Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Vocal Point's latest, and a tribute to founding member Bob Ahlander's three-year stint as director of BYU's award-winning a cappella group. Consistently at the top of Tantara's best-seller lists, Vocal Point delivers a collection of all-new recordings, including the live-concert favorite, 'Primarily Vocal Point.'

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

In commemoration of the 100th year anniversary of conductor Dr. Ralph Woodward's birth, this new album celebrates the contribution and legacy of this world-renowned conductor and features the BYU A Cappella Choir performing 48 songs that were recorded from 1964-84 as the Woodward took the choir to national and international prominence. Dr. Woodward's directorship of the Brigham Young University A Cappella Choir began in the fall of 1964 and ended in 1984. Most of these years are represented on this recording. This compilation was drawn from a variety of sources- the primary one being BYU Music Special Collections. Through the foresight and guidance of the curator, Dr. David Day, printed programs and concert recordings had already been preserved, making it possible to view programs and then locate matching audio files. Fortunately, many tapes were still in good condition. This compilation does have something of an archival feel because of the varied physical condition of source recordings as well as changes in sound engineering techniques and practices over the years. Nevertheless, through the dedication and expertise of the mastering engineer, Troy Sales, these live performances from varied settings and sources have been combined into a cohesive and satisfying whole.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

“We watch Michael Hicks grow as an artist, revealing the purest essence of his musical voice. With rests sometimes lasting as long as fifteen seconds, he invites the listener into a space of “the now”: in which silence is just as important as sound.” “(Keith Kirchoff) Felt Hammers documents the complete solo piano works 1982-2010, of performer, scholar, poet and composer Michael Hicks, as performed by Mr. Kirchoff. Mr. Hicks chamber and solo works have been performed and recorded by BYU’s University Singers, Concert Choir, and Group for New Music, and by other ensembles around the country.

Classical Music

Q'd Up, the popular faculty jazz quintet from Brigham Young University, presents their fifth album on Tantara Records. Q'd Up comprises five restless, creative, and always-searching instrumentalists, arrangers, and composers. The group is constantly learning new material from the pen of band members Jay Lawrence, Steve Lindeman, and Ron Saltmarsh, and devising new arrangements of various jazz standards. The group writes: "This record is, indeed, Never Better- largely because of the appearance of several amazing musicians, good friends, and colleagues, including Wycliffe Gordon on Trombone, Corey Christiansen on guitar, Matt Larson on electric bass, Monte Belknap on violin, and Kurt Reeder on a Hammond A-11 organ. Reflecting on the collaborative nature of our group, each member has contributed something to each arrangement and liner notes, so sit back and enjoy the musical journey.

The neo-romantic music of Richard Faith demonstrates compositional skill, craftsmanship, and moments that transcend sentiment, yet it is clearly human and at certain points “unavoidably sentimental.” Perhaps Faith’s ability to strike a balance between these two poles of expression is what many performers and audiences have found to be so alluring about his music. Scholar Walter Simmons has described American neo-romantic composers as “voices in the wilderness.” Throughout Faith’s career there was pressure to write music that perhaps distanced him from the academic establishment. Yet he has persisted and continues to hold to his unique voice at age 90. His latest compositions, Divertimento and Quintet, were written for the Woodsmusick Ensemble. A family of professional musicians, the Woodsmusick Ensemble has unofficially been performing together for more than 25 years, but they have been under their current moniker and instrumentation since 2012. The group’s inception in its present iteration stems from the opportunity to premier a new work written for them by composer Richard Faith. The first performance of Divertimento inspired an ongoing collaboration. In spite of its members’ wide-ranging and diverse individual performing and academic careers, Woodsmusick reunites often to perform and record. The Woodsmusick Ensemble is composed of Alexander Woods, Aubrey Woods, Garrick Woods, Rex Woods, and Christian Smith.