So Great
a Joy
Janeanne
Houston,
soprano Released Nov. 1, 2001 |
Sound clips: |
Christmas Song, Alan Hovhaness |
Lullaby, Randall Thompson | Love is His Name, James Holloway |
Lullee, Lullay, William Bergsma | O Glorisoa Domina, Michael Head |
Mary's Magnificat, Andrew Carter | The Lamb,, Ralph Vaughan Williams |
Come Sing and Dance,, Herbert Howells | Corpus Christi Carol, Benjamin Britten |
This
collection reflects my long held and lasting interest in the marriage of
poetry with song. The texts of these songs relate to Christmas,
incarnation, birth, joy, wonder and the prophecy of Christ's death and
resurrection. None of the songs has a traditional melody, but some have
archaic texts. They represent the exemplary work of 20th
Century
British and American composers and mystics. As the year 2001 marks the
centenary of the birth of Gerald Finzi, it gives me special pleasure to
include two songs from his splendid work Dies Natalis. The title
of this recording is excerpted from Thomas Traherne’s poem The
Rapture used in that suite which is also scored for high voice with
string orchestra. I hope this music brings as much joy to you as it has
to me. Peace
on Earth Recorded
July 21 & 22, 2001 Lagerquist Concert Hall, Pacific Lutheran
University, Tacoma, Washington Special
thanks to: Mark Ahlness, David Dahl, Judy Carr, David Robbins, Pam
Deacon, Michael Delos, James Savage, Rachel Root, Bryant and Sara Jean
Currier, Art Giddings, Michael Reiter Recording
Engineer & Mastering: Al Swanson, Location Recording Cover
Art: "Christmas
Morn" by Will Hickox Low,
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington DC / Art Resource, NY |
Tribute to James Holloway Janeanne Houston's home page The Brady Campaign