Randall Thompson

Review: Since Randall Thompson (1899-1984), perhaps America's most famous composer of choral music, it is significant that at last a retrospective selection of this music has been recorded. 'Ye Shall Have A Song' is a collection of works dating from 1922 to 1970, when the bulk of his choruses had already been written. Starting with his early masterpiece, the 8 movements of 'The Peaceable Kingdom,' ('Say Ye to the Righteous,' 'Woe Unto Them,' ''The Noise of a Multitude,' 'Howl Ye,' 'The Paper Reeds by the Brooks,' 'But These Are They,' 'Have Ye Not Known' and the title tune), the CD progresses to 'Bittersweet' of 1970, representing his last style. 'The Best of Rooms,' 'Alleluia,' and four 'Odes of Horace' are followed by the oldest composition, 1922's 'The Last Invocation.' The Singers make these difficult-to-perform, eclectic and sublimely beautiful pieces sound effortless. A worthy retrospective of the works of an American master!

Songlist: The Peaceable Kingdom, Say Ye to the Righteous, Woe Unto Them, The Noise of a Multitude, Howl Ye, The Paper Reeds by the Brooks, But These Are They, Have Ye Not Known?, Ye Shall have a Song, Bitter-Sweet, The Best of Rooms, Alleluia, Odes of Horace, O fons Bandusiae, Vitas hinnuleo, Montium Custos, Felices ter, The Last Invocation

Review: The Stony Brook (NY) Camerata Singers have sung at prestigious music festivals such as the Utrecht Early Music Festival and the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival in California. Their 30 mixed voices represent a cross-section of Stony Brook University, and they sing music from all periods, early to modern. While the major works of Randall Thompson (1899-1984) and Libby Larsen (b. 1950) are well-known, this CD offers a unique opportunity to hear some of their smaller works for unaccompanied chorus, and to compare these two American composers separated by half a century. 16 songs: first Thompson's 'Antiphon' (1970), then 7 movements of 'Mass of the Holy Spirit' (1955), followed by three striking 'Sweet and Sour Nursery Rhymes' by Larsen, 'There Was a Little Girl', 'Little Boy Blue' and 'Try, Try Again' (all 3 accompanied by French Horn). Then two by Thompson, 'Glory to God in the Highest' (1958) and 'Fare Well' (1973) are followed by the complex, dissonant 'Bind Me, I Can Still Sing' and 'Adrift! A Little Boat Adrift!' by Larsen, and the final cut is Thompson's 'The Lark in the Morn' (1938). An interesting contrast of two composers, both brilliant, each with a totally different focus.

Songlist: Mass of the Holy Spirit:, Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus, Hosanna, Agnus Dei , Sweet and Sour Nursery Rhymes:, There Was A Little Girl, Little Boy Blue, Try, Try Again, Glory to God in the Highest, Fare Well, Bind Me, Adrift! A Little Boat Adrift!, The lark in the Morn

Review: 30-strong, mixed-voice, Seattle-based Choral Arts (formerly Choral Arts Northwest), founded by artistic director Richard Sparks, is one of the outstanding chamber choirs in the United States. Focusing primarily on romantic and contemporary music, the choir's repertoire has ranged from Renaissance music to contemporary Swedish works. Randall Thompson achieved iconic status for choral works like 'Frostiana' and the hugely popular anthem 'Alleluia' in the middle part of the 20th century. Included here are 14 pieces, some favorites: the world premiere recordings of 'Antiphon' and 'Five Love Songs,' 'The Last Invocation' (based on words by Walt Whitman), the previously mentioned 'Alleluia,' 'Vitas hinnuleo,' and the title tune (based on words by Longfellow). Some light accompaniment. Beautiful, romantic music performed by one of America's finest choirs!

Songlist: The Best of Rooms (Robert Herrick), Two Herbert Settings (George Herbert):, - Antiphon, - Bitter-sweet, The Last Invocation (Walk Whitman), Odes of Horace:, - Montium custos (book 3, 22), - Vitas hinnuleo (book 1, 23), - O fons Bandusiae (book 3, 13), - Felices ter (final verse of book 1, 13), Alleluia, Five Love Songs:, - The Light of the Stars (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow), - The Passenger (Mark Anthony DeWolfse Howe), - Two Worlds (Edmund Waller), - Siciliano (Philip H. Rhinelander), - The Happy Shore (Edmund Spenser)

Review: For the past half century, the music of Randall Thompson has remained a staple in the choral repertoire. These delightful works are marked by skillful craftsmanship, a pervasive singability and uncommon beauty. This new recording features Thompson's The Peaceable Kingdom, based upon texts from the book of Isaiah, as well as his Mass, The Last Invocation and Fare Well. Also included is one of Thompson's most popular works, his Alleluia, written at the request of Serge Koussevitsky and premiered in July 1940, and today a beloved and time-honored contribution to the choral repertoire. The informative booklet notes are by one of Thompson's most constant admirers, the fellow-American composer Morten Lauridsen.

