Classical Album, “Fanfare For The Common Man”

Over the past year, I have been working diligently away on my 2nd classical vocal CD. I think people will really enjoy this one. I began the project with the huge undertaking of Gustav Holst’s: The Planets – “Mars, The Bringer Of War”. Not unlike my previous classical vocal project, “Songs Without Words”, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to vocalize all of an orchestration until I actually arrived at the “difficult” spots. This work took quite a lot of time to realize and the number of tracks in the final 35 seconds ran up to 58 – meaning, there are 58 of me singing the massive ending. I recorded this project in in 32 bit floating point/96khz high definition, so there is more depth and “space” in the recording. I will be releasing a high definition version after the initial CD release.

Listen to selections from the upcoming album “Fanfare for the Common Man” as well as “Songs Without Words” and “Dan Dean, 251” here.

One work that I didn’t include on my first CD, “Songs Without Words” was J.S.Bach: Cantata, “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”, BWV 147. It joins three more Bach works on the new CD. One of my favorite compositions in the new collection is “Copland: Fanfare For The Common Man”. Different from the 1st project in which I played the lute solo on Electric Bass, “Fanfare For The Common Man” is completely done with vocals – the Tympani, Cymbals/Tam Tams – all percussion was creating using my voice. I did whistle some of the piccolo parts that were way out of my vocal range! Mozart: “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”, K. 525 is a very different look on a familiar orchestral work. Notice how complex and interesting the rhythmic content is! Also included is my arrangement of Mendelssohn: “Midsummer’s Night Dream – Scherzo”, Opus 21. Each one of the works I chose presented their own unique challenges. The scherzo’s orchestration is dense and recreating the woodwind parts was “enlightening”. I have a fondness for Russian works and was having trouble locating one that would fit into the project’s order. I was listening to some selections late one night and heard Khachaturian: “Gayane’s Adagio.” A stunning and unusual piece of music which closes the CD. One of my good friends and musical associate suggested I look at Elgar: The Enigma Variations: “IX Nimrod”. This was the final work I recorded and because of its weight and beauty, it opens the CD.