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Herrmann: Whitman (Radio Drama by Norman Corwin)
Naxos

Herrmann: Whitman (Radio Drama by Norman Corwin)

$9.99
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Details

Composer
HERRMANN, BERNARD
Artist
Gil-Ordonez
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Oct 09, 2020
Catalog #
8559883
UPC
636943988329

About

Bernard Herrmann was famous for his film scores, but he was also a leading figure in music for radio, to which he brought his inimitable palette of mood and sonority. Whitman, whose subject is Walt Whitman’s collection of poems Leaves of Grass, was a 1944 radio drama, a genre now much neglected but revived in this newly restored version. Psycho: A Narrative for String Orchestra is not a suite or excerpts from the film but a concert work, re-ordered and re-composed, while Souvenirs de voyage is one of the most polished and seductive of all American chamber works.

-----

REVIEWS:

Gil-Ordóñez and the PostClassical Ensemble have plenty of experience with Herrmann and perform the music with the proper heated quality. The result is an album that will be essential for Herrmann fans but also of great interest to general listeners.

– AllMusic Guide

With a narrator as Whitman, and a chamber sized orchestra to add impact and color, these many years after the end of the WWII (around the time of its original broadcast), it still carries a profound message. Souvenirs de voyage came towards the end of Herrmann’s life, and was proof of his range of genres that today are overlooked in favor of his film scores. It is a beautiful score, blessed with attractive melodic material and couched in subtle colors. Herrmann was to re-compose music from Psycho years later to form a concert work. It was rediscovered by conductor John Mauceri in 1999.

It would be difficult to imagine finer performances from a number of performers, Whitman, being a World Premiere Recording with the conductor, Angel Gil-Ordonez and the Washington-based PostClassical Ensemble, William Sharp the ideal narrator. Top quality sound, and It comes with an excellent booklet.

– David's Review Corner (David Denton)

