Warren M. Swenson: Battle Pieces

James A. Bland (Composer), William Brady (Composer), Aaron J.R. Connor (Composer), Will Marion Cook (Composer), Stephen Foster (Composer), George Frederick Root (Composer), Henry Russell (Composer), Warren M. Swenson (Composer), American Traditional (Composer), William Bolcom (Performer), George Shirley (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: William Bolcom, George Shirley
• Composer: James A. Bland, William Brady, Aaron J.R. Connor, Will Marion Cook, Stephen Foster, et al.
• Audio CD (September 30, 2003)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Albany Records
• ASIN: B0000C7PTD
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #554,570 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Creative Programming Idea Gone Awry, October 1, 2003

By	J Scott Morrison (Middlebury VT, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The notion behind the program on this CD was a wonderful one. As a pendant to a new song cycle by Warren M. Swenson set to Civil War poems by Walt Whitmen, George Shirley, tenor, and William Bolcom, pianist, record eleven popular songs from the period surrounding the Civil War including familiar favorites as 'Oh, Dem Golden Slippers,' 'My Old Kentucky Home,' and some rare songs like the Creole folk song 'Michieu Banjo' and Henry Russell's 'The Maniac.' But there are two things wrong with the final product. First, the song cycle of twelve songs, although set to stirring, evocative poetry, is pedestrian and in a pale faux-Ives style. Second, and sad to hear, is the deterioration of the nearly 70-year-old Shirley's once glorious voice. He was, in his day, an intelligent singer with a beautiful voice that he could use to do just about anything he wished. I remember a riveting 'Salome' Herod only ten years or so ago. He still sings with immaculate musicianship and intelligence and his accompanist, the redoubtable composer/pianist William Bolcom gives him formidable support, but the voice splays and wobbles under pressure and it becomes painful to listen to it.

The booklet notes and recorded sound are exemplary.

But my advice is to avoid this issue unless you really want to hear Swenson's songs; this is likely to be their only recording.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Voice United With Keen Mind And Great Heart, Whatever The Singer's Age And State In Life, June 6, 2009

By	Jeffrey A. Van Detta "Mahlerlieben" (East Coast USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have owned this recording for a year and a half, and I could not disagree more with the previous reviewer. Shirley's voice may (or may not) be as arresting as the reviewer recalls it from the past. I have only to assess what is on this disk. What is here is fabulous. The delicacy of phrasing, the gifted actor's touch, the modulation and intonation of emotion, and a spine-tingling ability to span the vocal spectrum from the grand to the tender and sotto voce, Shirley has created a gem and breathed life into music that, to most 21st century Americans, is long dead. I would strongly recommend this disk to anyone who wants to hear music at the heart and soul of the American spirit, interpreted by Shirley and his accompanist with a soaring of heart and soul that dwells in the same emotional space (euphoric melancholy) that Ken Burns created in "The Civil War" documentary.