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Browse: American Classics (series)

 American Classics

American Classics is a new series from EMI which will feature, over several releases, recordings of as many different American composers as is possible. These will be single CD releases and, where possible, 2-CD sets, of music of different genres, including symphonies, concertos and purely orchestral works with some instrumental, chamber, song and opera.

Before the 20th century, there was very little in the way of American concert music. There was a handful of composers who were notable exceptions but these almost always followed the European compositional traditions. Not until the arrival of Charles Ives (1874-1954) could America boast an original, native-born, composer of it's own.

The close of the old and the advent of the new century saw the births of a whole generation of world-class composers who, although they might have studied in Europe, represented a new and original voice for American Music. The very first year of the new century brought with it the birth, in New York City, of possibly the best-known of them all, Aaron Copland. Samuel Barber, Roy Harris, Walter Piston, Elliott Carter, William Schuman, Virgil Thomson and George Gershwin were all born by 1910 and put American music on the world map.

Only one of the above-mentioned composers is still with us today and in 2008 Elliott Carter will celebrate his 100th birthday. We are pleased to include in this first issue of American Classics a programme of works by Carter.

Showing 1 - 10 of 47 results
Showing 1 - 10 of 47 results
  • Florence Quivar sings black music of America

    Florence Quivar (mezzo soprano)

    Harlem Boys’ Choir, Walter Turnbull

    No digital booklet included

  • Deborah Voigt, Brian Zeger, Glenn Dictenow, Alan Staphansky & Israela Margalit

    No digital booklet included

  • Kim Criswell, Thomas Hampson, Jason Graae, Rebecca Luker, David Garrison, David Healy, Alfred Marks, Gregory Jbara, Simon Green, Peta Bartlett, Kerry Potter, Hayley Spencer, Emma Long, Frank Keating, Nick Curtis, Carey Wilson, Michael Pearn & Clare Buckfield

    Ambrosian Chorus & London...

    No digital booklet included

  • Leon McCawley (piano)

    No digital booklet included

  • Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra & Capitol Symphony Orchestra, Ferde Grofé & Felix Slatkin

    No digital booklet included

  • No digital booklet included

  • Ballet Theatre Orchestra, Joseph Levine

    Three rarely heard scores for American Ballet Theatre - George Antheil's blowsy Capital of the World, William Schuman's dramatic Undertow, Morton Gould's allusively effective Fall River Legend... More…

    No digital booklet included

  • Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Filharmónica de la Cuidad de Mexico, Eduardo Mata, Enrique Bátiz

    Copland's monumental Third Symphony and the lively Danzón Cubano are well played and handsomely recorded; but the Mexico orchestra under Bátiz is less secure in the Dance Symphony. More…

    No digital booklet included

  • Wayne Marshall (piano/conductor)

    Aalborg Symfoniorkester

    No digital booklet included

  • City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & London Chamber Orchestra, Simon Rattle & Christopher Warren-Green

    Under Rattle the foxtrot from The Chairman Dances has unabated energy More…

    No digital booklet included