The New York Concert Singers Judith Clurman, conductor Melanie Feld, oboe; Susan Jolles, harp; Margaret Kampmeier, piano; Lois Martin, viola
"A model of choral virtue." - The New York Times
The striking array of works conducted by Judith Clurman on this-New World's first Christmas recording-opens a window onto the many facets of a contemporary American Christmas. Most of these compositions were first performed at one of the annual Christmas-tree-lighting ceremonies at Lincoln Center, where Clurman has directed music-making since 1992, and many were commissioned for those events.
The carols and anthems of Christmas can be American or European, brand new or very old, and the works on this recording pay tribute to this eclectic ancestry, albeit in very different ways. Some, such as Wayne Oquin's Ave Maria or Ned Rorem's While All Things Were in Quiet Silence, have texts drawn from church liturgy and music with clear historic precedents in anthems and motets of the European tradition. Others focus on the holiday's secular mythology, whether the joy of caroling with friends, as in Joan Morris and William Bolcom's Carol: Neighbors on this Frosty Tide, or human decency, as in Jennifer Higdon's Deep in the Night.
A more satisfying program of Christmas music, ecumenical and brimming with the joy and hope of the season, will be hard to find.
A Season's Promise
MP3/320 | $17.00 | |
FLAC | $17.00 | |
WAV | $17.00 | |
CD-R+ | $27.00 |
A *.pdf of the notes may also be accessed here free of charge.
Track Listing
Ave Maria
Wayne Oquin
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While All Things Were in Quiet Silence
Ned Rorem
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The Shepherds and The Kings
Ruth Fox Hume
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Carol ("Neighbors on this frosty tide")
William Bolcom
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Three Nativity Carols: I. The Holly and The Ivy
Stephen Paulus
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Three Nativity Carols: II. This Endris Night
Stephen Paulus
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Three Nativity Carols: III. Wonder Tidings
Stephen Paulus
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Lo, The Messiah
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
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So Blessedly It Sprung
Libby Larsen
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O My Deir Hert
Virgil Thomson
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O Magnum Mysterium
Morten Lauridsen
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Wishes and Candles
Stephen Paulus
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Sing Christmas!
Philip Lasser
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Deep in The Night
Jennifer Higdon
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Behold The Star
Thomas Cabaniss
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A Season's Promise
Dave Conner
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All Together
Lance Horne
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