Conducted by Christopher Bell, Chicago's Grant Park Chorus, "as fine a symphony chorus as any to be found anywhere in the nation" (Chicago Tribune), makes it's a cappella CD debut with an all-American program of eight imaginative, moving, and sometimes whimsical works written between 1975 and 2005, including four world-premiere recordings. Premieres include Abbie Betinis's Toward Sunshine, Toward Freedom: Songs of Smaller Creatures. Lee Kesselman's Buzzings: Three Pieces about Bees offers vignettes based on Emily Dickinson poems. Paul Crabtree's Five Romantic Miniatures is a set of affectionate tributes to characters from the Simpsons animated TV series. The chorus made it's commercial recording debut performing with the Grant Park Orchestra on the 2011 Cedille Records release the Pulitzer Project, which attracted international attention. Chicago's New City said the CD "spectacularly showcased" the chorus's "remarkable transparency and flexibility."

Tracklist:

Songs Of Smaller Creatures: I. The Bees' Song
Songs Of Smaller Creatures: II. A Noiseless, Patient Spider
Songs Of Smaller Creatures: III. Envoi
Buzzings: No. 1. To Make A Prairie
Buzzings: No. 2. A Bee His Burnished Carriage
Buzzings: No. 3. Bee! I'm Expecting You!
When David Heard
Sonnets Of Desire, Longing, And Whimsy: No. 1. Now By This Moon, Before This Moon Shall Wane
Sonnets Of Desire, Longing, And Whimsy: No. 2. Time Does Not Bring Relief; You All Have Lied
Sonnets Of Desire, Longing, And Whimsy: No. 3. I Shall Forget You Presently, My Dear
Final Alice: Acrostic Song
7 Motets For The Church Year: No. 1. When All Things Were In Quiet Silence (Christmas)
7 Motets For The Church Year: No. 2. Before The Morning Star Begotten (Epiphany)
7 Motets For The Church Year: No. 3. Lay Up For Yourselves (Ash Wednesday)
7 Motets For The Church Year: No. 4. Praise Him Who Was Crucified (Easter)
7 Motets For The Church Year: No. 5. God Is Gone Up (Ascension)
7 Motets For The Church Year: No. 6. Today The Holy Spirit Appeared (Pentecost)
7 Motets For The Church Year: No. 7. Rejoice We All In The Lord (All Saints)
5 Romantic Miniatures: No. 1. Abe
5 Romantic Miniatures: No. 2. Lisa
5 Romantic Miniatures: No. 3. Homer
5 Romantic Miniatures: No. 4. Marge
5 Romantic Miniatures: No. 5. Homer
Sleep

UPC: 735131913126
Label: Cedille
Release Date: 6.26.12
Format: CD

Christopher Bell - Songs of Smaller Creatures & Other American Choral (CD)