Ancient Voices of Children, for mezzo- & boy soprano, oboe, mandolin, harp, amplified & toy piano & 3 percussionists: I: El Ni?o Busc
Ancient Voices of Children, for mezzo- & boy soprano, oboe, mandolin, harp, amplified & toy piano & 3 percussionists: Dances Of The A
Ancient Voices of Children, for mezzo- & boy soprano, oboe, mandolin, harp, amplified & toy piano & 3 percussionists: II: Me He Perdi
Ancient Voices of Children, for mezzo- & boy soprano, oboe, mandolin, harp, amplified & toy piano & 3 percussionists: III: ?De Donde
Ancient Voices of Children, for mezzo- & boy soprano, oboe, mandolin, harp, amplified & toy piano & 3 percussionists: IV: Todas Las T
Ancient Voices of Children, for mezzo- & boy soprano, oboe, mandolin, harp, amplified & toy piano & 3 percussionists: Ghost Dance
Ancient Voices of Children, for mezzo- & boy soprano, oboe, mandolin, harp, amplified & toy piano & 3 percussionists: V: Se Ha Llenad
A Little Suite for Christmas, A. D. 1979, for piano: 1: The Visitation
A Little Suite for Christmas, A. D. 1979, for piano: 2: Berceuse for the Infant Jesu
A Little Suite for Christmas, A. D. 1979, for piano: 3: The Shepherd's No?l
A Little Suite for Christmas, A. D. 1979, for piano: 4: Adoration of the Magi
A Little Suite for Christmas, A. D. 1979, for piano: 5: Nativity Dance
A Little Suite for Christmas, A. D. 1979, for piano: 6: Canticle of the Holy Night
A Little Suite for Christmas, A. D. 1979, for piano: 7: Carol of the Bells
Early Songs (3), for voice & piano: I: Night
Early Songs (3), for voice & piano: II: Let It Be Forgotten
Early Songs (3), for voice & piano: III: Wind Elegy
Dream Sequence (Images II), for violin, cello, piano, percussion & and off-stage glass harmonica (two players)
Ancient Voices of Children is one of the seminal vocal works of the 20th century, not just for the huge demands it makes on the singer's vocal technique, but also in the way that all of its avant-garde sound effects really... more » do reflect the most sensitive response to Garcia Lorca's poetry. Soprano Barbara Ann Martin really has the measure of the piece. She proves herself a worthy successor to Jan DeGaetani in the premier recording of the work. Her performance is thrilling, and the instrumental accompaniment, recorded in the presence of the composer, is perfect. The same holds true for the other works on the disc, particularly Crumb's haunting Dream Sequence, music of hypnotic power. In sum, a magnificent tribute to one of our greatest living composers. --David Hurwitz« less
Ancient Voices of Children is one of the seminal vocal works of the 20th century, not just for the huge demands it makes on the singer's vocal technique, but also in the way that all of its avant-garde sound effects really do reflect the most sensitive response to Garcia Lorca's poetry. Soprano Barbara Ann Martin really has the measure of the piece. She proves herself a worthy successor to Jan DeGaetani in the premier recording of the work. Her performance is thrilling, and the instrumental accompaniment, recorded in the presence of the composer, is perfect. The same holds true for the other works on the disc, particularly Crumb's haunting Dream Sequence, music of hypnotic power. In sum, a magnificent tribute to one of our greatest living composers. --David Hurwitz
"I hardly agree with David Hurwitz here. Given Crumb's supervision of this recording, I was disappointed by this performance of Ancient Voices and in particular by soprano Martin, whose stagey operatic tone isn't appropriate for this work. (Jan DeGaetani's classic recording on Nonesuch 979149-2 is far better - her voice has a shadowy, folkish coloration that fits this music, while the warmer recorded sound better captures the resonance of the whole work.) Also on this recording are two Crumb songs written when he was 17 - romantic-impressionistic in style, they only faintly foreshadow his mature work. The two other pieces on this disc - the solo piano Little Suite for Christmas and the mystifying Dream Sequence for chamber ensemble - receive fine performances, though they would benefit from better recorded sound."