Liner Notes
Cat. No. NWCR767
Release Date: 1997-01-01
Robert Nagel Brass Trio: Robert Nagel and Robert Heinrich, trumpets; John Swallow, trombone; Members of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra: Romuald Teco, violin; Priscilla Rybka, French horn; Peter Howard, cello; Richard E. Killmer, oboe; Timothy J. Paradise, clarinet; Layton James, piano; William McGlaughlin, conductor; Catherine Rowe, soprano; Arthur Weisberg, Conductor; Iowa Brass Quintet: John Beer, Robert Levy, trumpets; Paul Anderson, French horn; John Hill, trombone; Robert Yeats, tuba); New York Brass and Woodwind Ensemble: Henry Schuman, oboe; Lois Schaefer, flute; Charles Russo, clarinet; Raymond Alonge and Ralph Froelich, French horns; Morris Newman, bassoon; Robert Nagel and Robert Heinrich, trumpets; John Swallow, trombone; Harvey Philips, tuba; Charles Birch, percussion; Emanuel Balaban, conductor; Albert De Ruiter, narrator: Patricia Price, soprano; Rosalind Rees, soprano; David Hudson, tenor; The Peabody Conservatory Chorus and Orchestra; Gregg Smith, conductor
On the occasion of the composer’s sixtieth Birthday, critic John Rockwell noted that “William Mayer’s music sings out with real beauty.” Sometimes it is choral voices that “sing out” as in his Spring Came on Forever, written for the New York City Choral Society, or this The Eve of St. Agnes (John Keats), which closes this CD. Other times Mayer’s lyrical voice is heard in full-scale dramatic works such as his operas A Death in The Family and One Christmas Long Ago and his ballet The Snow Queen. And more often than not, humor and propulsive rhythms are found side by side with poignant passages. The sudden juxtaposition of contrasting moods is a key element in major works such as Octagon (1971) for piano and orchestra premiered by Leopold Stokowski and pianist William Masselos (available on CRI CD 584); Inner and Outer Strings, (1982) recorded by conductor Gerard Schwarz; and Of Rivers and Trains (1988), an orchestral evocation of the Erie Canal and the early Hudson River stream trains.
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Liner notes are accessible via the link above.
On the occasion of the composer’s sixtieth Birthday, critic John Rockwell noted that “William Mayer’s music sings out with real beauty.” Sometimes it is choral voices that “sing out” as in his Spring Came on Forever, written for the New York City Choral Society, or this The Eve of St. Agnes (John Keats), which closes this CD. Other times Mayer’s lyrical voice is heard in full-scale dramatic works such as his operas A Death in The Family and One Christmas Long Ago and his ballet The Snow Queen. And more often than not, humor and propulsive rhythms are found side by side with poignant passages. The sudden juxtaposition of contrasting moods is a key element in major works such as Octagon (1971) for piano and orchestra premiered by Leopold Stokowski and pianist William Masselos (available on CRI CD 584); Inner and Outer Strings, (1982) recorded by conductor Gerard Schwarz; and Of Rivers and Trains (1988), an orchestral evocation of the Erie Canal and the early Hudson River stream trains.
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Liner notes are accessible via the link above.
Music of William Mayer
| MP3/320 | $9.99 | |
| FLAC | $9.99 | |
| WAV | $9.99 | |
| CD-R | $9.99 |
A *.pdf of the notes may be accessed here free of charge.
Track Listing
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Country Fair
William Mayer
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Buy
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Dream's End: I. Extremes
William Mayer
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Buy
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Dream's End: II. Mostly Clarinet
William Mayer
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Buy
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Dream's End: III. Buzzings
William Mayer
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Buy
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Dream's End: IV. A 20th Century Guest at an 18th Century Musicale, Interlude of Air
William Mayer
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Buy
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Dream's End: V. Appalachian Echoes
William Mayer
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Buy
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Dream's End: VI. Burlesca (Funicula ridicula)
William Mayer
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Buy
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Dream's End: VII. Mostly Piano
William Mayer
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Buy
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Dream's End: VIII. Dream's End
William Mayer
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Buy
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Khartoum
William Mayer
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Buy
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Brass Quintet: I. Poco presto
William Mayer
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Buy
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Brass Quintet: II. Elegy - Very slowly
William Mayer
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Buy
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Brass Quintet: III. Con moto e pesante
William Mayer
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Buy
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Brass Quintet: IV. Dance - Poco presto
William Mayer
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Buy
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Miniatures: I. Deeply Down
William Mayer
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Buy
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Miniatures: II. Land of Dead Dreams
William Mayer
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Buy
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Miniatures: III. Fireworks
William Mayer
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Buy
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Miniatures: IV. Prophetic Soul
William Mayer
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Buy
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Miniatures: V. Isn't There Some Mistake?
William Mayer
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Buy
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Miniatures: VI. "...For No Man"
William Mayer
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Buy
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Two News Items: I. "Hastily Formed Contemporary Music Ensemble Reveals Origins"
William Mayer
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Buy
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Two News Items: II. "Distraught Soprano Undergoes Unfortunate Transformation"
William Mayer
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Buy
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Essay for Brass and Winds: I. Un poco lento - Moderato - Allegro moderato
William Mayer
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Buy
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Essay for Brass and Winds: II. Allegro ma non troppo
William Mayer
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Buy
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Eve of St. Agnes
William Mayer
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Buy
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