About
Beverly Benjamin Cole is a 94 year old composer that currently resides in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a masters in piano and a minor in theory in 1952. After teaching as a professor at a few local colleges in the lower peninsula of Michigan, he moved to Michigan’s upper peninsula, and has been a resident there since the 1970s. For the majority of his time there, he was the church pianist for Community Bible Church in Strongs, MI.
His songs consist of five cycles set on texts ranging from A. E. Housman to the Psalms. Of particular note is his song cycle The Sun is in the South, which consists of five different settings of a poem written by his friend, Roderick O’Neall. While he is most known for his art songs, Cole has many compositions for orchestra, choir, piano, and others that have not yet been performed.
–Jack Morin
This profile was created during the 2023-2024 academic year as part of the Song of America Fellowship Program, a project of the Classic Song Research Initiative between the Hampsong Foundation and the University of Michigan, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance.
Related Information
Songs
4 Songs on Psalms
Song CollectionBeverly Benjamin Cole
A Shropshire Lad
Song CollectionBeverly Benjamin Cole
A. E. Housman
The Words of Christ
Song CollectionBeverly Benjamin Cole
The Flowers
Song CollectionBeverly Benjamin Cole
William Shakespeare
Marianne Moore
The Sun is in the South
Song CollectionBeverly Benjamin Cole
Roderick O’Neall
The Sun is in the South (1957 Setting)
Beverly Benjamin Cole
Roderick O’Neall
Song Collection: The Sun is in the South
The Sun is in the South (Later Romantic Setting)
Beverly Benjamin Cole
Roderick O’Neall
Song Collection: The Sun is in the South
The Sun is in the South (Earlier Romantic Setting)
Beverly Benjamin Cole
Roderick O’Neall
Song Collection: The Sun is in the South
The Sun is in the South (#4)
Beverly Benjamin Cole
Roderick O’Neall
Song Collection: The Sun is in the South
The Jasmine
Beverly Benjamin Cole
Marianne Moore
Song Collection: The Flowers
Flowers
Beverly Benjamin Cole
Elizabeth Oakes Smith
Song Collection: The Flowers
Bowing Adorers of the Gale
Beverly Benjamin Cole
Song Collection: The Flowers
To a Mountain Daisy
Beverly Benjamin Cole
Song Collection: The Flowers
Daffodils
Beverly Benjamin Cole
William Shakespeare
Song Collection: The Flowers
The Violet
Beverly Benjamin Cole
Song Collection: The Flowers
With Rue My Heart Is Laden
Beverly Benjamin Cole
A. E. Housman
Song Collection: A Shropshire Lad
Into My Heart An Air That Kills
Beverly Benjamin Cole
A. E. Housman
Song Collection: A Shropshire Lad
If Truth In Hearts That Perish
Beverly Benjamin Cole
A. E. Housman
Song Collection: A Shropshire Lad
If It Chance Your Eye Offend You
Beverly Benjamin Cole
A. E. Housman
Song Collection: A Shropshire Lad
Oh Fair Enough Are Sky And Plain
Beverly Benjamin Cole
A. E. Housman
Song Collection: A Shropshire Lad
Say Lad, Have You Things To Do?
Beverly Benjamin Cole
A. E. Housman
Song Collection: A Shropshire Lad
Be Still, My Soul (#7)
Beverly Benjamin Cole
A. E. Housman
Song Collection: A Shropshire Lad
Be Still, My Soul (#8)
Beverly Benjamin Cole
A. E. Housman
Song Collection: A Shropshire Lad
Oh, When I Was In Love With You
Beverly Benjamin Cole
A. E. Housman
Song Collection: A Shropshire Lad
Look Not In My Eyes
Beverly Benjamin Cole
A. E. Housman
Song Collection: A Shropshire Lad
From Far, From Eve And Morning
Beverly Benjamin Cole
A. E. Housman
Song Collection: A Shropshire Lad
Psalm 1
Beverly Benjamin Cole
Song Collection: 4 Songs on Psalms
Psalm 23
Beverly Benjamin Cole
Song Collection: 4 Songs on Psalms
Psalm 25
Beverly Benjamin Cole
Song Collection: 4 Songs on Psalms
Psalm 54
Beverly Benjamin Cole
Song Collection: 4 Songs on Psalms
The Beatitudes
Beverly Benjamin Cole
Song Collection: The Words of Christ
Lay Up For Yourselves Treasures In Heaven
Beverly Benjamin Cole
Song Collection: The Words of Christ
Let Your Light So Shine
Beverly Benjamin Cole
Song Collection: The Words of Christ
The Lord's Prayer
Beverly Benjamin Cole
Song Collection: The Words of Christ
Judge Not
Beverly Benjamin Cole
Song Collection: The Words of Christ
Videos
Sheet Music
A Shropshire Lad
Composer(s): Beverly Benjamin Cole
Song(s): With Rue My Heart Is Laden, Into My Heart An Air That Kills, If Truth In Hearts That Perish, If It Chance Your Eye Offend You, Oh, Fair Enough Are Sky And Plain, Say Lad, Have You Things To Do, Be Still, My Soul (#7), Be Still, My Soul (#8), Oh, When I Was In Love With You, Look Not In My Eyes, From Far, From Eve and Morning
Voice Type: High, Medium, and Low Voice
The Words of Christ
Composer(s): Beverly Benjamin Cole
Song(s): The Beatitudes, Let Your Light So Shine, The Lord's Prayer, Judge Not, Lay Up For Yourselves Treasures in Heaven
Voice Type: High, Medium, and Low Voice
The Sun is in the South
Composer(s): Beverly Benjamin Cole
Song(s): The Sun is in the South (1957 Setting), The Sun is in the South (Later Romantic Setting), The Sun is in the South (Earlier Romantic Setting), The Sun is in the South (#4), The Sun is in the South (#5)
Voice Type: High, Medium, and Low Voice
The Flowers
Composer(s): Beverly Benjamin Cole
Song(s): The Violet, Daffodils, The Jasmine, To A Mountain Daisy, Flowers, Bowing Adorers of the Gale
Voice Type: High, Medium, and Low Voice
4 Songs on Psalms
Composer(s): Beverly Benjamin Cole
Song(s): Psalm 1, Psalm 25, Psalm 54, Psalm 23
Voice Type: High, Medium, and Low Voice