Sure On This Shining Night: 20th-Century Romantic Songs of America [Import]

Theodore Chanler (Composer), Amy Beach (Composer), George Whitefield Chadwick (Composer), William Schuman (Composer), Rudolf Friml (Composer), Charles Ives (Composer), John Corigliano (Composer), Samuel Barber (Composer), Virgil Thomson (Composer), Erich Wolfgang Korngold (Composer), Paul Hindemith (Composer), Idabelle Firestone (Composer), Albert Hay Malotte (Composer), Aaron Copland (Composer), Eric Ewazen (Composer), William Bolcom (Composer), Ned Rorem (Composer), Sigmund Romberg (Composer), Richard Hageman (Composer), Marc Marder (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Theodore Chanler, Amy Beach, George Whitefield Chadwick, William Schuman, Rudolf Friml, et al.
• Audio CD (April 10, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Hyperion UK
• ASIN: B000002ZYW
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #296,961 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #88 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Composers > Korngold, Erich Wolfgang

Track Listings

1. The Children

2. The Year's At The Spring

3. When Stars Are In The Quiet Skies

4. Orpheus With His Lute

5. Rose Marie

6. Ives

7. Song To The Witch Of The Cloisters

8. Sure On This Shining Night

9. Sigh No More, Ladies

10. Come Away, Death

11. On Hearing 'The Last Rose Of Summer'

12. Echo

13. If I Could Tell You

14. The Collection

15. The Lord's Prayer

16. Nature, The Gentlest Mother

17. The Tiger

18. Never More Will The Wind

19. Little Elegy

20. One Alone

See all 28 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Spectrum of Romance in American Musical Composition, January 14, 2006

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sure On This Shining Night: 20th-Century Romantic Songs of America (Audio CD)

Often American music is thought to be jaunty, combative, or tragic in content, especially when it comes to songs/lieder for the classical repertoire. This engaging CD takes umbrage with that misconception and in presenting some twenty-eight songs by various composers clearly identifies the romantic side of American composers.

Here are songs well known and not so well known by familiar and not so familiar composers, and in the hands of tenor Robert White and pianist Samuel Sanders they all come across as important. Included are rarities by composers such as Amy Beach, Theodor Chanler, Isabelle Firestone, Eric Ewazen, Albert Hay Malotte, Marc Marder, John Musto and Richard Hageman, with popular composers Rudolf Friml and Sigmund Romberg, along with the greats: Ives, Schuman, Hindemith, Barber, Thomson, Korngold, Copland. Rorem, Bolcom, Corigliano, and Griffes. It is a huge spectrum of work and while some are less successful than other, they all are given respectful and loving renditions by White and Sanders. It is great fun to hear Firestone's famous 'If I could tell you' that opened the Voice of Firestone for so many years along side Samuel Barber's gorgeous 'Sure on this shining night' and Aaron Copland's settings of Emily Dickinson's poems.

This a rare treat for connoisseurs of lieder and for lovers of beautiful songs. Recommended. Grady Harp, January 06

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars a rare gem of a CD, July 7, 2002

By 

NotATameLion (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sure On This Shining Night: 20th-Century Romantic Songs of America (Audio CD)

Sure On This Shining Night is not my usual musical cup of tea...yet, it has become one of my favorite CDs. This collection of American Romantic songs has burrowed its way into my heart.

There is a universality to the longing involved in Romanticism. These songs capture this feeling perfectly. From the first song to the last, these songs do one thing perfectly: evoke an emotional response.

This is due in no short measure to the wonderful performance Robert White gives. Rather than being merely technically accurate, White actually gives each of these songs a life of their own. He achieves this effect by getting inside not only the words, but the feelings involved.

Some of the highlights for me are: the lovely and memorable "Rose Marie," Ewazen's setting of Blake's "The Tiger," a moving version of "The Lord's Prayer" and the haunting "Never More Will the Wind."

Samuel Sanders is a worthy musical companion to White. His playing is reciprocally lovely and introspective. The notes are extensive and informative as well.

Even though it may be an acquired taste in our postmodern age, I give Sure On This Shining Night my full recommendation.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful Interpretations, September 5, 2008

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B - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sure On This Shining Night: 20th-Century Romantic Songs of America (Audio CD)

Robert White does a masterful job with the poetic nuances of these songs. This is a fantastic collection of songs, and superb renditions. Kudos to all involved, esp. Mr. White. I am so happy to have purchased this CD.