Search - Steber, Miller, Gramm :: Love's Secret and Other Songs by American Composers

Important American art songs performed by superb recitalists

Barbara Miller | Bellevue, WA United States | 05/30/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD, a digital remastering of a recording originally released in 1962, is an extraordinary value for anyone interested in American art song, or simply in fine singing. I bought it because I wanted to hear Eleanor Steber's performance of Griffes's "Waikiki", which did not disappoint. But there are many other wonderful songs, all presented with great artistry. They range from the demanding complexity of Barber's "Nuvoletta" and Ives's "General William Booth Enters into Heaven" to the lyricism of the Ernst Bacon songs to texts by Emily Dickinson. The final song on the CD, John McCollum's performance of Henry Cowell's "The Donkey", is especially memorable; I recommend this version over the one on the Albany label's "Songs of Henry Cowell" CD (which I bought because my interest in Cowell's songs was raised by hearing "The Donkey")."