Americans in Rome
Music by Fellows of the American Academy in Rome
BRIDGE 9271A/D
BBC Music Choice Award
This four disc collection contains works by thirty-seven composers who were all in residence at the American Academy in Rome. The earliest work dates from 1920, the most recent from 2003. Composers include the well known: Samuel Barber, Elliott Carter, and Roger Sessions; the largely forgotten: Charles Naginski, Alexander Lang Steinert, Walter Helfer; and many of today's most active voices: Robert Beaser, David Rakowski, Aaron Jay Kernis, Paul Moravec, Stephen Hartke, and David Lang. Curated by Donald Berman, the disc features performances by many of today's leading performers of contemporary music, including Richard Stoltzman, Yehudi Wyner, Susan Narucki, Tony Arnold, Fred Sherry, Daniel Druckman, Curtis Macomber, Trio Solisti, Ida Kavafian, Scott Yoo, Steven Tenenbom, Peter Wiley, Anne-Marie McDermott, Hila Plitman, Chris Pedro Trakas, and Jeffrey Milarsky.
Reviews:
“Since 1921, the American Academy in Rome has offered annual residencies to American composers at formative stages of their career. Thirty-seven of them are represented in this four-disc set, lavishly annotated and with high standards of performance and recording. If you have even a passing interest in 20th-century music, you’ll want to explore this rich seam of American musical history and choose your own favorites.” - BBC Music Magazine (BBC Music Choice Award)
“This release is on, a number of levels, highly significant. The production seems to reflect this intention, with superb performances in excellent recordings, and a dense, very well-written set of program notes. I cannot think of another set of recordings that so deftly and thoughtfully attempts an overview of the evolution of American art music, in all of its range and great energy.” - Fanfare
“An extensive and enjoyable collection of American music nurtured in Rome. There are plenty of worthwhile discoveries here: The Moravec, Hartke, Steinert, Wyner and Shapero works in particular, and all receive outstanding advocacy.” - Gramophone
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DISC A
Vocal Music
Robert Beaser: Four Dickinson Songs (2002)
Hila Plitman, soprano; Donald Berman, piano
Samuel Barber: In the Dark Pinewood (1937), Beggar's Song (1936), Of That So Sweet Imprisonment (1935), Sleep Now (1936)
Randall Thomson: Siciliano (1978)
Ezra Laderman: Songs from Michelangelo No. 1 (1967)
Derek Bermel: Spider Love (1999)
Jack Beeson: Prescription for Living, 1978
Charles Naginski: Look Down, Fair Moon (1940)
Leo Sowerby: The Forest of the Dead Trees (1920)
David Rakowski: For Wittgenstein (1996)
Vittorio Giannini: There Were Two Swans (1943)
Scott Lindroth: The Dolphins (1995)
Susan Narucki, soprano; Chris Pedro Trakas, baritone
Donald Berman, piano
Roger Sessions: Two Tableaux and Malinche's Aria from Montezuma(1964)
Arr. By Richard Aldag, Susan Narucki, soprano
Chamber Ensemble, Jeffrey Milarsky, conductor
Elliott Carter: Warble for Lilac Time (1943/1979),
Voyage (1943/1979)
Tony Arnold, soprano
Colorado College Summer Music Festival Orchestra
Scott Yoo, conductor
DISC B
Music for Strings and Piano
Aaron Jay Kernis: Mozart en Route (1991)
Ida Kavafian, violin; Steven Tenenbom, viola
Peter Wiley, cello
Paul Moravec: Passacaglia (2003)
Trio Solisti: Maria Bachmann, violin
Alexis Pia Gerlach, cello; Jon Klibonoff, piano
Arthur Levering: Tesserae (2000)
Jonathan Bagg, viola; Donald Berman, piano
John Anthony Lennon: Sirens (1992)
Trio Solisti
Alexander Lang Steinert: Violin Sonata (1929)
Sunghae Anna Lim, violin; Donald Berman, piano
Martin Bresnick: Three Intermezzi (1971)
Ole Akahoshi, cello
Stephen Hartke: Beyond Words (2002)
Opus One Piano Quartet: Ida Kavafian, vln.
Steven Tenenbom, viola; Peter Wiley, cello
Anne-Marie McDermott, piano
DISC C
Music for Piano Solo
Lukas Foss: Fantasy Rondo (1944)
Kamran Ince: My Friend Mozart (1987)
George Rochberg: Bagatelles (1952)
Walter Helfer: Nocturne (1927)
Tamar Diesendruck: Sound Reasoning in the Tower of Babel (1990)
Hunter Johnson: Piano Sonata (1936)
Mark Wingate: Sombras (1995)
Billy Jim Layton: Three Studies for Piano, Op. 5 (1957)
Loren Rush: Oh, Susanna (1970)
Donald Berman, piano
DISC D
Music for Winds and Piano
Yehudi Wyner: Commedia (2002)
Richard Stoltzman, clarinet; Yehudi Wyner, piano
David Lang: Vent (1990)
Patti Monson, flute; Donald Berman, piano
Andrew Imbrie: Dandelion Wine (1967)
Collage Music Ensemble, David Hoose, conductor
Lee Hyla: Pre-Amnesia (1979),
Mythic Birds of Saugerties (1985)
Tim Smith, Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet
Bun-Ching Lam: (solo) = (duo) (1977)
Patti Monson, flute
James Mobberley: Beams (1986)
John Leisenring, trombone, with tape
Howard Hanson: Pastorale for Oboe and Piano (1949)
Laura Ahlbeck, oboe; Donald Berman, piano
Harold Shapero: Six for Five Wind Quintet (1995)
The Curiously Strong Wind Quintet
BRIDGE 9271A/D (four discs for the price of three)