American Portrait

American Portrait

Editorial Reviews
Acoustic Guitar
Elegant, brainy originals...each piece is a tapestry in its own right...a guitar joyride.

Product Description
Contemporary Americana, all acoustic, all instrumental. Each tune is a description of a different area of America.

American Portrait

American Portrait,Joe Weed,Gourd Music,A collection of original music featuring Joe Weed, Norton Buffalo, David Grisman and Todd Phillips.,Country & Western,Folk,Folk & Traditional,Pop

Portrait of an American Family
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The Real Marilyn Manson Roots

I NEED YOU MANSON!STICK AROUND AWHILE!

THANK YOU MANSON!YOU GAVE ME LIFE!

Everything you could want...from a debut

Here's where it all began...definitely a solid album

Portrait of an American Family
Marilyn Manson
Manufacturer: Nothing
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Industrial | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music | Alt Industrial | Industrial Dance
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Smells Like Children

Antichrist Superstar

Holy Wood (In The Shadow Of The Valley Of Death)

Mechanical Animals (Explicit Cover)

The Golden Age Of Grotesque

ASIN: B000001Y5X
Release Date: 1994-07-19

Tracks:

Prelude (The Family Trip)
Cake And Sodomy
Lunchbox
Organ Grinder
Cyclops
Dope Hat
Get Your Gunn
Wrapped In Plastic
Dogma
Sweet Tooth
Snake Eyes And Sissies
My Monkey
Misery Machine

Amazon.com

Every parent's nightmare and every teenager's dream band, Marilyn Manson take no prisoners on their blistering and brutal Trent Reznor-produced debut. Aiming to shock and rock simultaneously, Portrait scores high marks in both arenas. Manson and his grand grimoire take Alice Cooper's tongue-in-cheek mix of glam and death rock to the nth degree with their vision of youth gone wild, personified on cuts like "Cake and Sodomy" and "Lunchbox," a schoolyard revenge fantasy gone horribly awry. One of the most original, hardest rocking albums recorded in the '90s, Portrait of an American Family is a hallmark of the industrial/metal genre, but not for those who are easily offended. --Gail Worley

Customer Reviews:

The Real Marilyn Manson Roots.......2007-06-06

POAAF is the most real album Manson has to offer. I mean I love Antichrist Superstar, Mechanical Animals, and Holy Wood more than this album but they're all much too built up on storylines and his appearances. Portrait Of An American Family is without a doubt the real Manson, Brian Warner or whatever you want to call him. The album is the fruition of his first thoughts and questions on American life and it's warped daily routines. To me this is the first record that a musician has ever attacked what was never questioned before. Most notably Religion. A perfect example of this would be the dark, grinding song known as "Cake and Sodomy". A song in which Manson attacks the stereotypical religious southern, TV watching Christian; the lyrics richly inspired by Pat Robertson of the 700 Club (if you read his book you would know what I mean). While "Lunchbox" offers a more comical side of Marilyn as he takes the role of a frustrated and bullied school child who wishes to be a huge rock star, a song loosely based upon himself. "Get Your Gunn" (the first single) seems to be the most outstanding track for Portrait due ot it's well-written lyrics and imagery. None of the other songs stray away from the seeminglessly harmless childlike themes gone horribly awry ALA "Organ Grinder", "Dope Hat", "Wrapped In Plastic", "Sweet Tooth" and "My Monkey". Comical horror and sound distortions are huge components in this album. POAAF delves into the warped mind of an aspiring rock star (as of Manson's stance in the Music world in 1994) who took on the topics never once opposed and pushed them to the limits of Society's buttons. Portrait is an early deep and brooding industrial gem. Remember without this early 90's classic, Manson and his future work would cease to exist.

I NEED YOU MANSON!STICK AROUND AWHILE!.......2007-05-12

MANSON'S DEFINITELY THE MAN!THIS CD IS PERFECTION-JUST LIKE ALL HIS OTHER CDS!HIS VOICE IS PERFECT.HIS MUSIC IS PERFECT.HIS LYRICS ARE PERFECT.HE'S WHAT WE NEED!HE'S WHAT THE MUSIC INDUSRTY NEEDS!HE'S MY IDOL-AND I KNOW HE ALWAYS WILL BE!MANSON'S EXCELLENT!

THANK YOU MANSON!YOU GAVE ME LIFE!.......2007-03-26

THIS IS MANSONS FIRST CD.REAL AND TRUE MUSIC HAS ARRIVED!HIS VOICE IS SO DIMENSIONAL.HIS LUNGS ARE SO POWERFUL.HIS MUSIC AND LYRICS ARE GREAT!YOU CAN TELL HE PUTS HIS HEART AND SOUL IN ALL HIS SONGS ON ALL HIS CDS.HIS VOICE,THE LYRICS,AND THE MUSIC GO PERFECTLY TOGETHER!HE TOUCHES MY HEART AND SOUL!HE'S MY IDOL!I ONLY LISTEN TO HIS MUSIC.HE MOVES ME.HE MAKES ME FEEL.HE TRULY IS A MAN WHO IS ABOVE AND BEYOND!HE'S EXTREMELY TALENTED AND GIFTED!OF COURSE I RECOMMEND THIS CD,AND ALL HIS OTHER CDS TO EVERYBODY TO LISTEN TO!YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE-BUT SO MUCH TO GAIN!THIS CD IS EXCELLENT!THANK YOU MANSON-YOU GAVE ME LIFE!

Everything you could want...from a debut.......2007-02-15

Upon first listen I thought this would be a great album to put on at Halloween night. From audio of Bud Dwyer's suicide to Marilyn's haunting rendition of the infamous Willy Wonka nightmare boat speech it's sure to make you atleast a little uneasy. As I began to listen to it more I started to notice what a great record this is. Great hooks and riffs from the great Daisy Berkowits, Marilyn's iconic voice, and enough political commentary to make Neil Young feel inadequate, this album has everything you could want...from a debut. If you're looking for Marilyn Manson's more industrial sound this is not the place to find it. If you're looking for a band with a raw sound and great energy then this is the album for you. Some highlights include "Cake and Sodomy" which is the ultimate example of Manson's power, "Lunchbox" is a Manson classic and I wouldn't be surprised if you felt like beating someone after giving this song a listen, "Get Your Gunn" is one that always has creeped me out, mostly because of the audio clips of Bud Dwyer's suicide which have never failed at making me feel like a frightened turtle. All in all this is mpre a piece of art than simply an album. Highly recommended.

