Works by Ernst Bacon, Theodore Chanler, Norman Dello Joio, Robert Evett, Irving Fine, Lee Hoiby, John Jacob Niles, Ned Rorem, and Robert Ward
William Parker, baritone; Dalton Baldwin, piano; William Huckaby, piano
Among those who have made a specialty of song, the names Virgil Thomson (1896-1989), Ernst Bacon (1898-1990), Theodore Chanler (1902-1961), Samuel Barber (1910-1981), Robert Ward (b 1917), William Flanagan (1923-1969), and Ned Rorem (b 1923) stand out. One thing they all have in common the ability to set the texts in such a way that a singer can make them understood. And in general they have been fastidious in choosing poetry apt for musical setting. The American song, with roots, as we have seen, in the German Lied and the French ḿelodie, has become a literature in its own right.
In this program William Parker goes beyond the field of song—defined by Ned Rorem as "a lyrical poem of moderate length set to music for single voice and piano" (from "Writing Songs," in Music From Inside Out). Though Rorem himself has been more productive and more successful than most in adhering to these limitations, he has by no means confined himself, but has composed in a variety of mediums. His Mourning Scene, for voice and string quartet (recorded here), is by his own definition a scena, as is Billy in the Darbies, for voice, clarinet, string quartet, and piano, by Robert Evett (1922-1975); and for voice and piano by Ernst Bacon. And the scene from Summer and Smoke demonstrates that Lee Hoiby (b 1926) has applied some of the techniques of song writing to opera.
William Parker (1943-1993) studied with Pierre Bernac and Rosa Ponselle. He won first prize at the Kennedy Center-Rockefeller Foundation International Competition in 1979. He also won first prize at the Toulouse International Competition and at the Paris International Singing Competition.
The Listeners
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Track Listing
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Mourning Scene
Ned Rorem
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Ballad (from Pantaloon--He Who Gets Slapped)
Robert Ward
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Anatomy Lesson and scene from Summer and Smoke
Lee Hoiby
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Four Rhymes from Peacock Pie: The Ship of Rio
Theodore Chanler
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Four Rhymes from Peacock Pie: Old Shellover
Theodore Chanler
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Four Rhymes from Peacock Pie: Cake and Sack
Theodore Chanler
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Four Rhymes from Peacock Pie: Tillie
Theodore Chanler
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The Listeners
Norman Dello Joio
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Billy in The Darbies (Evett)
Robert Evett
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Billy in The Darbies (Bacon)
Ernst Bacon
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Evening
John Jacob Niles
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Love Winter When The Plant Says Nothing
John Jacob Niles
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For My Brother: Reported Missing In Action, 1943
John Jacob Niles
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Four Songs from Childhood Fables for Grownups: Two Worms
Irving Fine
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Four Songs from Childhood Fables for Grownups: The Duck and the Yak
Irving Fine
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Four Songs from Childhood Fables for Grownups: Lenny the Leopard
Irving Fine
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Four Songs from Childhood Fables for Grownups: Tigeroo
Irving Fine
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