Emi Ferguson

​“Blindingly impressive… a fizzing, daring display of personality and imagination.” — The New York Times

​Flutist and singer Emi Ferguson joins pianist Jacob Rhodebeck for a program that brings together Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Franz Schubert, and Harry Burleigh, whose music holds a special resonance on Martha’s Vineyard.

​One of the most esteemed American composers of his time, Harry Burleigh spent 30 summers in Oak Bluffs through 1941. He composed more than 100 songs and arranged more than 50 African American spirituals. He 1935, he composed a hymn titled “Martha’s Vineyard” at Grace parish house in Vineyard Haven.

​For Ferguson, all of these composers are connected by their devotion to capturing people, places, and emotion in music. Each gave voice to 'ordinary people' and their struggles: Guthrie through folk ballads, Schubert through art songs, Lead Belly through the blues, and Burleigh through spirituals that brought African American traditions into Western classical music.

​Program: Musical Storytellers

• ​Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

  • ​Arpeggione Sonata D. 281, I. Allegro moderato

• ​Franz Schubert / J.B.F. Wright

  • ​Morgenguß (Morning Greeting) / Precious Memories

• ​Harry Burleigh (1866-1949)

  • ​Five Songs of Laurence Hope (1915)

    • ​I. Worth While

    • ​II. The Jungle Flower

    • ​III. Kashmiri Song

    • ​IV. Amoung the Fuchsias

    • ​V. Till I Wake

• ​INTERMISSION

• ​Harry Burleigh

  • ​My Lord What a Morning

• ​Woody Guthrie (1797-1828) / Franz Schubert

  • ​Pastures of Plenty / Auf dem Flusse (On the River)

• ​Lead Belly

  • ​Goodnight Irene

• ​Franz Schubert

  • ​Introduction and Variations on Trockne Blumen

• ​Harry Burleigh

  • ​Deep River

​About Emi Ferguson:

​Emi Ferguson plays baroque flutes, modern flutes, and everything in between as a soloist and a member of leading early music and contemporary ensembles. Emi’s albums Fly the Coop: Bach Sonatas and Preludes with Ruckus (2019) and Amour Cruel (2017) were amongst the top 10 on the Classical & World Music Billboard Charts. Emi is a proud recipient of the 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant and the founder of the Exquisite Corpse Ensemble. More at: www.emiferguson.com

​About Jacob Rhodebeck:

​Jacob Rhodebeck is a pianist known for his tremendous command of the instrument and his enthusiasm for performing new and little known music. Dr. Rhodebeck's performance of Michael Hersch's 3-hour solo piano work, The Vanishing Pavilions was described as "astounding" (The Philadelphia Inquirer) and “a searing performance” (The New York Times). More at: www.jacobrhodebeck.com