Here's where it all began...definitely a solid album.......2006-11-30

This used to be my least favorite release due to its lackluster production quality in comparison to releases like Antichrist and Mechanical. But you've got to consider the time, 1994. Grunge was dead and something dark and more innovative in music was starting to form. Portrait was the beginning of this change. Its a great album, not to be taken too seriously. It shows Mansons roots, his youthful rage, not yet completely clouded by his own nihilism.
Its punky metal with industrial fuzz all around the edges. From start to finish its a solid album, catchy, enjoyable with enough hooks to keep your average listener interested. Compared to a lot of other bands & albums that came out around that time, Portrait sets the standard. Quality songwriting, overall structure and a valid message delivered with a candy coated fist to the face.
Just the beginning of Mansons legendary career, and definitly worth purchasing.

Average customer rating:

My idea of heaven
Wonderful, but not quite the best of I had hoped
A treasury
Chanticleer: A Portrait

Chanticleer: A Portrait
Caroll Coates , Harold / Mercer, Johnny Arlen , Spiritual Traditional , Vince Guaraldi , Joseph Jennings , Ettore Stratta , Eric Alatorre , Tim Krol , Corey McKnight , Kevin Baum , David Munderloh , and Dawn Upshaw
Manufacturer: Teldec
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Our American Journey
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ASIN: B00008J2VP
Release Date: 2003-03-18

Tracks:

Quem Terra Pontus Sidera
Ave Maria (Gregorian Chant)
Alma Redemptoris Mater
The Angel Cried Out
Angelicas Milicias
Wherewithal Shall A Young Man...
Love Is A Beautiful Dream
This Heart That Flutters Near My Heart
Wild Grass
Labbra Vermiglie E Belle
Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair
Dulaman
Shenandoah
Spanish Carol
Love Is Letting Go
Blues In The Night
Wade In The Wate
We Shall Walk Through The Valley In Peace
Christmas Time Is Here

Amazon.com

With this disc, Chanticleer, the internationally renowned, all-male 12-voice chamber choir, celebrates its 25th anniversary. Presenting songs from earlier albums plus one not previously recorded, the selection displays the group's remarkable stylistic and linguistic versatility, as well as all the qualities that have made it famous: the impeccable precision and intonation; the pristine tonal purity; the deep, inner expressiveness; the infinitely variable range of colors, textures, dynamics and moods; and the incredible vocal control that allows voices to stand out as well as to blend into a seamless, sonorous whole. Not for nothing has the group been called "an orchestra of voices" with its ability to sound like a big band in chordal passages and to imitate bass pizzicati as well as patter-songs and gospel shouts. The sopranos take off into stratospheric heights with florid coloratura; it is hard to believe that these are male voices. The program ranges from Gregorian chant and liturgical music of the 16th and 17th century, through traditional and jazz-influenced folk songs and spirituals (some in deplorably bad arrangements), to works by contemporary composers. Chanticleer's mostly vibrato-less vocal style still reflects its roots in its original Renaissance repertoire, but the way the singers use their voices in the popular, jazzy songs makes one aware of the evolving kinship between the two traditions. Though primarily an a capella ensemble, Chanticleer is occasionally joined by various instrumental groups, from period instrument orchestras to a jazz trio, and Dawn Upshaw adds her radiant, smiling, unmistakably "real" soprano to a delightful, high-spirited performance of a Spanish Carol. This disc is a fine, varied sampling of Chanticleer's discography and should inspire listeners to search out all the complete albums. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

My idea of heaven.......2007-02-17

If you liked Norman Luboff's Song's of the Sea's "Shenandoah", the price of this CD is worth it alone. That's why I ordered the CD. I heard Chanticleer's version and immediately ordered it. The rest is just the icing on the cake.

Then there is the one Kiri Tekanawa (sp?) offering, which is the only female voice on the recording.

Wonderful, but not quite the best of I had hoped.......2006-07-18

Some great material truly shines on this album, but I wsih that the group had been a little less populist in their choice of repertoire. There is a little too many arrangements and folk-like material, with the exception of the wonderful "Dulaman", and I would like to have heard some more varied repertoire. That said this is an excellent starting point for this amazing group.

A treasury.......2005-11-06

As you can tell from the samples, the music here is amazing and covers a wide territory. It is less obvious that much of this is available on other CDs. I am confident, for example, that "We Shall Walk Through the Valley In Peace" is the same track that you will find on their phenomenal and highly recommended gospel collection, _Where the Sun Shall Never Go Down_, and I see a number of familiar-looking titles from other CDs. My advice is: if you're looking for a broad sample of the group's repertoire, then you can't go wrong here -- but if you've already got several Chanticleer albums, then you'll want to check your existing collection for potential duplications before buying this 'treasury.'

Chanticleer: A Portrait.......2005-10-26

This is a marvelous singing group of all males with a little addition of Dawn Upshaw on a couple of pieces. They are thourally amazing at what they can sing with Male Voices usually unaccompanied. Obviously they have good strong Contra-Tenors that can manage the high notes without any problems. I would recommend this album to anyone who enjoys vocal music, unaccompanied and like Male Voices

Portraits Of Freedom: Music of Aaron Copland and Roy Harris

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The True Spirit Of America
Great Lesser-known Masterpieces
James Earl Jones Is SUPURB
Great Fourth of July album
Perfect collection of patriotic fare.

Portraits Of Freedom: Music of Aaron Copland and Roy Harris
Aaron Copland , Roy Harris , Gerard Schwarz , Seattle Symphony Orchestra , James Earl Jones , and Seattle Chorale
Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000006YT
Release Date: 1994-05-03

Tracks:

Fanfare For The Common Man
Lincoln Portrait
Canticle Of Freedom
An Outdoor Overture
American Creed: Free To Dream
American Creed: Free To Build
When Johnny Comes Marching Home

Amazon.com

This is a mixture of choral and orchestral music by two great American composers, music that can only be described as patriotic. But don't let that keep you away from Copland's heartbreaking Lincoln Portrait or Roy Harris's much-neglected American Creed. James Earl Jones supplies the narration in Lincoln Portrait. American Creed is filled with Harris's usual open harmonies and melodic expansiveness and is actually a very complex triple fugue. The miking for this entire recording isn't as close to the orchestra or clear as it could be, but this is a great collection nonetheless. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

The True Spirit Of America.......2006-05-18

It is often the case that the true spirit of America can be found in the artists it has given the world throughout history. And no composer embodies our nation's spirit much better than Aaron Copland, as can be gauged on this Delos recording of works by him and fellow American composer Roy Harris, as performed by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra under music director Gerard Schwarz.