Tracklist 17 tracks

  1. 1 Introduction: I, Walt Whitman, heard that you asked for something to prove this puzzle the New World (Whitman) 00:45
    Track
    1
    Title
    Introduction: I, Walt Whitman, heard that you asked for something to prove this puzzle the New World (Whitman)
    Duration
    00:45
    Composer
    Bernard Herrmann
    Performer
    William Sharp
    Ensemble
    PostClassical Ensemble
    Conductor
    Angel Gil-Ordóñez
  2. 2 Welcome: You! Whoever you are! (Whitman) 01:27
    Track
    2
    Title
    Welcome: You! Whoever you are! (Whitman)
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Bernard Herrmann
    Performer
    William Sharp
    Ensemble
    PostClassical Ensemble
    Conductor
    Angel Gil-Ordóñez
  3. 3 Perpetual Journey: I tramp a perpetual journey (Whitman) 04:10
    Track
    3
    Title
    Perpetual Journey: I tramp a perpetual journey (Whitman)
    Duration
    04:10
    Composer
    Bernard Herrmann
    Performer
    William Sharp
    Ensemble
    PostClassical Ensemble
    Conductor
    Angel Gil-Ordóñez
  4. 4 Listen: Listen: when the psalm sings instead of the singer (Whitman, Stranger, Cynic) 02:07
    Track
    4
    Title
    Listen: Listen: when the psalm sings instead of the singer (Whitman, Stranger, Cynic)
    Duration
    02:07
    Composer
    Bernard Herrmann
    Performer
    William Sharp, Murray Horwitz
    Ensemble
    PostClassical Ensemble
    Conductor
    Angel Gil-Ordóñez
  5. 5 Cosmos: A cosmos, of Manhattan, the son! (Whitman, Stranger) 01:15
    Track
    5
    Title
    Cosmos: A cosmos, of Manhattan, the son! (Whitman, Stranger)
    Duration
    01:15
    Composer
    Bernard Herrmann
    Performer
    William Sharp, Murray Horwitz
    Ensemble
    PostClassical Ensemble
    Conductor
    Angel Gil-Ordóñez
  6. 6 Song: A simple separate person (Whitman, Cynic) 02:19
    Track
    6
    Title
    Song: A simple separate person (Whitman, Cynic)
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Bernard Herrmann
    Performer
    William Sharp, Murray Horwitz
    Ensemble
    PostClassical Ensemble
    Conductor
    Angel Gil-Ordóñez
  7. 7 Oath: I celebrate myself, and sing myself (Whitman, Child) 03:05
    Track
    7
    Title
    Oath: I celebrate myself, and sing myself (Whitman, Child)
    Duration
    03:05
    Composer
    Bernard Herrmann
    Performer
    William Sharp, Annasophia Nicely
    Ensemble
    PostClassical Ensemble
    Conductor
    Angel Gil-Ordóñez
  8. 8 Miracles: I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars (Whitman, Child) 02:05
    Track
    8
    Title
    Miracles: I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars (Whitman, Child)
    Duration
    02:05
    Composer
    Bernard Herrmann
    Performer
    William Sharp, Annasophia Nicely
    Ensemble
    PostClassical Ensemble
    Conductor
    Angel Gil-Ordóñez
  9. 9 Battle: Of life immense in passion, pulse and power, I sing (Whitman) 01:22
    Track
    9
    Title
    Battle: Of life immense in passion, pulse and power, I sing (Whitman)
    Duration
    01:22
    Composer
    Bernard Herrmann
    Performer
    William Sharp
    Ensemble
    PostClassical Ensemble
    Conductor
    Angel Gil-Ordóñez
  10. 10 War: I will acknowledge contemporary lands (Whitman, Radio Voice) 06:08
    Track
    10
    Title
    War: I will acknowledge contemporary lands (Whitman, Radio Voice)
    Duration
    06:08
    Composer
    Bernard Herrmann
    Performer
    William Sharp, Murray Horwitz
    Ensemble
    PostClassical Ensemble
    Conductor
    Angel Gil-Ordóñez
  11. 11 Ships: Flaunt out, O sea, your separate flags of nations! (Whitman) 02:08
    Track
    11
    Title
    Ships: Flaunt out, O sea, your separate flags of nations! (Whitman)
    Duration
    02:08
    Composer
    Bernard Herrmann
    Performer
    William Sharp
    Ensemble
    PostClassical Ensemble
    Conductor
    Angel Gil-Ordóñez
  12. 12 Divinity: Listener out there! (Whitman) 01:40
    Track
    12
    Title
    Divinity: Listener out there! (Whitman)
    Duration
    01:40
    Composer
    Bernard Herrmann
    Performer
    William Sharp
    Ensemble
    PostClassical Ensemble
    Conductor
    Angel Gil-Ordóñez
  13. 13 Finale: I see not America only (Whitman) 02:26
    Track
    13
    Title
    Finale: I see not America only (Whitman)
    Duration
    02:26
    Composer
    Bernard Herrmann
    Performer
    William Sharp
    Ensemble
    PostClassical Ensemble
    Conductor
    Angel Gil-Ordóñez
  14. 14 I. Lento: Molto tranquillo 09:57
    Track
    14
    Title
    I. Lento: Molto tranquillo
    Duration
    09:57
    Composer
    Bernard Herrmann
    Performer
    David Jones, Netanel Draiblate, Eva Cappelletti-Chao, Philippe Chao, Benjamin Capps
  15. 15 II. Berceuse: Andante 06:56
    Track
    15
    Title
    II. Berceuse: Andante
    Duration
    06:56
    Composer
    Bernard Herrmann
    Performer
    David Jones, Netanel Draiblate, Eva Cappelletti-Chao, Philippe Chao, Benjamin Capps
  16. 16 III. Andantino: Canto amoroso 07:33
    Track
    16
    Title
    III. Andantino: Canto amoroso
    Duration
    07:33
    Composer
    Bernard Herrmann
    Performer
    David Jones, Netanel Draiblate, Eva Cappelletti-Chao, Philippe Chao, Benjamin Capps
  17. 17 Psycho: A Narrative for String Orchestra (reconstructed by J. Mauceri for string orchestra) 15:49
    Track
    17
    Title
    Psycho: A Narrative for String Orchestra (reconstructed by J. Mauceri for string orchestra)
    Duration
    15:49
    Composer
    Bernard Herrmann
    Ensemble
    PostClassical Ensemble
    Conductor
    Angel Gil-Ordóñez