A key part of the Festival’s programming are performances that put music in a context, allowing audiences to enjoy works as part of a larger historical or musicological experience. Examples from recent seasons include:

• “What Makes It American” – A program examining whether American composers have embraced or rejected European models to create a distinct American Music. Composers include Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, Eric Zivian, John Musto, Mrs. H.H.A Beach, Virgil Thomson, Charles Ives and Ned Rorem.
  
  
• “We Are Women” – A semi-staged concert devoted to the songs of Leonard Bernstein celebrating women. The program was written by Music Director Michael Barrett and the composer’s daughter Jamie Bernstein, who hosted the evening.
  
  
• “Souvenir de France” – Selections from Soprano Amy Burton’s theatrical evening consisting of songs made famous by the French chanteuse Yvonne Printemps.
  
  
• “Mozart, You Kid You” – A celebration of Mozart’s 250th Birthday, narrated by Jamie Bernstein with samples of Mozart’s instrumental and vocal works.
  
  
• “America the Beautiful” – A concert of works exploring the unique qualities of American urban and rural life, including readings by local author Terry Tempest Williams and a specially commissioned work by composer Gerald Elias embracing excerpts from the oral history of Bessie White, who had grown up on a ranch at the evening’s concert site. Other composers included Charles Ives, Aaron Copland and Paul Schoenfeld.
  
  
• “Piano Talk” – A Festival feature with Paul Hersh – pianist, violist and music professor at the San Francisco Conservatory – in which Mr. Hersh explores the complexities of a variety of compositions, such as, in 2003, Schubert’s Fantasie in C Major for violin and piano, D. 934 and in 2007, Shubert’s Grand Duo.
  
  
• “At Harlem’s Height” – A concert produced by the New York Festival of Song that showcases the music, songs and poetry of Harlem in the 1920’s and 1930’s.
  
  
• “Sonidos Latinos” – A concert exploring the sounds and music of Latin America,  featuring Elena (age 11) and Samora (age 15)  Pinderhughes, and Marco and Leo Granados. Narrated by Jamie Bernstein.
  
  
• “Highland Hootenanny” – A concert featuring an expansive program of Celtic music performed by Paul Woodiel, Emily Smith, Christopher Layer, Susie Petrov and Steve Gibb.