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.

Aaron Copland is best remembered for creating a truly American style of music which is full of folk influences, and melodic and harmonic simplicity. The Old American Songs incorporate folk melodies ranging from minstrel songs (The Boatmen's Dance) to hymns (Simple Gifts) to political satire (The Dodger). Originating as songs for voice and piano, these arrangements by Irving Fine for chorus were authorized by the composer, who himself further expanded the songs for voice and orchestra. 'The House on the Hill' and 'An Immortality' were both arranged by the recently departed Daniel Pinkham, who was a student of Copland's at Harvard.