The true essence of patriotism, a term too often used for less-than-honorable ends by certain political operatives throughout history, is very evident in both Copland's and Harris' works. Harris is represented by the intensely proud two-part work "American Creed", and his 1935 overture "When Johnny Comes Marching Home", based on the famous World War I song. It is also evident in Copland's rarely heard "Canticle Of Freedom", which here is sung by the Seattle Symphony Chorale.

It is in the three popular Copland pieces--"Fanfare For The Common Man"; "Lincoln Portrait"; and "An Outdoor Overture"--that the best of America lies. The towering brass chorale of "Fanfare" symbolizes, as its title surely indicates, the ability of the common man to achieve the uncommon; while "An Outdoor Overture", written in the 1930s for the Manhattan High School of Music & Art, celebrates American youth. And then there's "Lincoln Portrait", with the words of our 16th president spoken by James Earl Jones, one of our country's greatest actors and voices, with great strength and authority, allowing us to know that while we may be the greatest nation on Earth, we can ALWAYS be better. Schwarz and the Seattle Symphony provide masterful performances throughout this stunning 1992 recording. This is highly recommended for anyone wanting to know the true spirit of our nation beyond the constant and often wreckless political rhetoric that so often abounds here.

Great Lesser-known Masterpieces.......2005-11-03

Portraits of Freedom is a CD featuring works by Aaron Copland and Roy Harris which have a special emphasis on democracy. Not just a "hack" American music CD, features include the very well known to some virtually unknown compositions making this a welcome addition to the Copland/Harris recorded music oeuvre.

Fanfare for the Common Man brings nothing new, but it is such a great miniature. Less recorded is the Lincoln Portrait. Copland opens with a slow triumphant fanfare melody which gives way to a faster "Camptown Races" melody and brilliantly weaves the two together. The piece ends with a dramatic reading by James Earl Jones.

Canticle of Freedom, rarely heard, features chorus. The music and text are interesting enough to wonder why it has been neglected. Along with the Outdoor Overture, Copland uses not only uses his trademark rhythms and harmonies, but dissonance is judiciously placed to give his music an American experience.

Roy Harris' American Creed and When Johnny Comes Marching Home are also rarely heard, nonetheless recorded. Harris' music is a bit more ponderous than that of Copland, and while Harris sticks with more classical formal designs, it is interesting to note the many harmonic and orchestration similarities which exist between the two composers. Harris' energetic "When Johnny..." is also very interesting, especially when compared to the more famous American Salute by Morton Gould.

The liner notes are voluminous accounts into the background of Copland. You really get the gist of how close he was to music and patriotism and how that evolved throughout the 20th Century. The Seattle Symphony plays well on this disk; you can tell they have a real feel of the music. While you can find better recordings of Fanfare and the Outdoor Overture, you can't beat this Lincoln Portrait, and you probably won't find the other works anywhere else, especially so well performed. Copland was serious about music and democracy and it shows in these works; the lesser known ones are greatly eclipsed by his more famous works, and so you probably have to be a Copland junkie to buy this CD. In that case, this will be an easy buy for you!

James Earl Jones Is SUPURB.......2004-10-02

I have listened to several recordings of the Lincoln Portait narrated by Henry Fonda, Carl Sandberg and Katherine Hepburn. James Earl Jones surpases all of them by a wide margin. Every word James speaks comes from his heart and it is a moving experience.

An interesting note: Every speaker since James reads the following line, "government of the people, by the people, and for the people." with the emphasis on the words "of", "by" and "for". When James reads it he shift the emphasis to the word "people" each time and it makes an impressive difference. He is masterful. I've must have played this piece at least 10 times since I received it a week ago.

Buy it!

Jeff

Great Fourth of July album.......2003-01-11

If you buy this CD, you'll probably do so for Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait." You won't be disappointed, either, for this is one of the best renditions of that particular symphonic war-horse in print. It's well performed, and James Earl Jones's majestic voice transcends the kitschier aspects of Copland's narration.

"Fanfare for the Common Man" is also here in all its brassy glory, although if you're like me you've heard it so often it gives you a headache. But in all likelihood you haven't heard the other Copland works on this CD: "Canticle of Freedom" and the seldom-performed "An Outdoor Overture." "An Outdoor Overture" is second-tier Copland -- a pleasant symphonic poem, nothing too remarkable. "Canticle of Freedom," on the other hand, exemplifies Copland's worst tendencies as a composer; most of it is just noisy and not musically interesting.

The real surprise here is Roy Harris's three-movement "American Creed," which is both inspiring and musically sound. It is a patriotic symphony that mostly avoids bombast, and it ought to be performed far more often. Harris is a much underrated composer, and this is one of his best works.

On the whole, this CD is a smashing good classical music collection for a Flag Day or Fourth of July holiday -- or for any time you just want to celebrate being an American.

Perfect collection of patriotic fare........1999-10-14

The inclusion of Copland's "Fanfare" and "A Lincoln Portrait" into a CD such as this is a no-brainer, but these recordings are the best of their kind--tremendous sound, and the quintessential narrator in Jones to complete it. Schwarz also blesses us with one of Copland's little-known choral works that sends a powerful patriotic message, and the "Outdoor Overture" is simply Copland at his jovial best at the prime of his composing career. The selected Harris works add further impact to the disc: the only recording available of "American Creed," along with Harris' unforgettable interpretation of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," round it out wonderfully. The Roy Harris works may be the true highlight of the disc--if that's possible. Another splendid job by Schwarz and the Seattle Symphony.

