Explore America, Vol. 1

Total time: 55:58
Label: Naxos
SPAR: DDD
Availability: In stock
Item #: 8015721

Regular Price: $17.98

Review

Read About This Recording

The best of America's composers have forged a unique compositional voice, employing musical elements native to our land, while adapting and expanding the forms of their European predecessors and contemporaries. Explore America, from the acclaimed Naxos American Classics series, encapsulates the diversity of American music. The collection includes such well-known work as Copland's tender Simple Gifts from Appalachian Spring, Irving Berlin's jaunty Alexander's Ragtime Band, Leonard Bernstein's soaring Tonight from West Side Story and no celebration of America would be complete without the March King, John Philip Sousa. Also included are works by other American composers — Samuel Barber, Charles Ives, Charles Wakefield Cadman, Ned Rorem, Alan Hovhaness, Ferde Grofé and Michael Torke — all relevant to the tapestry that is the American Experience.

Extended Article

The American Classics series captures some of the great moments of American music. In this collection, as wide-ranging and diverse as our land, little-known gems of the vast repertoire are mined while new recordings shed light on some well-known American masterworks. Symphony, concerto, march, tone poem, Hollywood, musical theater, art and popular song all unite in this fascinating survey of the abundant legacy of American music.

Tracklisting

Explore America, Vol. 1
	1.	Appalachian Spring, ballet for 13 instruments by Copland, Aaron Orchestra: Nashville Chamber Orchestra Conductor: Paul Gambil Length: 2:56
	2.	Four American Indian Songs, for voice & piano, Op. 45 by Cadman, Charles Wakefield Piano: Paul Posnak Violin: Peter Zazofsky Length: 2:31
	3.	Adventures in a Perambulator, suite for orchestra by Carpenter, John [Classical] Alden Orchestra: National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine Conductor: John McLaughlin Williams Length: 3:46
	4.	The Nightingale, for voice & piano (from "Medieval Lyrics") by Rorem, Ned Piano: Ned Rorem Vocals: Carole Farley Length: 1:10
	5.	Violin Concerto, Op. 14 by Barber, Samuel Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra Conductor: Marin Alsop Violin: James Buswell Length: 3:57
	6.	String Quartet No. 1 by Coates, Gloria Ensemble: Kreutzer Quartet Length: 5:38
	7.	Cello Concerto, Op. 17 by Hovhaness, Alan Orchestra: Seattle Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Dennis Russell Davies Cello: Janos Starker Length: 3:22
	8.	Symphony No. 3: The Camp Meeting, for orchestra, S. 3 (K. 1A3) by Ives, Charles Ensemble: Northern Sinfonia Chorus Conductor: James Sinclair Length: 7:14
	9.	Americanistic Etude for piano, Op. 27 by McKay, George Frederick Piano: William Bolcom Length: 2:13
	10.	Alexander's Ragtime Band, song by Berlin, Irving Brass Ensemble: Chestnut Brass Company Length: 1:39
	11.	Hollywood Ballet (Hollywood Suite), ballet by Grofe, Ferde Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Conductor: William T. Stromberg Length: 2:16
	12.	West Side Story, musical by Bernstein, Leonard Orchestra: Nashville Symphony Conductor: Kenneth Schermerhorn Length: 3:54
	13.	Morning in the Woods, for piano by Ornstein, Leo Piano: Janice Weber Length: 6:17
	14.	Song to the Dark Virgin by Price, Florence B. Tenor (Vocal): Darryl Taylor Piano: Maria Corley Length: 2:09
	15.	Rapture, concerto for percussion & orchestra by Torke, Michael Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra Conductor: Marin Alsop Percussion: Colin Currie Length: 3:43
	16.	The National Game, march for band by Sousa, John Philip Orchestra: Royal Artillery Band Conductor: Keith Brion Length: 3:13

Performances

Appalachian Spring, ballet for 13 instruments - [Excerpt] by Copland, Aaron

Performer(s): Nashville Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra), Paul Gambil (Conductor)

Four American Indian Songs, for voice & piano, Op. 45 - No. 1, From the Land of the Sky-Blue Water by Cadman, Charles Wakefield

Performer(s): Paul Posnak (Piano), Peter Zazofsky (Violin)

Adventures in a Perambulator, suite for orchestra - The Hurdy Gurdy by Carpenter, John [Classical] Alden

Performer(s): National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (Orchestra), John McLaughlin Williams (Conductor)

The Nightingale, for voice & piano (from "Medieval Lyrics") by Rorem, Ned

Performer(s): Ned Rorem (Piano), Carole Farley (Vocals)

Violin Concerto, Op. 14 - Presto by Barber, Samuel

Performer(s): Royal Scottish National Orchestra (Orchestra), Marin Alsop (Conductor), James Buswell (Violin)

String Quartet No. 1 - Protestation Quartet by Coates, Gloria

Performer(s): Kreutzer Quartet (Ensemble)

Cello Concerto, Op. 17 - Allegro by Hovhaness, Alan

Performer(s): Seattle Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Dennis Russell Davies (Conductor), Janos Starker (Cello)

Symphony No. 3: The Camp Meeting, for orchestra, S. 3 (K. 1A3) - Old Folks Gatherin' by Ives, Charles

Performer(s): Northern Sinfonia Chorus (Ensemble), James Sinclair (Conductor)

Americanistic Etude for piano, Op. 27 by McKay, George Frederick

Performer(s): William Bolcom (Piano)

Alexander's Ragtime Band, song by Berlin, Irving

Performer(s): Chestnut Brass Company (Brass Ensemble)

Hollywood Ballet (Hollywood Suite), ballet - Production Number by Grofe, Ferde

Performer(s): Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), William T. Stromberg (Conductor)

West Side Story, musical - Tonight by Bernstein, Leonard

Performer(s): Nashville Symphony (Orchestra), Kenneth Schermerhorn (Conductor)

Morning in the Woods, for piano by Ornstein, Leo

Performer(s): Janice Weber (Piano)

Song to the Dark Virgin by Price, Florence B.

Performer(s): Darryl Taylor (Tenor (Vocal)), Maria Corley (Piano)

Rapture, concerto for percussion & orchestra - Drums and Woods [Excerpt] by Torke, Michael

Performer(s): Royal Scottish National Orchestra (Orchestra), Marin Alsop (Conductor), Colin Currie (Percussion)

The National Game, march for band by Sousa, John Philip

Performer(s): Royal Artillery Band (Orchestra), Keith Brion (Conductor)