This second volume of the series features 26 Ives's songs beginning alphabetically with "December" (1913) and concluding with "Grass" (1896). The performers include 14 singers, four pianists, and an organist. The organ appears on chronologically the earliest song on this CD, the hymn- like "Far From My Heav'nly Home" (1893). Ives's early and late, traditional and revolutionary are each represented. The highlight of this CD is Ives's 1914 setting of Vachel Lindsay's "General William Booth Enters into Heaven" a poem in it's character and enthusiasm made for Ives. Lindsay's poem and Ives's song capture the spirit of the founder of the Salvation Army as he ascends into heaven accompanied by the poor, the lost and the damned that Booth has brought to salvation. "Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?" the songs asks. In it's raw liveliness, enthusiasm, changes of mood, and transcendentalism, this song is one of Ives's greatest efforts in the form. The bass David Pittsinger gives a convincing performance accompanied by pianist Douglas Dickson.

Tracklist:

December
Disclosure
Down East
Dreams
Du Alte Mutter
Du Bist Wie Eine Blume
Elegie
The Ending Year
Evening
Evidence
Eyes So Dark (Weil' Auf Mir)
Far From My Heav'nly Home
Far In The Wood
A Farewell To Land
La Fede
Feldeinsamkeit
Flag Song
Forward Into Light
Friendship
Fruhlingslied
General William Booth Enters Into Heaven
God Bless And Keep Thee
Grace
Grantchester
The Greatest Man
Gruss

UPC: 636943927021
Label: Naxos American
Release Date: 7.29.08
Format: CD

Ives / Baty / Berman / Gardner / Plenk / Trudel - Songs 2 (CD)