Average customer rating:

CARMICHAEL WILL NEVER BE OUT OF FASHION

A Portrait of Hoagy Carmichael
Hoagy Carmichael
Manufacturer: Gallerie
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sings Stardust and His Other Great Compositions
Stardust Melody
Sometimes I Wonder
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ASIN: B00002MNYN
Release Date: 1999-10-29

Tracks:

Stardust
Georgia on My Mind
Two Sleepy People
Ole Buttermilk Sky
Old Music Master
A-Huggin' and A-Chalkin'
Ginger and Spice
Billy-A-Dick
Old Spinning Wheel
Sleepy Time Gal
No More Toujours l'Amour
Everybody's Seen Him But His Daddy
Old Man Harlem
Judy
Hong Kong Blues
Don't Forget to Say No Baby
Talking Is a Woman
Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief
Sing It Way Down Low
Who Killed'er
Monkey Song

Tracks:

Lazy Bones
Riverboat Shuffle
I May Be Wrong
Casanova Cricket
Man Could Be a Wonderful Thing
Tune for Humming
Put Yourself in My Place, Baby
Memphis in June
Gonna Get a Girl
For Every Man There's a Woman
Two Sleepy People - Hoagy Carmichael, Ella Logan
One Night in Havana
New Orleans - Hoagy Carmichael, Ella Logan
Washboard Blues - Hoagy Carmichael, Casa Loma Orchestra
Little Old Lady - Hoagy Carmichael, Casa Loma Orchestra
Moon Country
Snowball
One Morning in May
Bessie Couldn't Help It
Rockin' Chair - Louis Armstrong, Hoagy Carmichael
Judy [Early Version]
Barnacle Bill the Sailor

Customer Reviews:

CARMICHAEL WILL NEVER BE OUT OF FASHION.......2001-03-14

A collection offering most of CARMICHAEL's mostly remembered songs between the late twenties until 1950 is always a good buy.This one has HOAGY singing his own songs the way only him could do in his sleepy kind of SOUTHERN grace.The same can be said of his friend JOHNNY MERCER with whom he wrote many songs.If you've never heard them sing their songs you miss something.Those SOUTHERN guys were easy living characters who had a special kind of charm.STARDUST is there in it's piano version;ROCKIN'CHAIR with a young LOUIS ARMSTRONG in a duet;many other duets and other delights make this a perfect compagnon to the CAPITOL singers singing his songs.But as you may remember there was a song that BING CROSBY used to sing that's not included here why?It was IN THE COOL COOL COOL OF THE EVENING from the film HERE COMES THE GROOM.Sorry, but you can't have everything.

Romeo Cascarino: Pygmalion; Portrait of Galatea; Prospice; The Acadian Land; Blades of Grass

Average customer rating:

wonderful
One of the best of 2007
Gems from a Undiscovered American Composer
Romantic American Orchestral Music in the Barber/Copland Vein

Romeo Cascarino: Pygmalion; Portrait of Galatea; Prospice; The Acadian Land; Blades of Grass

Manufacturer: Naxos American
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

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Alan Hovhaness: Symphony No. 60; Guitar Concerto; Khrimian Hairig

ASIN: B000H4VZBM
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Tracks:

Pygmalion
Portrait Of Galatea
Blades Of Grass
Prospice
Meditation
Elegy
The Acadian Land

Customer Reviews:

wonderful.......2007-05-30

Cascarino's "Blades of grass" is a masterpiece of 20th century music.The cd is worth it just for that one work. Overall the works on this cd are well composed, melodic, tonal, well organized and beautifully orchestrated.

One of the best of 2007.......2007-05-07

I totally agree with the two previous reviews (although I think Mr. Morrison misses the beauty of these pieces) - they are slow, "serene", but this is beautiful music beautifully played. Hats-off to Fanfare Magazine that convinced me to purchase a CD by a composer I was not familiar with, Naxos for its continuing commitment to recording every composition ever written, and to Ms. Falletta and her fine orchestra for making this wonderful music available to the audience that Mr. Cascarino never had.

Gems from a Undiscovered American Composer.......2007-01-12

Twentieth century classical music in the tradition of Ravel, Faure, Copland Delius, Britten and RV Williams. Lush and complex, rich and melodic , somber and uplifting.

Cascarino's works may one day be receiving more attention and scheduled on more programs as an outstanding example of American 20th century polyphony.

Romantic American Orchestral Music in the Barber/Copland Vein.......2006-10-07

Romeo Cascarino (1922-2002) was a basically self-taught Philadelphian who labored in relative obscurity. Of the six works recorded here five are first recordings. And some of the music had never been played before. Cascarino worked for many years as a respected teacher of harmony and composition at the now-defunct Combs College of Music in Philadelphia. His compositional style is completely tonal and sometimes comes across as a blend of the styles of Barber and Copland. This CD contains his six works, with few exceptions all dreamily serene.

'Pygmalion' (1956) recounts the Greek myth of the sculptor Pygmalion and his infatuation with his own marble creation, the beautiful Galatea. It was intended as a ballet and has been staged only once, apparently, in Philadelphia in 1959. A companion piece 'Portrait of Galatea' (1945) preceded the ballet by four years. This recording is from the first performance ever of that work and of its predecessor 'Prospice' (1945) which was written just after Cascarino returned from service in World War II. 'Prospice' is based on the Browning poem of that name, which opens:

"Fear death?--to feel the fog in my throat,
The mist in my face,
When the snows begin, and the blasts denote
I am nearing the place,
The power of the night, the press of the storm,
The post of the foe ... "

Its first measures have harmonies redolent of the Copland scores of the previous decade.

'Blades of Grass' (1945) is a seven-minute mini-concerto for English horn, harp and strings. It was inspired by Carl Sandberg's 'Grass' which is 'a meditation about men dying in battle.' The plangent lines given the English horn soloist are melancholy in the extreme and are played here beautifully by Geoffrey Deemer, principal in the Philadelphia Chamber Players. (A note about the orchestra used on this recording. The Philadelphia Philharmonic is an ad hoc group whose core is the Philadelphia Chamber Players; its roster is extended by use of some of the many fine free-lance musicians in the Philadelphia area. They sound marvelous.)

'Meditation and Elegy' (2000) is an orchestration for strings of two piano pieces Cascarino wrote in his teens. Both pieces are slow and meditative, with lush string sonorities and often modal melodies. 'The Acadian Land' (1959-60) was premiered in a shortened version by the then New Orleans Philharmonic. It was inspired by Longfellow's 'Evangeline' and of course had particular interest for the Louisianans as their Cajun culture is based on the Acadian culture of Nova Scotia. 'The Acadian Land' is contemplative and melancholy.

Most of the music here is fairly slow. The main up-tempo bits are in 'Prospice.' Admittedly the texture and harmonic language of these works are lush and romantic, but more than 75 minutes of ruminative music might be a bit much for one sitting. Still, the playing of the Philadelphia Philharmonic under JoAnn Falletta is gorgeous and the music qua music engaging. Most will, I suspect, find themselves becoming tranquilly contemplative on listening to these works.

