Ives / Baty / Berman / Gardner / Plenk / Trudel Songs 2 CD

This second volume of the series features 26 Ives's songs beginning alphabetically with "December" (1913) and concluding with "Grass" (1896). The performers include 14 singers, four pianists, and an organist. The organ appears on chronologically the earliest song on this CD, the hymn- like "Far From My Heav'nly Home" (1893). Ives's early and late, traditional and revolutionary are each represented. The highlight of this CD is Ives's 1914 setting of Vachel Lindsay's "General William Booth Enters into Heaven" a poem in it's character and enthusiasm made for Ives. Lindsay's poem and Ives's song capture the spirit of the founder of the Salvation Army as he ascends into heaven accompanied by the poor, the lost and the damned that Booth has brought to salvation. "Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?" the songs asks. In it's raw liveliness, enthusiasm, changes of mood, and transcendentalism, this song is one of Ives's greatest efforts in the form. The bass David Pittsinger gives a convincing performance accompanied by pianist Douglas Dickson.

1. December 2. Disclosure 3. Down East 4. Dreams 5. Du Alte Mutter 6. Du Bist Wie Eine Blume 7. Elegie 8. The Ending Year 9. Evening 10. Evidence 11. Eyes So Dark (Weil' Auf Mir) 12. Far from My Heav'nly Home 13. Far in the Wood 14. A Farewell to Land 15. La Fede 16. Feldeinsamkeit 17. Flag Song 18. Forward Into Light 19. Friendship 20. Fr?hlingslied 21. General William Booth Enters Into Eaven 22. God Bless and Keep Thee 23. Grace 24. Grantchester 25. The Greatest Man 26. Gruss