The second in a multi-week series celebrating American composers from the first half of the 20th century. Bill starts with an American Impressionist, Charles T. Griffes, who admired Ravel, Scriabin and other fin de siècle composers. Bill ends this week with an entire hour devoted to the works of David Diamond – a student of Nadia Boulanger in 1930s Paris, and a man introduced to Maurice Ravel as well as James Joyce. Composing for over 70 years, Diamond influenced many generations of American musicians.
American Masters, Part II
Playlist
Episode 1
Still, William Grant: Suite for Violin and Piano I. African Dancer
Clifford Panton, violin Jason Alfred, piano
Music of William Grant Still. Carmela from Vignettes Trio
Centaur Records 2750
00:38
Griffes, Charles T.: Poem For Flute and Orchestra
Buffalo Philharmonic/ Falletta; Carol Wincenc, flute
Griffes: Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan / The White Peacock
Naxos 8.559164
10:05
Griffes, Charles T. : The White Peacock
Buffalo Philharmonic/ Falletta; Carol Wincenc, flute
Griffes: Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan / The White Peacock
Naxos 8.559164
5:45
Griffes, Charles T.: “Meeres Stille”
Thomas Hampson, baritone.; Armen Guzelimian, piano
Ives, Griffes, MacDowell: Lieder
Teldec 72168
2:03
Riegger, Wallingford: Dance Rhythms, Op. 58a
Eastman Rochester Philharmonic/ Hanson
Wallingford Riegger
CRI 572
7:32
Riegger, Wallingford: Wind Quintet
Dunkel, flute; Taylor, oboe; Blackwell, clarinet; Morelli, bassoon;Rose, horn
Quartet Romantic
New World 80285
6:46
Still, William Grant: Suite for Violin and Piano
I. African Dancer
II. Mother and Child
III. Gamin
Clifford Panton, violin. Jason Alfred, piano
Music of William Grant Still. Carmela from Vignettes Trio
Centaur Records 2750
14:50
Still, William Grant: Three Visions; Summerland (excerpt)
Kelly Hall- Tompkins, violin Craig Ketter, piano
Kelly Hall-Tompkins, Violin
MSR 1278
1:39
Episode 2
Antheil, George: A Jazz Symphony
Ensemble Modern
Fighting The Waves – Music of George Antheil
RCA 68066
6:35
Still, William Grant: Afro-American Symphony; II. III.
Cincinnati Philharmonia/ Jindong Cai
Still: Symphony No. 1, ‘Afro-American’
Centaur 2331
8:27
Bacon, Ernst: “Remembering Ansel Adams”
Warsaw Philharmonic/Swoboda; Richard Stoltzman, clarinet
Ernst Bacon: Remembering Ansel Adams and Other Works
CRI 779
14:31
Partch, Harry: Two Studies on Ancient Greek Scales; “Study on Olympos’ Pentatonic”
John Schneider, guitar; Amy Shulman, harp
Just West Coast
BRIDGE 9041
1:14
Partch, Harry: 8 Hitchhiker Inscriptions from a Highway Railing at Barstow, California
II. “Gentlemen”
III. “Considered Pretty”
IV. “A Very Good Idea”
John Schneider, baritone & adapted guitar
Just West Coast
BRIDGE 9041
2:27
Partch, Harry: Ulysses at the Edge of The World
Gate 5 Ensemble
The Harry Partch Collection Volume 1
New World 80621
6:41
Talma, Louise: Soundshots; “Quiet Time” “A Heavy Load” “Jumping High”
Sahan Arzruni, piano
Childhood Memories
New World 80590
3:22
Partch, Harry: Two Studies on Ancient Greek Scales; “Study on Archytas’ Enharmonic”
John Schneider, guitar; Amy Shulman, harp
Just West Coast
Bridge 9041
2:16
Episode 3
Blitzstein, Marc: Concerto For Piano and Orchestra, I.
Brooklyn Philharmonic/ Foss, Michael Barrett, piano
Gay American Composers Volume Two
CRI 750
10:50
Blitzstein, Marc: No For An Answer “The Purest Kind of Guy” (Joe’s Birthday Song)
Paul Robeson, bass
Songs of Free Men
Sony 63223
3:25
Gideon, Miriam:Eclogue for Flute and Piano I. “Lively and singing”
Patricia Spencer, flute; David Oei, piano
Miriam Gideon: Retrospective
New World 80393
2:35
Gideon, Miriam: “She Weeps Over Rahoon”
William Sharp, baritone; Walter Hilse, piano
Miriam Gideon: Retrospective
New World 80393
1:45
Carter, Elliott: Elegy
Arditti Quartet
U.S.A.
