The Dawn - Dawn - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Imagine a vision too wondrous for eyes alone - 'the lady more brilliant than the sun'. 'The lady' is the Virgin Mary, and The Sun Danced is an ecstatic choral celebration of the Miracle of Fatima commissioned by the Shrine of Fatima for the celebration of the Centennial of the Apparitions in Portugal. Celebrated British soprano, Mary Bevan, features on this, the premiere recording. It's no secret that James MacMillan's profound religious belief drives his creativity, but music this powerful conveys a universal message, and the title of his new symphony Le grand Inconnu suggests many possible interpretations. Harry Christophers writes 'By calling his new Symphony 'Le grand Inconnu' James has given himself that freedom to explore the mystery of the subject matter and, with repeated listening, we, the listener, discover more and more within the music... From the barely audible breathing at the start of the symphony to the first forte that is so sudden and ecstatic that it produces one of those heart pounding moments. Everything is drawn together by James into a cornucopia of sheer virtuosity and brilliance.' Album Tracks 1. The Sun Danced 2. Symphony No.5, 'Le Grand Inconnu'

Album Tracks 1. There Will Be Stars 2. Roses on a Brier 3. Night Vision 4. Dawn of Night 5. June Night 6. Let It Be Forgotten 7. The Tree of Song 8. Missa Brevis 9. Forever, Remember Me 10. Reconciliation 11. A Song of Joys 12. The Cold Demands a Silence 13. How Still It Is 14. Dreams Offer Solace 15. Our Garden of Life

Moss doesn't grow under his feet, nor between his ears. Indeed, at a spry 91 years of age, Lawrence Moss is at the top of his game and enjoying an active life of family and prolific composing following 56 years of teaching at Mills, Yale, and the University of Maryland, College Park. His previous innova album, New Paths, pointed out some directions of artistic exploration; now, with New Dawn, he takes us on yet more journeys of promise and possibility. New Dawn is also the title of a tone poem for orchestra based on five Tang Dynasty poems, and if you notice a poetic theme that connects many of the tracks on this album you wouldn't be far wrong. Dreams by Day and Night is a setting of LI Bai's poetry, in translations by Moss himself from the original Chinese, and sung by the rising operatic star, Danielle Talamantes. She also sings 4 Haiku for our Time- short poems by Moss on subjects ranging from a kitten's pawprints on a car windshield to larger questions about the fate of our planet in turmoil. Walt Whitman is represented in two works; Voyagers for chorus and piano, and Grand is the Seen for soprano flute and piano. The remaining works on the album may not have text but are nonetheless rich in allusion. Gamelan for flute and percussion is a colorful take on the traditional Balinese orchestra; de Profundis for piano duet references a canyon in Colorado and a Mass by Josquin; and Ligeti Light alludes to Gyorgy Ligeti's piano etudes before flying off in it's own direction. Moments for cello and piano and Five Bagetelles for solo percussion are more abstract suites where the star performers take us on virtuoso tours and the contrasting moods found along the way. Album Tracks 1. Ligeti Light 2. New Dawn 3. Voyagers 4. Moments~Calmly 5. Moments~Whimsically 6. Moments~Aria 7. Moments~Back and Forth 8. Moments~Vivace 9. Grand is the Seen 10. Gamelan