Scott Morrison

Average customer rating:

Terrific vocal talents for Copland's music
finally sandburg's lincoln portrait
Wow! Pretty Good Deal

A Copland Celebration Vol. 2

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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A Copland Celebration Vol. 1
A Copland Celebration Vol. 3
The Copland Collection: Orchestral Works, 1948-1971
Copland Conducts Copland
The Copland Collection: Orchestral & Ballet Works, 1936-1948

ASIN: B000050HWT
Release Date: 2000-11-07

Tracks:

Vitebsk, Study On A Jewish Theme
Sextet For Clarinet, Piano And String Quartet: I. Allegro vivace
Sextet For Clarinet, Piano And String Quartet: II. Lento
Sextet For Clarinet, Piano And String Quartet: III. Finale
Piano Quartet: I. Adagio serio
Piano Quartet: II. Allegro giusto
Piano Quartet: III. Non troppo lento
Duo For Flute And Piano: I. Flowing
Duo For Flute And Piano: II. Poetic, Somewhat Mournful
Duo For Flute And Piano: III. Lively, With Bounce

Tracks:

Lincoln Portrait - CARL SANDBURG
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: I. Nature, The Greatest Mother
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: II. There Came A Wind Like A Bugle
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: III. Why Do They Shut Me Out Of Heaven?
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: The World Feels Dusty
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: V. Heart, We Will Forget Him
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: VI. Dear March, Come In!
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: VII. Sleep Is Supposed To Be
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: VIII. When They Come Back
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: IX. I Felt A Funeral In My Brain
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: X. I've Heard An Organ Talk Sometimes
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: XI. Going To Heaven!
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: XII. The Chariot
Old American Songs (Set 1): The Boatmen's Dance (Minstrel Song, 1843)
Old American Songs (Set 1): The Dodger (Campaign Song)
Old American Songs (Set 1): Long Time Ago
Old American Songs (Set 1): Simple Gifts (Shaker Song)
Old American Songs (Set 1): I Bought Me A Cat
Old American Songs (Set 2): The Little Horses (Lullaby)
Old American Songs (Set 2): Zion's Walls (Revivalist Song)
Old American Songs (Set 2): The Golden Willow Tree
Old American Songs (Set 2): At The River (Hymn Tune)
Old American Songs (Set 2): Ching-A-Ring Chaw (Minstrel Song)
Billy The Kid: I. The Open Prairie - Oscar Levant
Billy The Kid: II. Street In A Frontier Town - Oscar Levant
Billy The Kid: V. Celebration Dance (After Billy's Capture) - Oscar Levant

Customer Reviews:

Terrific vocal talents for Copland's music.......2002-08-08

This second Copland collection focuses on unique talents of veteran performers.

William Warfield lends his voice and his interpretations of Copland's Old American Songs, and he sings them as they were meant to be, not as classical diletantes felt they should be. You have authenticity here.

Martha Lipton likewise contributes an older world charm and charisma to Copland's settings for Emily Dickenson's words.

Carl Sandberg's resonant reading of his own words is worth the full price of this set.

And then the inimitable Oscar Levant's piano treatment of the orchestral pieces...Levant had a wry touch to his interpretations that gave him a voice all his own.

There's much more here, quite a bit that's less than familiar and therefore increases one's familiarity with Copland.

finally sandburg's lincoln portrait.......2001-08-17

For all those like myself who have waited a decade for "A Lincoln Portrait" with Carl Sandburg's narration on CD, here it is finally! Sandburg's heartfelt reading of Lincoln's words is easily the most inspired and inspiring of the legions of others whose voices have been recorded. The orchestration by Kostelanetz also vastly surpasses others. Compare Henry Fonda's reading for example to see a poorly mixed tape where the narrator's voice is overwhelmed by the orchestra.

Wow! Pretty Good Deal.......2001-03-13

I was surprised to find two CDs of such quality being sold for the price of one. It also contained many hard to find Copland works.

Vitebsk is exciting. Strings do much of the work here. The music is very unique to any other Copland works. Definitely here a sample of this.

The Sextet is very interesting. The combination of strings and piano is a prefect balance along with the clarinet doing much of the harmony. It is the same song though as Copland's 2nd symphony, the 'short' one.

Duo for Flute and Piano is fun and happy. The 1st movement fluctuates quite a bit in the feeling but is a very nice combination. The second movement is slightly morbid but the feeling of happy hi ho is not lost. The 3rd movement is light and bouncy and can be described as typical Copland.

Lincoln Portrait is powerful. Though I don't see how it fits on this CD has a rarity or a chamber work. It is the besy Lincoln P. I've ever heard though.

Old American Songs and Poems of Emily Dickinson are not that good though. It's a vocalist and a piano accompanyingthe vocalist. The vocalists are not that good and I felt needed to feel the music a little more. Thomas Hampson and Dawn Upshaw made a CD with these songs which is much better (the only problem is that that CD only has 8 of the 12 Emily Dickinson Songs).

Billy the Kid was a nice way to finish off. It's just a few excerpts played on solo piano. It was interesting hearing the piece performed this way.

Tracks:

Manha de Carnaval (Morning of the Carnaval)
Passelo no Rio (Walking in Rio)
Wave
Samba do Avial (Airplane Samba)
Sonha Iaia (Dreams of Iaia)
Seroes (a Modinha, slow and melancholy)
Batucada (African Dance)
Sonha de Magia (Dreams of Magic)
Po de Mico (Itching Powder)
Prelude 1
Prelude 2
Prelude 3
Prelude 4
Prelude 5
Chor No.1 Traditional (arr. by G. Garcia)
Como pode o Peixe (How can you live like the Fish)
Nesta Rua (In Our Street)
Samba Lele
Brazilliance
Retrato Brasileiro (Brazilian Portrait)
Deve ser Amor (It had to be Love)
Canto de Osanha
Xaranga do Vovo

Customer Reviews:

Splendid relaxing CD.......2005-01-31

I am not a guitarist, so I cannot really comment knowledgeably on Gerald Garcia's achievement here, but I feel I must add my voice to those who think this is a splendid CD: Naxos have always been good for a surprise, and I was surprised indeed to find them releasing music like this in 1988! The center of the disc, in more than one sense, is Heitor Villa-Lobos, with Garcia playing all five of his Preludes and his Choro No. 1 (which, due to a printing error on the cover, is accredited to Garcia himself as arranger, but that is not correct, he only arranged the following traditional melodies in the style of Savio). Around this center are arranged pieces by Bonfá, Jobim, Savio, Pernambuco, Almeida, Baden-Powell and Machado - all names that I had never heard of until I purchased this disc out of curiosity. The music is relaxing, only the Villa-Lobos is truly classical, and the sound (the recording was made at a studio in Heidelberg, Germany) is excellent, worthy of a full-price disc. To cap it all, there are Gerald Garcia's own notes giving plenty of background information. You can't go wrong here!