Montaigne 782010
3:51
Menotti, Gian Carlo: Violin Concerto
II. Adagio
III. Allegro Vivace
Pacific Symphony Orchestra/Clark; Ricci, violin
Menotti & Barber – Violin Concertos
Reference Recordings 45
15:17
Barber/ Menotti: Vanessa: “Must the Winter Come so Soon?”
BBC Symphony Orchestra/Slatkin Graham, mezzo soprano
Vanessa
Chandos 5032
2:34
Menotti, Gian Carlo: Sebastian:
I. Introduction
V. Sebastian’s Dance
II. Barcarolle
Spoleto Festival Orchestra/Hickox
Menotti: Apocalisse & Other Orchestral Works
Chandos 9900
8:38
Episode 4
Fine, Irving: Quartet for Strings: Adagio non troppo
Lydian String Quartet
Notturno, Partita, String Quartet, and The Hour-Glass
Nonesuch 79175
3:18
Fine, Irving: Childhood Fables for Grownups
III. “Lenny the Leopard, Dedicated to Leonard Bernstein”
IV. “The Frog and The Snake, Dedicated to Lukas Foss”
Susan Davenny Wyner, soprano; Yehudi Wyner, piano
Chamber Music Of Irving Fine
CRI 574
3:48
Fine, Irving: Partita
I. Allegro Moderato
II. Poco Vivace
III. Adagio
Boehm Quintet
American Winds Volume 1
Premier 1006
6:17
Joio, Norman Dello: Meditations on Ecclesiastes
I. Largo
II. Theme, Adagio con sentimento (a time to be born)
Philharmonia Orchestra/ Amos
Dello Joio; Hovhaness; Rosner
Kleos 5119
6:03
Hovhaness, Alan: Hymn To Glacier Peak
Andante Maestoso
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/ Schwarz
Mysterious Mountains
Telarc 80604
9:10
Siegmeister, Elie: Ten Minutes for Four Players
I. Moderately Tranquil
Boehm Quintette
American Winds Volume 1
Premier 1006
4:41
Kennan, Kent: Night Soliloquy for Flute, Strings & Piano
Czech National Symphony Orchestra /Freeman; Stolper, flute
American Flute Concertos
Cedille 90000046
3:59
Nikolais, Alwin: Tribe: “Dance 2”
Nikolais, Moog synthesizer
Electronic Dance Music
CRI 651
2:59
Cage, John: Dream
John Schneider, guitar; Amy Shulman, harp
Just West Coast
Bridge 9041
6:46
Episode 5
Diamond, David: Romeo and Juliet: (excerpt)
New York Chamber Orchestra/ Schwarz
Symphony No. 3 / Romeo & Juliet / Psalm / Kaddish
Delos 3103
01:35
Diamond, David: The Enormous Room (Fantasia for Orchestra)
Seattle Symphony Orchestra/ Schwarz
Symphony No. 3 / Romeo & Juliet / Psalm / Kaddish
Delos 3103
15:31
Diamond, David: Symphony No.3 Allegro Vivo
Seattle Symphony Orchestra/ Schwarz
Symphony No. 3
Delos 3103
5:58
Diamond, David: Elegy in Memory of Maurice Ravel
Orchestra of St. Luke’s/John Adams
American Elegies
Nonesuch 79249
6:20
Diamond, David: Partita for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano II. Adagio espressivo
Michael Henoch, oboe; Bruce Grainger, bassoon;
Deborah Sobol, piano (Chicago Chamber Musicians)
David Diamond: Chamber Music
Cedille 23
3:23
Diamond, David: Prelude in C Sharp Minor & Prelude in C Major
William Black, piano
David Diamond: Chamber Works
New World Records 80508
2:39
Diamond, David: Romeo and Juliet: Overture, Balcony Scene,
Romeo & Friar Laurence, Juliet & her Nurse
New York Chamber Orchestra/Schwarz
Symphony No. 3 / Romeo & Juliet / Psalm / Kaddish
Delos 3103
14:04
