IMMAGINOSA
American inspiration and the modern madrigal
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Also available for sale in digital only format on various online music service, including iTunes, Rhapsody, Sony Connect and more.
The Esoterics' fifth CD, IMMAGINOSA features premieres by William Hawley and Stephen Paulus and other pieces that represent springtime song cycles on love and life.
Recorded after the IMMAGINOSA concert series in May 2004, this CD features several of The Esoterics' favorite cycles. Ross Lee Finney's Spherical madrigals resonates with the exploration and creativity of the Age of Reason, and Irving Fine's artful cycle of six Ben Jonson poems - The hour glass - traverses the evolution of love during the human lifetime.
The second half of IMMAGINOSA will either put spring in your step or send you off into blissful dreams. First, revel in recordings of two premiere performances: Four reveries by New York composer William Hawley, followed by a spring madrigal, Now is the gentle season, by Minnesota composer Stephen Paulus.
Next, enjoy two contrasting settings of Emily Dickinson by Elliott Carter - Heart not so heavy as mine and Musicians wrestle everywhere. Finally, immerse yourself in two cycles of spectacular strophes by Sara Teasdale: The winds of May by San Francisco composer Kirke Mechem, and Donald Skirvin's Alchemy, which was commissioned by The Esoterics.
Reviews
February 2006 - The Gramophone
January/February 2006 - The American Record Guide
| The hour-glass (1949) | Irving Fine | |
| 1 | O know to end as to begin | |
| 2 | Have you seen the white lily grow | |
| 3 | O do not wanton with those eyes | |
| 4 | Against jealousy | |
| 5 | Lament | |
| 6 | The hour-glass | |
| Four reveries (1995) | William Hawley | |
| 7 | Echo | |
| 8 | Remembrance | |
| 9 | My river runs to thee | |
| 10 | Meeting at night | |
| 11 | Heart not so heavy as mine (1938) | Elliott Carter |
| 12 | Now is the gentle season (1978) | Stephen Paulus |
| Spherical madrigals (1947) | Ross Lee Finney | |
| 13 | Love is a circle | |
| 14 | When again all these rare perfections meet | |
| 15 | All-circling point | |
| 16 | His body was an orb | |
| 17 | On a round ball | |
| 18 | Nor doe I doubt | |
| 19 | See how the earth | |
| 20 | Musicians wrestle everywhere (1945) | Elliott Carter |
| The winds of May (1965) | Kirke Mechem | |
| 21 | The tune | |
| 22 | Let it be forgotten | |
| 23 | Over the roofs | |
| 24 | I shall not care | |
| 25 | Song | |
| Alchemy (2002) | Donald Skirvin | |
| 26 | Living gold | |
| 27 | Cups of fire | |
| 28 | Jewelled blaze | |
| 29 | O Beauty |