingeborg Bronsart (1840-1913) was a concert pianist who continued her musical career even after her marriage. She was close with many of the important composers of the time, including Berlioz and Wagner, as well as studying piano with Lizst. Bronsart also composed operas, which shines through in her Lieder compositions!

Musical clips performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, piano:

• Die Loreley
• Op. 25 Drei Lieder
  • Sang wohl, sang das Vogelei
  • Heidenröslein
  • Ich stand in dunkeln Träumen
• Abendlied (Op. 16 No. 1)

Recorded at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA.

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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.

Pauline Viardot (1821-1910) was one of the most important musicians of her time. An opera singer and concert pianist as well as a composer, she spoke at least 5 languages fluently and composed stylistically correct in each of those languages! She also taught voice and composed many of her songs to teach her students. This episode focuses on her French mélodies.

We are very excited to have Dr. Melanie Taylor, soprano, with us for this episode; she did her doctoral thesis on Pauline Viardot's songs, and has lots of incredible stories of her life to share with us! Her thesis was titled The Songs of Pauline Viardot-Garcia: Proposed Alternatives to Commonly Assigned Repertoire in the University Voice Studio.

Musical clips performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, piano:

• Havanaise
• Haï luli
• Bonjour mon cœur
• Mazurka No. 31 in Ab (Chopin)
• Seize ans

Recorded at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA.

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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 Dr. Melanie Taylor at her website.

This episode is sponsored by Carnegie Mellon University. Learn more about CMU and apply today.

In the 1800s, women in America were mostly only allowed to compose "Parlor Songs", sentimental pieces that were intended to be sung at home by amateurs rather than on the recital stage. But there are a lot of beautiful pieces that came out of this time period! This episode focuses on Augusta Browne (1820-1882), Jane Sloman (1824-after 1850), and Faustina Hasse Hodges (1823-1895).

Musical clips performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, piano:

• Browne-The Courier Dove
• Browne-The Song of the Skylark
• Sloman-Queen of the Night
• Hodges-The Dreary Day 

Recorded at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA.

"Exactly" counter--Ellen 2 (21), Toni 1 (4)
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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.

Josephine Lang (1815-1880) came from a musical family in Munich and her musical talent developed very early. She composed her first songs at age 13 and has about 150 Lieder to her credit, many of which were published by major publishing houses during her lifetime. Her songs are full-on Romantic, with incredible melodies and often a wide range required of the singer with a somewhat operatic sweep.

Musical clips performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, Troy Cook, baritone, and Ellen Rissinger, piano:

All of these songs are found in Josephine Lang: Selected Songs. Hildegard Publishing also has published two volumes of her songs.

• O sehntest du dich so nach mir
• Scheideblick (sung by Troy)
• Lied (Immer sich rein)
• Ob ich manchmal dein gedenke
• Und wüssten's die Blumen (sung by Troy)

Recorded at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA.

"Exactly" counter--Ellen 3 (19), Toni 1 (3)
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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.

Emilie Zumsteeg's (1796-1857) father was a composer and her mother owned a music store, so her natural abilities were encouraged early. She made a living teaching voice and piano, and was a well-known composer in her time, with at least 60 Lieder, which were considered innovative by her contemporaries. 

Musical clips performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, and Ellen Rissinger, piano:

• Die Unschuld (9 Lieder)
• Das Epheublättchen (9 Lieder)
• Die Kapelle (6 Lieder)
• Der Sternenhimmel (6 Lieder)

Recorded at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA.

"Exactly" counter--Ellen 5 (16), Toni 0 (2)

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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.

Louise Reichardt (1779-1826) came from a musical family in Berlin, and grew up to be a composer and choral conductor, establishing a choral society in Hamburg, Germany. Her Italian songs have a bel canto feel to them, and her German Lieder tend more toward folk melodies. Her mother Juliane was also a composer; some of her songs are available on IMSLP and more can be sourced through inter-library loan.

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:

• Ombre amene a mi che piante (Sei canzoni di Metastasio)
• Non turbar  quand io me lagno (Sei canzoni di Metastasio)
• Für die Laute (Louise Reichardt: Songs) 
• Die Blume der Blumen (Louise Reichardt: Songs)

There are also pieces by Louise Reichardt in 24 Italian Songs and Arias by Women Composers and Joys Abiding: Soprano and Baritone Duets by Historical Women Composers.

Recorded at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA.

"Exactly" counter--Ellen 2 (11), Toni 0 (2)

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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.

Anna Amalia  (1739-1807) was a German princess who became Duchess of Saxe-Weimar upon her marriage. Also a composer, her love of the arts made her court a cultural center and ushered in the era of Weimar Classicism.

Corona Schröter (1751-1802) was a singer in the court of Anna Amalia, brought there by her close friend Johann Wolfgang von Goethe! Much of her compositional output has been lost, but two volumes of her songs were published.

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:

All of the scores for today can be found in these two volumes.

Anna Amalia: 

• Das Veilchen
• Sie scheinen zu spielen
• Sieh mich, Heil’ger, wie ich bin

Schubert:

• Erlkönig (intro)

Schröter: 

• Erlkönig
• O Mutter, guten Rat mir leiht (sung by Troy)

Recorded at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA.

Exactly counter--Ellen 2 (9), Toni 0 (2)

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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.

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 

• Air
• Recit

Le Passage de la mer rouge

• Récit-Mouvement Marqué

Recorded at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA.

"Exactly" Counter - Ellen 3 (7), Toni 1 (2)

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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.

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 severo
• I baci (duet with Andrew and Toni)

Recorded at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA.

"Exactly" Counter - Ellen 1 (3), Toni 0 (1)

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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.