William Schuman: On Freedom’s Ground
Ricardo Herrera (baritone), Ingrid Kammin (soprano), Sinfonia da Camera, University of Illinois Chorale & Oratoria Society, University of Illinois Chorale, Ian Hobson, Fred Stoltzfus
The four compositions on this disc effectively portray both sides of William Schuman's musical personality -- from the spirited energy of American Festival Overture and the uninhibited patriotic fervor of A Free Song to the much darker character of Prelude and the profoundly moving On Freedom's Ground. One of the 20th century America's most important composers and arts administrators, William Schuman (1910-1992) went from being a Tin Pan Alley song plugger to professor at Sarah Lawrence to president of Juilliard and finally, to president of Lincoln Center. With the exception of the oft-recorded American Festival Overture, these are world premiere recordings and represent the many sides of this extraordinarily creative musical mind. Joseph Polisi, the current president of Juilliard and author of American Muse: The Life and Times of William Schuman has provided the notes.
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Track Listing
| Title | Composer | Performer |
|---|---|---|
| American Festival Overture | William Schuman | Sinfonia da Camera, Ian Hobson, conductor |
| A Free Song | William Schuman | Richardo Herrera, baritone, University of Illinois Chorale & Oratoria Society, Sinfonia da Camera, Ian Hobson, conductor |
| Prelude for Full Chorus | William Schuman | Ingrid Kammin, soprano, University of Illinois Chorale, Fred Stoltzfus, conductor |
| On Freedom's Ground | William Schuman | Richardo Herrera, baritone, University of Illinois Chorale & Oratoria Society, Sinfonia da Camera, Ian Hobson, conductor |
Reviews
- “
"If one of the marks of a great composer is the fact that not a single piece could have been written by anyone else, then Schuman was a great composer--make that a great American composer. All the readily identifiable hallmarks of his style...are evident in the four attractive works that make up this collection: the rhythmic vitality, the sinewy brilliance of orchestration, the discerning choice of American texts...the evocative writing for massed voices, the patriotic fervor and optimism mixed with rather more troubled introspection. ...a disc no Schuman enthusiast can afford to miss."
- “
"...indispensable to Schuman enthusiasts..."
*Album cover provided for Editorial use only. ©Albany Records. The Albany Imprint is a registered trademark of PARMA Recordings LLC. The views and opinions expressed in this media are those of the artist and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinions held by PARMA Recordings LLC and its label imprints, subsidiaries, and affiliates.