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American Classics

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 14 results
Showing 1 - 10 of 14 results
  • Gershwin - Piano Concerto in F

    Gershwin - Piano Concerto in F

    Wayne Marshall (piano/conductor)

    Aalborg Symfoniorkester

    • Release Date: 5th Apr 2010
    • Catalogue No: 6066882
    • Label: Warner Classics
    • Series: American Classics
    • Length: 77 minutes

    Downloads

    What are FLAC and MP3?

    No digital booklet included

  • Samuel Barber

    Samuel Barber

    Barbara Hendricks

    London Symphony Orchestra & Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin & Michael Tilson Thomas

    • Release Date: 5th May 2008
    • Catalogue No: 2066252
    • Label: Warner Classics
    • Series: American Classics
    • Length: 79 minutes

    Downloads

    What are FLAC and MP3?

    No digital booklet included

  • Elliott Carter

    Elliott Carter

    Ole Böhn (violin)

    London Sinfonietta, Oliver Knussen

    Carter, 100 in December, was born the day after Messiaen, but he sounds younger - his music has yet to sink in. It bears comparison with Beckett's plays: phrases, meaningful in themselves, relate... — The Times, 7th June 2008, 3 out of 5 stars More…
    • Release Date: 5th May 2008
    • Catalogue No: 2066292
    • Label: Warner Classics
    • Series: American Classics
    • Length: 62 minutes

    Downloads

    What are FLAC and MP3?

    No digital booklet included

  • Steve Reich & Philip Glass

    Steve Reich & Philip Glass

    Ransom Wilson

    London Chamber Orchestra, Christopher Warren-Green & Michael Tilson-Thomas

    • Release Date: 5th May 2008
    • Catalogue No: 2066242
    • Label: Warner Classics
    • Series: American Classics
    • Length: 79 minutes

    Downloads

    What are FLAC and MP3?

    No digital booklet included

  • Copland - Clarinet Concerto & Music for the Theatre

    Copland - Clarinet Concerto & Music for the Theatre

    David Schifrin, Mark Hill & Neil Baum

    New York Chamber Symphony, Gerard Schwarz

    David Shifrin's account of the Clarinet Concerto is among the best, the opening radiant in timbre and showing a natural fluency of phrasing, the later jazzy elements also well caught. — Penguin Guide, 2011 edition More…
    • Release Date: 3rd Nov 2008
    • Catalogue No: 2344392
    • Label: EMI
    • Series: American Classics
    • Length: 71 minutes

    Downloads

    What are FLAC and MP3?

    No digital booklet included

  • Virgil Thomson & Howard Hanson

    Virgil Thomson & Howard Hanson

    Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra & Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Neville Marriner & Leonard Slatkin

    • Release Date: 5th May 2008
    • Catalogue No: 2066122
    • Label: Warner Classics
    • Series: American Classics
    • Length: 76 minutes

    Downloads

    What are FLAC and MP3?

    No digital booklet included

  • Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue

    Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue

    Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra, Felix Slatkin

    • Release Date: 5th Apr 2010
    • Catalogue No: 6066912
    • Label: EMI
    • Series: American Classics
    • Length: 78 minutes

    Downloads

    What are FLAC and MP3?

    No digital booklet included

  • Gershwin - Piano Duets

    Gershwin - Piano Duets

    Katia & Marielle Labeque (piano)

    • Release Date: 5th Apr 2010
    • Catalogue No: 6066902
    • Label: Warner Classics
    • Series: American Classics
    • Length: 77 minutes

    Downloads

    What are FLAC and MP3?

    No digital booklet included

  • Leonard Bernstein

    Leonard Bernstein

    Orchestra of St. Luke's, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra & City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Järvi, Leonard Slatkin, Simon Rattle & Dennis Russell Davies

    • Release Date: 5th May 2008
    • Catalogue No: 2066262
    • Label: Warner Classics
    • Series: American Classics
    • Length: 74 minutes

    Downloads

    What are FLAC and MP3?

    No digital booklet included

  • William Schuman & Leonard Bernstein

    William Schuman & Leonard Bernstein

    Robert McDuffie

    Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin

    • Release Date: 5th May 2008
    • Catalogue No: 2066112
    • Label: Warner Classics
    • Series: American Classics
    • Length: 64 minutes

    Downloads

    What are FLAC and MP3?

    No digital booklet included

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