Rhythm is way off........2004-02-24

Great music (but not the jobim pieces). ---Like so many classical guitarists he obviously lacks rhythm- particularly on the *Jobim* pieces. if your releasing a cd of music from brazil and you are a classical guitarist from england you should have more understanding of the music. -However it is only seven bucks and there is some definite magic on this cd.~

And the price is right, too........2003-05-24

This is an exquisitely beautiful album that captures the very essence of Brazil.

Of all the solo guitar albums in my collection, this is the most expressive and poignant.

The performance is masterful, intricate and sensitive. There is a wide mastery of inflection and style.

Gerald Garcia is one of the true masters of solo guitar at any level much less Brazilian. (This album was recorded in 1988.)

So treat yourself to the best 72'46" of listening pleasure.

Bonfa and Jobim: what a double header!.......2001-06-07

I met the two of them in the past. I saw their shows and I bought their recordings. They never disappointed me, on the contrary: I always was amazed by their style and classy quality of sound. Now they return, together, to make us enjoy life in this way and mode: pleasantness in sound. If this would not suffice, there is a bonus, the performance of Gerald Garcia. Splendiferous! GF

He's pretty good!.......2000-07-04

This is a nice C.D. Fans of the Brasilian Classical guitar style will love it. Purists will probably have a lot of trouble with it. Gerald Garcia is from Canada originally (don't quote me on that though) - it seems there are still strong academic overtones in his playing. However, it's a great collection of Brasilian pieces which spans classical composers to Bossa nova and in between. What I like about this album is the fact that most pieces presented by Garcia are his own arrangements. It's truly a unique recording (which is rare in the classical guitar world). His greatest work is on the smaller, traditional Brasilian pieces. These are really charming rustic melodies which were first harmonized by Isaias Savio and very easy to play. But, Garcia takes them to a higher level - more technically demanding without ever losing the essence of the original works. In fact, with all due respect to Mestre Savio, they are great improvements on the originals.

There is a generous number of tracks here, displaying the wealth of work by a great guitarist. More importantly, the repetoire on the album moves away from the standard Albeniz, Granados, Tarrega, Sor collections that so many classical guitarists feel compelled to release. The pieces are probably familiar to most classical guitarists who enjoy playing Brasilian music, but, for those who've never heard or played the works of Almeida, Baden-Powell, Savio or Machado it will be a pleasant surprise. And for people who just like nice music, it will be a fantastic investment.

Portrait of an American Girl
Average customer rating:

A Magical Experince

Her voice is one of angels.

Judy's beautiful voice in top form...

Wearing Wings

Judy Collins Fan

Portrait of an American Girl
Judy Collins
Manufacturer: Wildflower
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Wildflowers

ASIN: B0007VF264
Release Date: 2005-04-19

Tracks:

Singing Lessons
That Song About The Midway
I Can't Cry Hard Enough
You Can't Buy Love
Pacing The Cage
Sally Go 'Round The Roses
Voyager
Drops Of Jupiter (Tell Me)
Wedding Song (Song For Louis)
Checkmate
Liberte
Lincoln Portrait
How Can I Keep From Singing

Amazon.com

With her song selection, stately piano accompaniment, and even the soft-focus cover photo, Judy Collins channels the spirit of her 1960s artistry on her first studio album in eight years. Over the decades, her alto vocals have neither lost any of their warmth nor gained much in the way of expressive range. Much of what results is predictably pretty, as Collins's reading of Joni Mitchell's "That Song About the Midway" could pass as a follow-up to her signature rendition of "Both Sides Now," while her revival of "Sally Go 'Round the Roses" evokes similar feelings of folk-era nostalgia. On her own "Singing Lessons" and the a cappella "Wedding Song (Song for Louis)," she delves into New Age spirituality ("I thanked the gods and goddesses for bringing you to me," she sings on the latter) before building to the seven-minute, orchestrated, spoken-word recitation of Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait." For those who loved Collins's albums at her popular peak, this release represents a return to form. --Don McLeese

Product Description

1. Singing Lessons
2. That Song About The Midway
3. Can't Cry Hard Enough
4. You Can't Buy Love
5. Voyager
6. Sally Go 'Round The Roses
7. Pacing The Cage
8. Drops Of Jupiter
9. The Wedding Song
10. Checkmate Liberté
11. Lincoln Portrait
12. How Can I Keep From Singing

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

A Magical Experince.......2007-04-14

I bought this album at Judy's concert in Baton Rogue, LA in October 2006, sorry Amazon. I didn't expect to like it this much I am a huge fan of Ms. Collins, and by the way the concert was amazing! Not since her jewel of an album called, "Fires of Eden" have I devoured a Judy studio album this much. Songs on Portrait that really get to me are Singing Lessons, a song clearly about her beloved son who took his own life. Then there is I Can't Cry Hard Enough, You Can't Buy Love, and the treasure on this collection for me is the song Checkmate then again seems to be an autobiographical account of her son. There is a lyric in Checkmate that touches my own soul so deeply and that is when Judy sings, "I would have saved you if I could..." wow! I really adore this work by Judy. I disagree with the Amazon review because Judy, now at 65 years of age, is a better singer than 20 years ago! Buy this album and for God Sake's if one gets the chance, go see Judy in concert! Her performing like this studio album is a magical experience!

Her voice is one of angels........2006-06-15

I bought this c.d. yesterday and was quite impressed with Judy's still fantastic vocals. The one song that touched me was Liberte. Beautiful and stunning is all I can say about it. Thanks Judy for giving all of us your songs through the ages. 4 decades have passed and you still shine.