Songlist: Say Ye To The Righteous, Woe Unto Them, The Noise Of A Multitude, Howl Ye, The Paper Reeds By The Brooks, But These Are They That Forsake The Lord, Have Ye Not Known?, Ye Shall Have A Song, Alleluia, The Last Invocation, Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus & Hosanna, Agnus Dei, Fare Well

Review: Reprinted from the American Choral Review, this special issue was compiled to honor the composer on his 75th birthday. Contains critical essays by James Haar, Elliot Forbes, and Alfred Mann, and extended notes by Dr. Thompson. Dates of composition and first performances also included. A rich source for studies of his music and for the writing of program notes.

Songlist: Preface, Writing For Amateur Chorus, On Contrapuntal Technique, The Story Of Alleluia, Notes On A Requiem, Randall Thompson and The Music Of The Past, Psalm And Gospel Settings, Americana, Five Love Songs, List Of Choral Works, Index Of Choral Works

Review: A sequence of sacred choruses on texts from the prophecy of Isaiah. Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Douglas Moore (Chairman of the Music Department of Columbia University) wrote to Thompson in 1936, saying, '...I want to go on record in writing' as believing that you have written the best modern choral work I have heard. It is good from every point of view. Technical treatment of the voices, understanding and expression of the text, and actual musical content which is fresh and beautiful.' His sentiments have been echoed by choral conductors ever since. The Peaceable Kingdom has become established as a masterpiece of unaccompanied choral writing.

Songlist: Say ye to the righteous, Woe unto them, The noise of the multitude, Howl ye, The paper reeds by the brook, But these are they that forsake the Lord, Have ye not known?, Ye shall have a song

Review: Since that day in 1940, 'Alleluia' this classic of classics has become one of the nation's most-often performed choral works. Rare is the church, school, community, or professional choir that has not sung it. The masterful construction and simplicity of text (Alleluia, Amen) make the Alleluia suitable for almost any choir for almost any occasion. 'The Gate of Heaven' Composed for the dedication of the Jessie Ball duPont Chapel, Hollins College, Virginia, 1959. It is particularly suitable for the dedication of religious buildings. The Eternal Dove was composed in 1968 to honor Harvard University Professor G. Wallace Woodworth. It is closely related to the composer's Mass of the Holy Spirit of which Dr. Woodworth gave the first complete performance. 'Fare Well' was written for performance by the combined high scholl choirs of Calhoun, Kennedy, and Mepham, New York, in 1973. The three-stanza poem by Walter De La Mare (1873-1956) closes with, 'Look thy last on all things lovely, / Every hour. Let no night / Seal thy sense in deathly slumber / Till to delight / Thou have paid thy utmost blessing; Since that all things wouldst praise / Beauty took from those who loved them / In other days.' 'Bitter Sweet' was first performed by the choir of the Church of the Incarnation, New York City, on Oct. 25, 1970, under the direction of Thomas Dunn, who first called Thompson's attention to George Herbert's poignant and profoundly religious poem.

Songlist: The Eternal Dove, Fare Well, The Gate Of Heaven, Bitter - Sweet , Alleluia

Review: Five choral works by one of the master's of 20th century American choral music. Randall Thompson's Alleluia. Since 1940, this classic of classics has become one of the nation's most-often performed choral works. Rare is the church, school, community, or professional choir that has not sung it. The masterful construction and simplicity of text (Alleluia, Amen) make the Alleluia suitable for almost any choir for almost any occasion. 'The Gate of Heaven' was composed for the dedication of the Jessie Ball duPont Chapel, Hollins College, Virginia, 1959. It is particularly suitable for the dedication of religious buildings. 'Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep' In response to a complaint from his students about having to use Latin texts, Dr. Thompson composed this motet at the blackboard for his class in modal counterpoint. The text is the familiar bedtime prayer from The New England Primer. 'Pueri Hebraeorum' was composed in 1928 for the Wellesley College Choir, when the enrollment grew to twice the size the chancel could accommodate. The choirs sang back and forth from opposite ends of the chapel. Jacob Handl's Haec Dies had suggested the pattern for eight-part chorus. The voice parts may be doubled by two quartets of similar instruments. The text is in Latin. Particularly suitable for Palm Sunday. 'Rosemary', the name of Thampson's daughter, was commission by the Women's University Glee Club of New York and is based on a cycle of American verse. Any one of these compositions would make an interesting and rewarding addition to a women's choir repertoire.

Songlist: Alleluia, The Gate of Heaven, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, Pueri Hebraeorum, Rosemary

Review: This communion service, though appropriate for any season of the Church year, was designed especially for use at Whitsuntide. It can also serve very effectively as concert repertoire, either in its entirety or excerpted. The movements are in English (except for the Kyrie).

Songlist: Kyrie , Gloria , Credo, Sanctus , Benedictus , Hosanna , Agnus Dei