George Crumb: Ancient Voices of Children · Music for a Summer Evening (1987)

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George Crumb: Ancient Voices of Children · Music for a Summer Evening (1987)

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George Crumb has long been America’s celebrated ancient voice of children of all ages. Once the voice of flower children, he set texts by Lorca in 1970 for soprano, boy soprano and the ethereal bent notes of an exotic percussion ensemble, abetted by harp, oboe and musical saw. It proved a quicker, surer, safer magical mystery tour than drugs (although they were then a common helpmate at Crumb concerts anyway).

Heralded as "one of the most important song cycles" in contemporary music, Ancient Voices of Children, is the setting of a series of haunting texts by the Spanish poet Federico García Lorca for mezzo-soprano, boy soprano, and chamber orchestra. The piece made a huge impression on audiences at its initial performances*. Indeed, this recording became something of a cult phenomenon, much like the Górecki's Third Symphony; and if you weren't around for the initial discovery, now's your chance.

Tracklist

I. Ancient Voices of Children (1970)
(A cycle of songs on texts by Federico García Lorca)

* First performed by Jan DeGaetani (mezzo-soprano), Michael Dash (boy soprano), Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, Arthur Weisberg (conductor) at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. on October 31, 1970.

I) El Niño Busca Su Voz 4:27
Dances Of The Ancient Earth (For Oboe, Mandolin, Harp & Percussion)
II) Me He Perdido Muchas Veces Por El Mar
III) De Donde Vienes, Amor, Me Niño? (Dance Of The Sacred Life Cycle)
IV) Todas Las Tardes En Granada, Todas Las Tardes Se Muere Un Niño
Ghost Dance (For Mandolin & Maracas)
V) Se Ha Ilenado De Luces Me Corazón De Seda

Jan DeGaetani, mezzo-soprano
Michael Dash, boy soprano

The Contemporary Chamber Ensemble
Arthur Weisberg, conductor
George Haas, oboe, harmonica
Stephen Bell, mandolin
Susan Jolles, harp
Gilbert Kalish, electric piano, toy piano
Raymond DesRoches, Raymond Fitz, Howard Van Hyning, percussion
Jacob Glick, musical saw

II. Music For A Summer Evening (Makrokosmos III) (1974)
(For Two amplified pianos and percussion)

1. Nocturnal Sounds (The Awakening)
2. Wanderer-Fantasy
3. The Advent
4. Myth
5. Music of the Starry Night

Gilbert Kalish, piano
James Freeman, piano
Raymond DesRoches, percussion
Richard Fitz, percussion

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George Crumb: Ancient Voices of Children · Music for a Summer Evening (1987)

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