Judy's beautiful voice in top form..........2006-03-06

Judy Collins first album of original material in eight years finds her in top form with her silvery voice, and shines best on simple tracks like "Singing Lessons", "I Can't Cry Hard Enough", "Voyager", and "Checkmate", which feature Judy singing with just her piano as accompanyment. "Sally Go Round The Roses", "You Can't Buy Love", and a Joni Mitchell cut "That Song About The Midway" are somewhat nostalgic of her earlier folk recordings from those idyllic 1960's. Her self-penned "Wedding Song", while sung acapella and written for her husband and best friend Louis Nelson, is warm and soothing, and recorded with a bit of reverb. For devout Judy fans, her voice quality is remarkably clear for her 66 years. A stunning album of incredibly grace and beauty, Judy's music continues to improve with each release after a rather dry spell of tepid albums in the late 1970's and early 1980's.

Grab it while you can!

Wearing Wings.......2005-10-19

"Portrait of an American Girl" is a set of new recordings by Judy Collins. Born May 1, 1939, she was 65 years old at the time of this recording. Her crystalline voice is amazing for its lovely quality. This is one of the most beautiful sets released this year, worthy of "best of" lists at the end of the year. She opens with a song she penned, "Singing Lessons," whose lovely melody & her exquisite voice are matched against her piano & lifts the track to a polished performance, "And I heard you say death is just a dream; Make your songs again, you must always sing." When Judy Collins scored her only top ten hit with Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" that went to #8 in 1968, she was one of the first champions of Joni Mitchell's music. Her version in this set of Joni's "That Song About the Midway" is superb as Judy's voice floats high, "Wearing wings, you looked so grand, wearing wings; Do you tape them to your shoulders just to sing?" A girl group from the Bronx called The Jaynettes had a #2 hit with "Sally Go Round the Roses" in 1963. Judy makes this sound like a long-lost folk tune rather than an early-60s rock hit, "The saddest thing in this whole wide world is to see your baby with another girl." Bruce Cockburn recorded "Pacing the Cage" for his CD "The Charity of Night"; and it was also recorded by Jimmy Buffett. When Judy sings, "I've proven who I am so many times, the magnetic strip's worn thin," we feel a sense of tiredness in her expression, although it's never hinted at in her voice. "I Can't Cry Hard Enough" was recorded by Victoria Williams whose high-pitched vibrato embraced the tune on her 1990 "Swing the Statue" CD. With Judy Collins, it packs an elegant punch. Train's "Drops of Jupiter" may seem like an unusual choice, but like the classic song stylist she is, Judy makes it fit her like a glove. Collins' "Voyager" is a lovely song with her elegant piano, "Morning came today and you are here." "Portrait of an American Girl" is a gorgeous set, a cause for celebration for Judy Collins fans old & new. Bravo!

Judy Collins Fan.......2005-10-07

As a fan of Judy Collins, I especially enjoyed this CD. Her voice is so easy to listen to and the words really speak to me.
For anyone that enjoys true music,not just noise, I recommend this CD.

Aaron Copland: Lincoln Portrait; Old American Songs

Average customer rating:

Vintage Americana

Aaron Copland: Lincoln Portrait; Old American Songs

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00000E8NJ
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

A Railroad Ballad For Orchestra
Lincoln Portrait
The Promise Of Living
The Boatmen's Dance/The Dodger/Long Time Ago/Simple Gifts/I Bought Me A Cat
Jubilee Variations
Ceremonial Fanfare
An Outdoor Overture

Customer Reviews:

Vintage Americana.......2006-09-08

This album is a wonderful collection of lesser heard Copland gems. The performances have the excitement one always expects from Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops, and it is ever a special treat to hear Sherrill Milnes. A very enjoyable CD.

Average customer rating:

The Best of 1930s Modernism
A happy revival of music by an exceptional talent

Ruth Crawford Seeger: Portrait

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Ruth Crawford Seeger: Violin Sonata; Piano Pieces; Two Ricercari; Sandburg Songs
The World of Ruth Crawford Seeger
Seeger: Two Movements for Chamber Orchestra/Musgrave: Chamber Concerto No. 2/Mekeel: Planh/Corridors of Dreams
Ruth Crawford Seeger: A Composer's Search for American Music
Study of Counterpoint

ASIN: B000001GXW
Release Date: 1998-01-27

Tracks:

Music For Small Orchestra(1926): I. Slow, Pensive
Music For Small Orchestra(1926): II. In Roguish Humor. Not Fast
Three Chants(1930): 1. To An Unkind God
Three Chants(1930): 2. To An Angel (With Soprano Solo)
Three Chants(1930): 3. To A Kind God (With Soprano And Alto Solo)
Piano Study In Mixed Accents: Piano Study In Mixed Accents(1930)
Three Songs: 1. Rat Riddles(1930)
Three Songs: 2. Prayers Of Steel(1932)
Three Songs: 3. In Tall Grass(1931)
String Quartet 1931: I. Rubato assai
String Quartet 1931: II. Leggiero
String Quartet 1931: III. Andante
String Quartet 1931: IV. Allegro possibile
2 Ricercare (1932): Sacco, Vanzetti
2 Ricercare (1932): Chinaman, Laundryman
Andante For Strings (1938)
Rissolty Rossolty
John Hardy (1940)
Suite (1952): I. Allegretto
Suite (1952): II. Lento rubato
Suite (1952): III. Allegro possibile-Andante-Allegro-Meno mosso-Tempo primo

Amazon.com

Crawford is a neglected but significant figure in the development of American music in the 20th century. Perhaps it's that she took 15 years off from composing in the middle of her life to help found the American folk revivalist movement carried on by her children Michael, Peggy, and stepson Pete. But her early works define their own new territory next to contemporaries and friends Henry Cowell and Carl Ruggles. With a decidedly proletarian slant, Crawford's earlier works merge folk melodies and forms of meandering clarity and layer them between swirls of chamber dissonance. These include settings of her friend Carl Sandburg's conversational poetry, the political words of Daily Worker writer H.T. Tsiang, the curious and circular patterns in String Quartet No. 1, and the homespun-meets-high-art Rissolty Rossolty. The CD finishes with a song setting by her husband Charles, and her "comeback" work, 1952's Suite for Wind Quartet, which patchworks rolling contemplation, lyrical melody, and forceful irregular rhythms together. --Robin Edgerton

Customer Reviews:

The Best of 1930s Modernism.......2004-01-28

Ruth Crawford Seeger - A Portrait

The male-dominated atmosphere of most of the arts in history has made the search for women's voices often a very difficult one, even for women earlier in this century. So many women of original achievement or promising talent were eclipsed by the men in their lives; think of Alma Mahler for instance, who had a real talent for the human voice, but sublimated it to the promotion of the music of her husband, and then to the promotion of the arts of her other husbands. Sometimes this searching for earlier women's voices leads to the promotion of composers with somewhat dubious abilities such as Amy Beach. But other times it reveals composers of freshness and distinction. Such is the case with Ruth Crawford Seeger. Her output, though small, is some of the most distinctive and original of her generation.

