Songs of Innocence and of Experience

Songs of Innocence and of Experience

Track Listings

1. Introduction

2. Lamb

3. Infant Joy

4. Chimney Sweeper

5. Ecchoing Green

6. Night

7. On Anothers Sorrow

8. Tyger

9. Angel

10. Garden of Love

11. Infant Sorrow

12. Holy Thursday

13. Ah! Sun-Flower

14. Little Vagabond

15. Poison Tree

16. London

Songs of Innocence and of Experience,Greg Brown,Red House,Contemporary Folk,Contemporary Singer/Songwriter,Folk & Traditional,Pop,Singer/Songwriter

William Bolcom - Songs of Innocence and of Experience (William Blake) / Slatkin, University of Michigan School of Music
Average customer rating:

A supremely moving work of art

Enjoyable?

Remarkable performance

Thankyou...

An Excellent Example of Modern American Composition

William Bolcom - Songs of Innocence and of Experience (William Blake) / Slatkin, University of Michigan School of Music
Ilana Davidson , Nathan Lee Graham , Leonard Slatkin , Joan Morris , Carmen Pelton , and Nmon Ford
Manufacturer: Naxos American
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Bolcom, William | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

On the Transmigration of Souls

Osvaldo Golijov: Ayre

William Bolcom: Songs

Mendelssohn: The Complete String Quartets / Emerson String Quartet

William Bolcom: Symphony No. 1; Symphony No. 3; Seatlle Slew Orchestral Suite

ASIN: B000641YZK
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Tracks:

Introduction - Thomas Young
The Ecchoing Green - Combined Choruses
The Lamb - Measha Brueggergosman
The Shepherd - Peter 'Madcat' Ruth
Infant Joy - Marietta Simpson
The Little Black Boy - Nathan Lee Graham
Laughing Song - U-M Chamber Choir
Spring - Thomas Young
A Cradle Song - Linda Hohenfeld
Nurse's Song - Joan Morris
Holy Thursday - Combined Choruses
The Blossom - Measha Brueggergosman
Interlude - Orchestra
The Chimney Sweeper - Nathan Lee Graham
The Divine Image - Joan Morris
Nocturne - Orchestra
Night - Thomas Young
A Dream - Ilana Davidson
On Another's Sorrow - Combined Choruses
The Little Boy Lost - Carmen Pelton
The Little Boy Found - Nathan Lee Graham
Coda - Orchestra

Tracks:

Introduction - Orchestra
Hear The Voice Of The Bard - Nmon Ford
Interlude - Orchestra
Earth's Answer - Christine Brewer
Nurse's Song - Joan Morris
The Fly - MSU Children's Choir
The Tyger - Combined Choruses
The Little Girl Lost - Nmon Ford
In The Southern Clime - U-M Chamber Choir
The Little Girl Found - Combined Choruses
The Clod And The Pebble - Thomas Young
The Little Vagabond - Joan Morris
Holy Thursday - Carmen Pelton
A Poisin Tree - Nathan Lee Graham
The Angel - Ilana Davidson
The Sick Rose - Marietta Simpson
To Tirzah - Combined Choruses

Tracks:

The Voice Of The Ancient Bard - Nmon Ford
My Pretty Rose Tree - Chorus Men
Ah! Sun-Flower - U-M Chamber Choir
The Lilly - Thomas Young
Introduction To Part V - Orchestra
The Garden Of Love - Thomas Young
A Little Boy Lost - Carmen Pelton
A Little Girl Lost - Christine Brewer
Infant Sorrow - U-M Chamber Choir Soloists
Vocalise - Combined Choruses
London - Nathan Lee Graham
The School Boy - Linda Hohenfeld
The Chimney Sweeper - U-M Chamber Choir
The Human Abstract - Nmon Ford
Interlude: Voces Clamandae - Orchestra
A Divine Image - Soloists

