RECORDING PROJECTS

Between June 2017 and August 2018, I scheduled four recording sessions with the goal of recording almost all of my unrecorded songs. Edward J. Kelly was the recording engineer for the first three of these. We've worked together since 1999.

I am in the process of editing the recordings and hope to release the first of these CDs in 2019.

Recording details follow.

In June 2017, I recorded the following with the following artists at Spencerville Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Spencerville, MD:

Sable Pride — 3 song cycle, setting Harlem Renaissance poet Countee Cullen, commissioned by Darryl Taylor and recorded by countertenor Darryl Taylor and pianist Andrew Rosenblum. 

And I Will Bring Them, my only song with a Biblical text, recorded by countertenor Darryl Taylor and pianist Lori Laitman.

On A Photograph — this will be the premiere recording of the duet version, recorded with mezzo-soprano Margaret Gawrysiak, baritone Randall Scarlata and pianist Lori Laitman. The poem is by John Wood.

I Am In Need of Music — poem by Elizabeth Bishop, recorded by soprano Sari Gruber and baritone Randall Scarlata with pianist Andrew Rosenblum.

'Tis Philosophy — a very short Dickinson stand-alone song, recorded by soprano Sari Gruber and pianist Andrew Rosenblum.

The Blood Jet — 4 Sylvia Plath settings, commissioned by Dr. Adelaide Whitaker, and dedicated to and sung by soprano Sari Gruber, with Lori Laitman on piano.

The Joy of Uncreating — two short songs setting poet Joan Joffe Hall, commissioned by Dr. Adelaide Whitaker. The work was recorded with mezzo-soprano Margaret Gawrysiak and pianist Andrew Rosenblum.

You Leave Me Bent — a new cabaret song in collaboration with Dana Gioia, recorded by mezzo-soprano Margaret Gawrysiak and pianist Lori Laitman.

What You Wanted — humorous song to a poem by Joyce Sutphen, commissioned by Cynthia Vaughn. The song was recorded by mezzo-soprano Margaret Gawrysiak and pianist Andrew Rosenblum.

In July 2017, I recorded the following with the following artists, also at Spencerville Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Spencerville, MD:

Full Moon and Light Hearted William - two William Carlos Williams songs, recorded by tenor Vale Rideout and pianist Lori Laitman.

Dear Future Roommate — commissioned by Lyric Fest, a humorous setting of a letter by Michael Gioia, recorded by tenor Vale Rideout and pianist Lori Laitman.

The Silver Swan — a setting of the famous Orlando Gibbons poem, commissioned by Carol Kimball. This version marks the premiere recording with flute. Recorded with soprano Maureen McKay, flutist Emily Skala and pianist Lori Laitman.

Living in the Body — Joyce Sutphen poems, commissioned by Georgia Southern University and recorded by soprano Maureen McKay and saxophonist Gary Louie.

Journey — recorded by saxophonist Gary Louie and pianist Kirsten Taylor.

Lullaby — recorded by saxophonist Gary Louie and pianist Kirsten Taylor.

In December 2017, the recording took place at Scorca Hall at Opera America in NYC. I was felled by the flu, but participated via FaceTime, with the help of co-producer Beth Greenberg and pianist Andrew Rosenblum. The following works were recorded:

On The Green Trail — commissioned by Dr. Michelle Latour. The poems are Jeff Gundy, and the cycle was recorded by tenor Dominic Armstrong and pianist Andrew Rosenblum.

The Act — commissioned by SongFest. The poem is by H. L. Hix, and this song (or 5-minute opera) was recorded by soprano Ashley Emerson, tenor Dominic Armstrong and pianist Andrew Rosenblum.

The Soul Fox — commissioned by ROKI. This newly revised version was recorded by soprano Jennifer Check and pianist Warren Jones.

Five Lovers — commissioned by Jama Jandrokovic, to poems by Jama Jandrokovic. Recorded by soprano Alisa Jordheim and pianist Andrew Rosenblum.

River of Horses — commissioned by Jean del Santo. Poems by Baudelaire, James Wright, James Dickey, and a traditional Sioux Warrior song. 

Todesfuge — commissioned by baritone Wolfgang Holzmair. This English version was recorded by baritone Randall Scarlata and cellist Thomas Kraines.

AUGUST 2018 will mark the final recording session. It will take place at the Logan Center of University of Chicago with recording engineer Bill Maylone.

Soprano Nicole Cabell and pianist Andrew Rosenblum are scheduled to record the following: 

Dear Edna — poems by Jennifer Reeser, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Diane Thiel and A.E. Stallings.

Memories of Prague — poem by Petr Ginz. This will be the premiere recording of the version without clarinet.

The Apple Orchard — poem by Dana Gioia. This will be the premiere recording of the soprano version.

Days and Nights — poems by Browning, Dickinson, Rossetti and Bourdillon. 

Orange Afternoon Lover — poems by Margaret Atwood.

When You Are Old — poem by William Butler Yeats. Premiere recording.

Tenor Kyle Knapp and pianist Andrew Rosenblum will also record Dark Spring, settings of Eugenio Montale, as translated by Dana Gioia.