Ruth Crawford began her career in Chicago, at the time, hardly a hotbed of musical experimentation. However, even in this out of the way location, she was able to keep abreast of the new musical experiments in Europe. Music for Small Orchestra represents her music of this time, impressionistic but non-tonal. There are echoes of Ives in the work, as well as Scriabin, and Debussy. The orchestral imagination is distinctive and both works show evidence of considerable formal innovation. The Three Chants continues in this mystical vein, but with even more evidence of development of craft.

In the 1930s Crawford Seeger moved to New York and became active in the most radical wing of American composition. Influenced by iconoclastic composers like Henry Cowell, Varese, Ives, and her husband, Charles Seeger, she adopted a technique of "dissonant counterpoint". This technique, though it tends to be forgotten now in favor of concentration on European serial procedures, was integral in the music of the American radicals. Crawford Seeger's work from this period makes the best case possible for the style, which she uses with facility and ingenuity. The Three Songs for Contralto and instrumental ensemble show her new-found abilities in this style. The work is highly expressive, with a constantly changing background "ostinato"...a truly impressive work.

Crawford Seeger's masterpiece in this style is her String Quartet of 1931. Tightly organized around pithy motives, this is one of the most impressive modernist works written by an American. Her freely atonal style is better developed than the styles of other similar modernists like Copland or Sessions at the time. Yet the work is also marked by logical clarity, and deeply felt emotional content. The Andante in particular is an impressive work and makes an even better string orchestra piece in its 1938 transcription.

As Crawford Seeger and her husband became more and more involved in Marxist politics, their musical interests changed as well. The Adorno influenced aesthetic they had both embraced in the early 30s (modernism in music linked with leftist politics) gave way to a more populist ideal, perhaps reflecting some of the political and artistic concerns in contemporary communist Russia. In any case, both Seegers gave up composing for a long while and became interested in the folk song revival. Moving to the Washington, DC area, the couple worked with Alan and John Lomax at the Smithsonian Institution, helping to collect and arrange a treasury of American folk music. This change to folk music deeply affected the music that Crawford Seeger did write at the time. Rissolty Rossolty from 1939 is an example of a rare piece of music from this time. Written in an idiom that suggests the forms of an Ives piece, with the harmonic restraint of Copland's American period, the work is pleasant, if not as strikingly innovative as her early work.

In the 1950s after taking time off to raise her children, the folk singers Peggy and Pete Seeger, Crawford returned to original composition with the intriguing Suite for Wind Quintet. This work suggests that she was on the brink of discovering a way to mix her early modernist style with her later interest in folk music. The melodies of the Suite are derived from folk music, but highly segmented and manipulated, so that all that remains of the original target tune is the mere suggestion of folkiness. Instead the work resembles a slightly more dissonant French-influenced music, rather like a spiky Poulenc. It is not a masterpiece, but it is an intriguing but ultimately sad picture of the composer. Tragically, she died soon after writing this work.

The performances on this disc are by the Schonberg Ensemble led by Oliver Knussen. They are exemplary. Crawford Seeger is one American composer from this period who I think that European musicians can "get" without much effort. The vocal music is sung by Lucy Shelton, who is terrific in modernist repertoire. I don't think one could ask for a better introduction to this wonderful composer than this disc.

A happy revival of music by an exceptional talent.......2003-12-25

In recent years, there has been something of a revival of interest in the music of Ruth Crawford Seeger, one of the less well known members of the American avant-garde of the first half othe 20th century. This disc collects a variety of her works from her brief career as an active composer--she largely retired from composition in her early 30s to become part of the folk music revival--and demonstrates what an extraordinary talent she had.

Music for Small Orchestra, written in 1926, was her first work for a sizeable ensemble. It is in two movements, a slow first that might remind some of Ives without the eclecticism; and a second, faster movement that develops irregularly. This is a remarkable and very individual orchestral debut, even if the following works on the disc do somewhat put it in the shade.

The Three Chants for Women's Chorus, written four years later, are a remarkable achievement. Written in phonetic speech and complex atonal counterpoint, they are as remarkable for their musical content as for the pre-echoes of later composers that occasionally emerge. Not only are they consistently more radical than most of the European avant-garde of the day, they are also outstanding music in their own right. The outer movements are mostly slow: the first often in two-part counterpoint, the third much more complex and climaxing with a twelve-note cluster; in contrast the central panel is fast and vigorous.

From the same year comes Piano Study in Mixed Accents, an irregularly rhythmic toccata which is great fun if hardly a major achievement.

The Three Songs, written between 1930 and 1932, are written for an ensemble of contralto, oboe, percussion and piano with optional orchestral ostinato. Once again, their radicalism is dramatic and combined with an infectious joy in the sounds the unusual ensemble can create.

Crawford Seeger's most famous work is probably the String Quartet 1931 (in its original form and in the version for string orchestra of the Andante from it). This is a superb work, full of variety, contrast and atmosphere in its four movements. The evocative Andante is the best known part of it, but the rest of the work is on the same elevated level. The orchestral version of the Andante (also recorded here) arguably is even more impressive than the original--a rare case of a transcription that makes its point.

The rest of the disc is more problematical. The Two Ricecare are attempts at avant-garde Leftist agitprop--a ranting vocal line against an unrelated and largely repetitive piano background. Unfortunately they do not reach the heights that, say, Luigi Nono's political music was able to. Rissolty Rossolty (written in 1939) is a brief orchestral fantasy based on folk songs, written in a conservative style and not very interesting. Largely similar in style is John Hardy, written by Crawford Seeger's husband Charles (a far inferior composer to his wife).

The disc ends with the Suite for Wind Quintet, a long-delayed return to concert music from 1952--the year before Crawford Seeger died. This is a sprightly, largely neo-classical work: tuneful and rhythmic but without totally abandoning the modernism of her earlier years. It doesn't strike me as close to the earlier works in quality, but if she had lived, it might have been part of a new beginning for her.

This is a fascinating disc, and for the first half, a remarkable one. Crawford Seeger was, by the standards of her early works, one of the most talented composers of her generation, and these works are unlikely to disappoint anyone interested in the modernist music of her time.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

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