Amazon.com

Bolcom's dream of setting Blake's poems to music began when he fell under their spell as a teenager; he worked on the composition of Songs of Innocence and of Experience on and off for 25 years, completing it in 1982. This live recording celebrates the 20th anniversary of the work's American premiere. Following an early edition of the poems that assigns them a different order from the customary one, he created nine movements to form "a series of arches." Blake's own principle of "contraries" and his use of many poetic traditions is a perfect counterfoil for Bolcom's eclecticism, which encompasses styles ranging from solemn chorales, lush romanticism, abrasive, dissonant modernism, to jazz, folk, country, and rock. His interpretation of the poems, which he calls "A Musical Illumination," is sometimes startling, but always interesting, highly personal, and unquestionably sincere. Some of the settings enhance and heighten the poems, entering deeply into their spirit and mood. Others seem at variance with them: "The Lilly," a peaceful, serene poem, set to crashing, aggressive music, is an extreme example, and some stratospheric, jagged soprano lines seem to add nothing to the text. For some of the most arresting, convincing settings, Bolcom uses his well-known and beloved cabaret style, sung to perfection by his wife and partner, mezzo-soprano Joan Morris. Indeed, the entire performance is beyond praise. The work calls for a whole army of participants: several choruses, including a children's choir, a dozen vocal soloists, a speaker, a harmonica player, a fiddler, and a huge symphony orchestra augmented by electronic instruments and extra brass and percussion. The last produce a large number of terrifying explosions, both between and within the songs, as well as fascinating sound effects, like imitations of running water, delicate tinkles, and ominous roars and rumbles. The singers are superb; the women contribute incredible coloratura leaps, melting lyricism, caressing warmth, while the men include a heroic tenor, a commanding baritone, and sometimes sung, sometimes spoken scatting. Leonard Slatkin holds his enormous forces together with total control and authority. --Edith Eisler

Album Description

William Blake's Songs of Innocence and of Experience date from the turbulent period in English and American history when the United States was in its infancy. Occupying 25 years of William Bolcom's compositional life, his "musical illuminations," inspired by Blake's own wide panoply of poetic styles in the cycle, travel thrillingly from intense dissonance to folk, rock, and reggae to encompass the breadth of the Blakean spiritual universe.

Customer Reviews:

A supremely moving work of art.......2007-02-26

I am writing this not as a music critic but as someone who has enjoyed William Blake's poetry for most of my life. I bought this CD because of Blake's poetry. I realized that of late I had not been reading poetry or enjoying it as much as when I was younger. I became hooked right away and I have been playing this CD over and over again for more than a month. I can't listen to any other piece of music. Some of the pieces are better than others, but everything sung by Nathan Lee Graham is moving beyond words (at least any words I know). So I think anyone who enjoys poetry, the English language, history, ideas or the human voice will enjoy listening to this CD over and over again. This music has touched me like no other piece of music ever. I think the artists, particularly Nathan Lee Graham, should all become rich and famous. I was even thinking that A Divine Image should be released as a single. I think it would go to #1, with a bullet.

Enjoyable?.......2006-06-20

By what measure should we judge a piece of music? Should it be by its level of complexity? by its technicality? by the level of emotion it conveys, or does not? Or should a piece of music be judged solely upon whether or not we, as listeners, enjoy it?

Like it or not, music has almost always been judged by whether or not we, as listeners, enjoy it - but what gets factored into our personal enjoyment of a piece of music is many things, including, but not limited to, whether or not we appreciate its complexity, technicality, and how effective it is at conveying its purpose. When most people discuss music, when they talk about what they like or what they don't like, they often mention qualities of the music which suited them or which rubbed them the wrong way.

