Ives / Berman / Dickson Songs 1 CD

This CD is the first of a new cycle of Ives's songs on the budget-priced Naxos label. The format of the series mirrors the audacity and creativity of the music. The songs are arranged in alphabetical order which presents them in a way which is musically random. Songs from Ives's youth are interspersed with works of his maturity. In addition the songs are performed by a collection of young singers, ranging from bass to soprano with a countertenor included for good measure. There is a similar variety of pianists and other accompanists. Thus, this recording features 13 vocalists accompanied by four different pianists, a string quartet, an organ, and a glockenspiel on 29 Ives songs beginning with the "A's" (actually with the numbers in a half-minute song called "1.2.3" and ending in the "C's" with an Ives Lullaby, the "Cradle Song" of 1919.

1. 1, 2, 3 2. Abide with Me 3. Aeschylus and Sophocles 4. Afterglow 5. Allegro 6. The All-Enduring 7. Amphion 8. Ann Street 9. At Parting 10. At Sea 11. At the River 12. August 13. Autumn 14. Because of You 15. Because Thou Art 16. Berceuse 17. The Cage 18. The Camp Meeting 19. Canon I 20. Canon II 21. Chanson de Florian 22. Charlie Rutlage 23. The Children's Hour 24. Edith Osborne Ives - Christmas Car L 25. A Christmas Carol 26. The Circus Band 27. The Collection 28. Country Celestial 29. Cradle Song