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So Smooth, So Sweet: Songs of Allen Sapp

August 27, 2025

So Smooth, So Sweet: Songs of Allen Sapp

News. Green produces and writes commentary for album, Songs of Allen Sapp

Alan Green, head of the Music & Dance Library, produced and wrote the historical commentary for the album So Smooth, So Sweet: Songs of Allen Sapp, recorded by soprano Chelsea Hart Melcher (MM 2014; pictured) just published by Navona Records. The album is available for purchase or streaming on all major audio platforms. Melcher is director of Opera and Musical Theater at the Capital University Conservatory of Music. Jean-Yves Münch, associated faculty and creative researcher at the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design (ACCAD), served as recording engineer for the album. Green and Münch collaborated on editing and mixing the album in the Timashev Family Music Building’s recording studio. 

Green also produced two music videos. The video for the title track of the album was filmed in Timashev Recital Hall, the video was directed by Tobias Zuniga-Shaw, who is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Moving-Image Production. Michael Hesmond, production manager at ACCAD, served as the lighting designer for the video. Watch on YouTube.

The second video is for the final track titled “Yet, Though Thou Troublest Me.” It was partly filmed at Timashev Recital Hall, as well as at St. Brigid of Kildare Church in Dublin. Watch on YouTube. 

Ohio composer Allen Sapp (1922–1999) studied with Aaron Copland, Walter Piston and Nadia Boulanger, and served on the faculty of Harvard University. He came to Ohio in 1978, serving as professor of music and dean of the University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory of Music. The Music & Dance Library hosts the Allen Sapp Collection among its special collections. Green created new critical editions of the four song cycles recorded on this album from the music manuscripts in the Allen Sapp Collection. The album and video projects were funded by The Ohio State University Music & Dance Library Builder’s Fund, as part of the library’s centennial celebration for Allen Sapp.