Bolcom's Songs of Innocence... is one such piece of music that I, as a listener, am confused over. I'm not sure if I like it, but I'm quite positive that I don't dislike or even hate it. As a whole, I find that I'm fairly displeased with the overall result, yet, on a closer inspection, I find that I am quite pleased with each of its parts; therefore, it's a bit of a paradox to find that I enjoy each and every part but not the summation its parts. The truth is, when looking at this piece of music as a whole, it utterly boggles the mind because it is, in truth, so large and it covers so much ground musically and lyrically that it's quite impossible to absorb it all in one sitting, in one listening. To just say that Songs of Innocence opens with a fairly standard aria surrounded by orchestral accompaniment and ends, over 2 hours later, with a reggae-sounding song is not enough because in between the beginning and end, Bolcom includes other genres ranging from rock, country, jazz, and soul...and of course, "classical."

This piece of music has been described as representing all of the 20th century's achievements in music in one fell swoop. But just because it does so, does that insinuate that it deserves to win a Grammy, as it did in 2006, and does it deserve the laud and praise it is receiving? A serious part of me wishes to say 'no' because I feel I've heard better pieces of music from the 20th century. Sure, Mahler's 9th Symphony does not capture the whole of the 20th century within its 1 1/2 hour grasp, neither does any of Shostakovich's or Robert Simpson's symphonies. And so, I'm forced to resign myself to the fact that Bolcom has created an astonishing achievement with this work.

But, as monolithic as it may be in size and in scope, there are moments when it does not feel entirely cohesive, and there are moments, during the latter half, when I honestly wanted the disc to hurry up and finish for no other reason than I felt like I was being presented the same material and the same concepts over and over and over again. However, in terms of technicality and complexity, Bolcom has taken a series of poems and created something wholly other and enjoyable out of them. He even does a fantastic job of conveying the emotion of each unique poem by arranging music around it that fits like a glove. Is it enjoyable to listen to? It is, for the most part, but, as I've already said, it can seem to run a bit long at times. On the whole, though, I do recommend this disc to anyone interested. If Bolcom is remembered for nothing else in 50-100 years, it will be this piece of music.

Remarkable performance.......2006-04-17

As a graduate of the University of Michigan (some time ago) who attended every single performance of both student orchestras while a student, I was eager to hear how the kids played in this Grammy performance. In short, the performance is simply magnificant.

This is not easy music to listen to or play and it is unlike any of the Bolcom music I had heard before. It has a multitude of styles, colors, tonalities, etc. With each listening, however, I hear and appreciate more of this complex piece.

The (professional) soloists are generally excellent with occassional poor diction. The chorus is outstanding, but the orchestra and music steal the show.

Thankyou..........2006-03-26

...to J. Scott Morrison, Grady Harp et al whose glowing reviews prompted me to buy this work by a composer I only otherwise knew by reputation. As I only purchased it today, I know it will be a CD that will require many further listenings. It's a veritable "crazy-quilt" of a work that traverses many styles and idioms. I was a bit reticent about buying a disc performed by music school students (I myself was one once) - not that I thought they wouldn't be talented, just maybe not quite good enough. I have put this (unwarranted) prejudice aside, however, as the performances are excellent. The vocalists in particular (all of them) are outstanding.
Altogether a thoroughly interesting and original piece of music.

An Excellent Example of Modern American Composition.......2006-02-17

I had the double pleasure of hearing a performance of this live in Ann Arbor AND purchasing the CD for subsequent enjoyment.

Bolcolm's composition, though somewhat dated (in the notes above you can see that this was actually written some time back) is still very fresh in 2006.

The use of seeming disparate forms of music (check out the raggae ending juxtaposed against some fairly depressing wording) has a "World Music" feel.

The University of Michigan Choirs, in spite of numbering over 400 on stage and on the CD still manage to produce a clear sound. A strong testimony to the quality of the directors of those choirs.

BRAVO- This truly deserved the recent Grammy recognition.

