£10.00 £8.33 Ex vat
SAINT LOUIS CHAMBER CHORUS
PHILIP BARNES
46 in stock
Description
A major survey of American a cappela choral works, sung by the outstanding Saint Louis Chamber Chorus, including many works receiving their first recording, and covering different traditions of American chamber choirs, from the art song to the spiritual, and from a modern madrigal to a choral symphony.
Track List
Hymn to Music* Dudley Buck (1839–1909)
6:03 The Lord is my shepherd (op. 34)* Miklós Rózsa (1907–95)
8:25 Evil shall not prevail (op. 48)* Wallingford Riegger (1885–1961)
4:42 Declaration Chorale* William Schuman (1910–92)
5:59 What do you think I fought for at Omaha Beach? Melissa Dunphy (b.1980)
8:25 A Lincoln Letter* Ulysses S Kay (1917–95)
5:20 MLK U2 arr Bob Chilcott (b.1955)
2:45 There is a balm in Gilead arr William Dawson (1899–1990)
4:18 Lament* Sven Lekberg (1899–1984)
3:23 Stabat Mater# Stephen Paulus (b.1949)
10:40Symphony for Voices Roy Harris (1898–1979)
15:50 I Song for all seas, all ships
5:59 II Tears
4:03 III Inscription
5:49 Sunset: St Louis (from Three Teasdale Madrigals)*# — Howard Helvey (b.1968)
2:49* first recording on CD; # written for the SLCC
Total Playing time: 78:41
Production credits
Recorded in Second Presbyterian Church, Saint Louis 24–27 February, 2013
Gary Cole, Producer
Martha Shaffer, Assistant Producer
Daniel Ruder, Recording Engineer
Sample audio extracts
Reviews
‘ A fascinating anthology tracing the development of a distinctive voice in American choral music. Half the items are first recordings, and the performances are consistently outstanding.’ ***** BBC Music Magazine, June 2014
‘There are enough stirring words on ‘American Declarations’, the new disc from the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus, to compel a listener to pledge allegiance to a cappella choral music born in the USA. … The repertoire is especially welcome for its depth of feeling and superb craftsmanship. Beyond that, most of the music is probably unknown to any but choral aficionados, which makes the disc a treasure chest of discoveries. … The Saint Louis Chamber Chorus, led by Philip Barnes, performs everything with consummate attention to blend, clarity and expressive nuance.’ Gramophone (July 2014)
‘This is one to stay in the memory and the SLCC show what they are made of’ Choir & Organ May/June 2014
‘This is a most interesting programme of American unaccompanied choral music, very well sung by the St Louis Chamber Chorus under its British-born conductor Philip Barnes…Here is a really enterprising and well-made disc that should appeal to any collector of unusual American music’. International Record Review June 2014
‘I cannot describe music in words: you will have to be adventurous, buy this CD and get to know these striking works, which I find more compelling each time I listen to them. The performances are impeccable – a virtuoso chorus indeed.’ Organists’ Review September 2014
‘The disc maintains the excellent reputation that the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus has won through its previous discs and anyone who is interested in American music should certainly investigate.’ MusicWeb May 2014
‘The Saint Louis Chamber Chorus is one of the finest a cappella choirs I have heard and any listener who has the slightest appreciation of American a cappella singing is urged to investigate further. The fact that much of the material on this disc is appearing on CD for the first time should also make it of great interest to those who like contemporary choral music.’ Cross Rhythms 23rd April 2014
