Internationally acclaimed composer William McClelland has written a wide variety of music in many styles and forms, but the works in this program have all been inspired by poetry. The choral works evoke the atmosphere of time and place in settings of very early texts, including Catullus’ movingly elegiac lament for his lost brother, These Last Gifts, an experience shared by the composer. The short pieces in Five for Piano all evoke specific poems and, composed over several decades, McClelland’s songs are primarily settings of poetry by American writers that express a mystical, symbolic or visionary view on nature.

Watch this Naxos Live Q+A with William McClelland for insights on the music!

REVIEW:

McClelland’s choral writing is so thoroughly gorgeous, his Five for Piano so engaging, and his more lyrical art songs so evocative that I recommend this disc wholeheartedly.

-- Fanfare

The choral piece Hail Lovely and Pure...sets a Medieval shepherd's poem and is both glowing and limpid. The piano pieces explore more of the sense of willfulness, of saying something strong in a solo voice. Harold Rosenbaum leads the New York Virtuoso Singers in all the choral music, drawing singing that is lovely and fine in all the details. The excellent pianist Blair McMillen has full measure of the piano pieces, which he previously premiered. Another excellent pianist, Donald Berman, accompanies mezzo-soprano Krista River and baritone Thomas Meglioranza as they alternate in the songs. There is a welcome breadth of moods in McClelland's songs. Singers and music really come together here, with the notes and the rhythms lying right where the singers sound best...all of these McClelland songs are a pleasure.

-- The Classical Review (George Grella)

The New York Virtuoso Singers under Harold Rosenbaum  deliver a marvelously unwavering set of performances of the highest caliber. Bravo.

-- Classical-Modern Music Review

Even within this program, the tonal language of individual pieces ranges substantially, but the program never feels like a stylistic pastiche; rather, one has the impression that McClelland has responded in deep, individual ways to the texts he sets… All of these recordings are world premieres, and many listeners will wonder where McClelland has been all their lives.

-- AllMusic.com

The performances are all well informed and nicely executed. Donald Berman’s accompaniments for Krista River and Thomas Meglioranza are models of support. Blair McMillen’s rendition of the piano suite Five is nicely done… Best of all are the three choral items, not least the final setting of Catullus, ‘These Last Gifts’.

-- Gramophone