We begin on horseback in the Grand Canyon then on to California for Puccini’s Fanciulla del West. Colorado is next for The Ballad of Baby Doe. We ride the range with cowboys and end up with a salute to Texas.
Music of the American West
Playlist
Grofe: Grand Canyon Suite, “On the Trail”
New York Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Leonard Bernstein
Recorded in New York in 1963
SONY SMK 47544
Puccini: La Fanciulla del West “Ch’ella mi Cre da Libero”
Jonas Kaufmann with Massimo Simeoli
The Orchestra and Chorus of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Conducted by Antonio Pappano
Recorded in Rome in 2014
SONY 88875092482
Moore: The Ballad of Baby Doe, “Willow Song”
Beverly Sills with the New York City Opera Orchestra Conducted by Emerson Buckley Recorded in New York in 1959
DGG 2709061
Lohr: “My Little Grey Home in the West”
Robert White with the National Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Ralph Mace
Recorded in New York in 1985
LP: RCA AGL1-5400
Hill: “The Last Roundup”
Robert Merrill with Russ Case and his Orchestra
Recorded in New York in 1947 78
RPM DISC: RCA VICTOR 10-1273-B
Traditional: “Home on the Range”
John Charles Thomas with Orchestra Conducted by Nathaniel Shilkret
Recorded in New York in 1931
MET 210-CD
Porter: “Don’t Fence Me In”
Thomas Hampson with the London Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by John McGlinn
Recorded in London in 1990
EMI CDC 7 84203 2
Cahn: “The Little Ol’ State of Texas”
Ezio Pinza and The Sons of the Pioneers
Recorded in Hollywood in 1951
78 RPM DISC: RCA VICTOR 10-3427-B