Average customer rating:

Great CD for listening or teaching
If you don't know Greg B. don't buy this one
Really like it
William Blake Covers

Songs of Innocence and of Experience
Greg Brown
Manufacturer: Red House
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Blues | Styles | Music

Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

In the Dark with You
The Iowa Waltz
Honey in the Lion's Head
In the Hills of California
The Evening Call

ASIN: B000001B85
Release Date: 1992-03-23

Tracks:

Introduction
The Lamb
Infant Joy
The Chimney Sweeper
The Ecchoing Green
Night
On Anothers Sorrow
The Tyger
The Angel
The Garden Of Love
Infant Sorrow
Holy Thursday
Ah! Sun-Flower
The Little Vagabond
A Poison Tree
London

Customer Reviews:

Great CD for listening or teaching.......2003-05-20

I think this is a wonderful CD for fans of Brown, Blake, or folk music in general. William Blake's poems set -- word for word -- to accordian, harmonica, pan pipes, mandolin, and guitar. Beautifully arranged. I have given this album as a gift to English majors and played it in class for students--a great resource for teachers. One English professor called the CD "dull" and found "every song the same." I suppose she has a point -- many of the songs do tend to blur together after a while -- but I think his covers of "Introduction" and "The Tyger" stand out very well. I think this would be a great CD for kids -- it's a pretty mellow album overall, great for nighttime listening -- and a fun way to introduce children to poetry.

If you don't know Greg B. don't buy this one.......2002-04-26

I purchased this CD 8 years ago because I had heard good things about Greg Brown. It is packed full of super cheesy songs and quickly turned me off. It wasn't until 2 years ago that I checked out Greg again and once exposed to his other albums I fell in love immediately. If you like super cheesy go ahead, but if you want to know what Greg Brown is about I recommend The Live One.

Really like it.......2001-06-26

Although Brown has said in many interviews that he'd rather forget this cd, I really liked it and it made me like evn more Blake's masterpiece. It's naive and touching and different from brown's output in general, although his great voice is still here.

William Blake Covers.......1999-01-06

A labor of love, not for his musical influences, but for some of the poetry that inspires Greg Brown's songwriting and his life. Sixteen of Blake's Songs of Innocence & Experience interpreted beautifully by Brown- I can no longer read the poems without humming the tunes. With exceptional guitar, mandolin, and violin arrangements, Browns barritone voice has more range than on more recent CDs. Brown has long been the voice of rural Iowa Joy, and rural Iowa Sorrow. Lucky to have one of us talking poetry along with the weather in the cafes. I listen to this CD as much as any of his others. One more thing- great CD cover with the Innocence of his sleeping daughter and almost refrigerator repairman Experience of Brown.

Songs of Innocence and Experience - Hope and Science

Average customer rating:

Great If You Like Positive Electronica!

Songs of Innocence and Experience - Hope and Science
The Echoing Green
Manufacturer: A Different Drum
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Music From the Ocean Picture
The Story of Our Lives
If I Could...
The Evergreen Collection
The Winter of Our Discontent

ASIN: B000FG6C2E
Release Date: 2006-04-20

Tracks:

Science Fiction (when you smile)
Aurora (fact or fiction mix)
Ambler (demo)
Brand New Day (live)
Prodigal
Aurora (nightime for blue mix)
Candy Cane Carraige/Beleive
Arrival (wavegate anthem mix)
Aurora (aleixa meatshop mix)
End of the Day (micro-rythym meltdown)
Answer Me (live)
Arrival (hope mix)
End of the Day (eg vs. virus mix)
Aurora (chambermix)

Product Description

This double-disc is a re-mastered, re-release of two albums by The Echoing Green which have been out-of-print for several years. The "Hope Springs Eternal" album, produced by American synthpop legend Seven Red Seven, and the fan-only rarities collection called "Science Fiction" are available once again with eye-popping new artwork and a better sound for fans both new and old.

Customer Reviews:

Great If You Like Positive Electronica!.......2007-01-10

I just don't see any other music but electronica. And this group is way talented. Ive only been listening for almost two years and i cant believe how many albums and songs this group has manufactured! my life is real 'go' and busy a lot and these guys are what cause me to stay focused on positive and lifely like character.

