Paulette Coppin Perform the American Classics

“Singing frees the soul and allows people to share an inner part of them with others.” as quoted by vocalist Paulette Coppin was a precursor to the tribute paid in an ambitious performance celebrating classical African- American composers at the South Oxford Space on the 28th of February. Last year President Obama was elected to the United States of America highest political office sounding a milestone in history and Paulette Coppin has reverberated the same impact with her tribute to Classical African- American composers often relegated to obscure footnote references. With equal devotion to female and male composers from the eighteenth to the twentieth century Paulette Coppin showcases the diversity, technical proficiency, artistic prowness and divinely inspired works of one of America’s greatest natural resources.

Black History Month withstanding Paulette Coppin’s acute research into the realms of what publically at one time remained oblique to America is the rich musical and lyrical tapestry to present the haunting brilliance of Betty Jackson Kings’ penned The Pledge, becoming engulfed in Little Black Boy indelibly crafted by Virgina Lowe and unmercifully swooned by the deft arrangements of Hall Johnson’s Ride on King Jesus. Paulette Coppin’s svelte soprano instrument reels in the time worn oppression at the same time booming regal imminence with Watch and Pray arranged by composer Undine Smith Moore. Her namesake Undine recalls the hypnotic depths of the unseen pull of the ocean and the universal gyrations from beneath touching an unsuspecting audience with her artistry.

As a performer Paulette Coppin became more demonstrative daring the audience embellished with an eclectic mix of ethnicities and ages from sectarians to infants coddled to sweet reverie to grab the torch for themselves and sing inside of their souls. Shedding stoic movements Paulette Coppin outstretched her hands and became enveloped in her rendition of His Name is So Sweet arranged by Hall Johnson to free her soul and graciously share her passion with the maturity of vocalist well past her years. Relishing each note of Bye and Bye arranged by Harry Thacker Burleigh, most known for his spiritual “Deep River,” Paulette Coppin flourished and graced each chord with a silent passion that rolled upon the shores of the audience immersing us all with why this music is truly an American treasure.