When the planning for this set of recordings first began, the driving concept was to revive interest in the American choral repertoire of the middle of the 20th century as represented by recordings made by the Gregg Smith Singers. With the death of Gregg Smith on July 12, 2016, these recordings also serve as a memorial to the career of a man whose devotion to choral music in general, and especially American choral music "of every time and place," was greater than that of almost any other of his generation. Smith had an uncanny gift for seeking out and nourishing the talent of lesser-known American choral composers—both young and old—showcasing their works through concerts and recordings. Gregg Smith was founder and conductor of the Gregg Smith Singers; conductor of the Long Island Symphonic Choral Association; and composer-in-residence for Saint Peter's Lutheran Church in New York, as well as being an accomplished, prolific composer. No other conductor did as much to raise the standards of choral singing in the second half of the 20th century, or was as influential on other American choral conductors and composers. The full array of mid-twentieth century American choral music is presented here—all coming from the archives of the Gregg Smith Singers.
William Schuman, composer
Prelude for Voices
Rosalind Rees, soprano; Gregg Smith Singers; Gregg Smith, conductor
Wallingford Riegger, composer
Who Can Revoke
Gregg Smith Singers; Oresta Cybriwski, piano; Gregg Smith, conductor
Roger Sessions, composer
Turn, O Libertad
Gregg Smith Singers; Oresta Cybriwski, piano; Raymond Beegle, piano; Gregg Smith, conductor
Randall Thompson, composer
Alleluia
Gregg Smith Singers; Gregg Smith, conductor
Leonard Bernstein, composer
Choruses from "The Lark"
Rosalind Rees, soprano; Linda Eckard, alto; Gregg Smith Singers; Gregg Smith, conductor
Charles Ives, composer
William Will
Fay Kittelson, alto; Patrick Mason, baritone; Gregg Smith Singers; Oresta Cybriwski, piano; Gregg Smith, conductor
Andrew Imbrie, composer
On the Beach at Night
Orpheus Ensemble; Gregg Smith Singers; Gregg Smith, conductor
Jacob Druckman, composer
Four Madrigals
Rosalind Rees, soprano; Gregg Smith Singers; Gregg Smith, conductor
Michael Hennagin, composer
The House on the Hill—A Madrigal Cantata
Patrick Mason, baritone; Gregg Smith Singers; Gregg Smith, conductor
Gregg Smith, composer
Legend: The Lion and the Unicorn
Kevin Treadway, boy soprano; Marilyn Chandler, violin; Alan Buratto, piano; Texas Boys Choir; Gregg Smith, conductor
Carolyn Madison, composer
Bitte (Entreaty)
Gregg Smith Singers; Gregg Smith, conductor
Edmund Najera, composer
In Dulci Jubilo
Gregg Smith Singers; Gregg Smith, conductor
Aaron Copland, composer
In the Beginning
Rosalind Rees, soprano; Gregg Smith Singers; Gregg Smith, conductor
Aaron Copland, composer
An Immorality
Kevin Treadway, boy soprano; Marilyn Chandler, violin; Alan Buratto, piano; Texas Boys Choir; Gregg Smith, conductor
Aaron Copland, composer
Four Motets
Julie Shuptrine, Katherine McKee, Colby Roberts, solo trio; Gregg Smith Singers; Gregg Smith, conductor
Lukas Foss, composer
The Prairie
Jeanne Distel, soprano; Ani Yervanian, mezzo; Jerold Norman, tenor; Harlan Foss, baritone; Gregg Smith Singers; Long Island Symphonic Choral Association; Brooklyn Philharmonia Orchestra; Lukas Foss, conductor
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