Average customer rating:

Songs of Innocence and Experience
The Emotions
Manufacturer: Stax UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Disco | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

Quiet Storm | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0002F10SY
Release Date: 2004-08-02

Tracks:

Shouting Out Love
Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)
I Really Miss You
(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right [#]
What You See Is What You Get [Mono Version]
Touch of Your Lips [Mono Version]
There Are More Questions Than Answers
I Wanna Come Back
What Do You Do [#]
I Call This Loving You
Swearing Out a Warrant [Mono Version][#]
I've Fallen in Love [Mono Version]
Baby I'm Through
Any Way You Look at It
Put a Little Love Away
Runnin' Back (And Forth)
You've Got Me Going Through a Thing [#]
As Long as I've Got You [#][Demo Version]
Innocent
Ain't No Sunshine
Somebody Will if You Won't [#]
What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas?
Black Christmas

Album Details

For the First Time Anywhere, an Expanded Approximation of the Emotions' Twice Scheduled, Twice Cancelled 1972 Volt Album.

Average customer rating:

A Salute to American Music

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000E6PK
Release Date: 1992-12-01

Average customer rating:

The Music Tree: Solo Songs by Betty Roe

Manufacturer: Somm Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000006B6T
Release Date: 1998-03-31

Average customer rating:

the future of punk as we know it

Songs of Innocence and of Experience
Adequate Seven
Manufacturer: Household Name
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Ska General | Ska | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00008KCN1
Release Date: 2007-03-12

Tracks:

Shape of Funk to Come
Human Condition
Gotta Stay Focused
Choices
Minor Details
Everybody Hates
Protest Beat
Grassroots Resistance
State We're In
Meltdown
No Space
Pop Idle
Free the Adequate Seven

Customer Reviews:

the future of punk as we know it.......2004-02-04

Hailing from Cardiff, South Wales this seven piece fuse punk and funk to deliver innovatave groove driven hardcore. The lyrics are political and inteligent while delivered with passion, so you can stroke your chin while jumping up and down. (more difficult than it sounds). Two guitars fill out the sound while a trombone and trumpet weave complex melodies over the top. Underpinning all this is a very tight and funky rhythm section. In less talented hands this conconction might me messy and chaotic, thankfully these boys know what they are doing and the result is innovative and intelligent but far from lacking in pure visceral rage. Their live shows are a step up again, i think they are touring in Europe soon and are well worth checking out.

Average customer rating:

Songs Of Innocence & Experience
Atilla & Dave Project
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000P1PW98

Product Description

14 Tracks

Average customer rating:

songs of innocence songs of experience

Manufacturer: bepop records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000AO6K8M

Average customer rating:

Songs of Innocence and Experience
Attila & Dave Project
Manufacturer: Attila and Dave
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000P6G9PE

Product Description

The first full-length independent release from 1996. Universally acclaimed as one of the finest independent "progressive" releases of that year, it is the first true document of the band's diversity and range. This CD is available in extremely limited quantity as another pressing is doubtful in the near future, and any future re-pressing will be remixed and remastered.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Recommended Music:

Circle Is Tight [Explicit Lyrics]

Heart's Solace

Great Marches, Vol. 9

Music: Revival In Belfast II

Iem [Import]

King of Crunk & Bme Recordings Present: Lil Scrappy & Trillville Chopped & Screwed [Explicit Lyrics]

Higher Ground

Island in the Sun [CD-single]

Kigatsukeba Anata [Limited Edition] [Import]

Honegger: Symphony No. 3 ("Liturgique"), etc.

Grover Mitchell Big Band

Fuera de Serie [Explicit Lyrics]

I Try, Pt. 2 [CD-single] [Import]

Music of William Grant Still

Philadelphia Chickens