Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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.

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.

This has become one of my favorite CDs. Robert White brings together a wonderful spectrum of American songs by the likes of a outstanding American composers both old and new, classical and semi-classical. A little on the "artsy" side are those songs by the likes of Ives, Copland, Barber, Hindemith, Ned Rorem and Virgil Thompson. On the lighter side are songs such as "Rose Marie", "Sweet Mystery of Life" and "The Lords's Prayer".

Indeed, Mr. White brings forth a body of music that reflects a rich American tradition of "classical" music that also is a tribute to the lyric potential of the English language.

Liner notes are very thorough and lyrics to every song are also enclosed along with the equally outstanding poets and songwriters whose exqisite qord portraits are set to this wonderful music. Here the likes of Shakespeare, Oscar Hammerstien II, James Agee, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman and others also brougt to the fore.

Impressive collection of Barber's music. Even though it may not fit the strict guidelines of a "romantic song" it would have earned five stars had Barber's Adagio for Strings been included.