This week Bill invites us to celebrate the music of American Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Ned Rorem.
For years, the great singers of the world have treasured his art songs, but there is so much more.
Rorem composed three symphonies, four piano concertos and other orchestral works, chamber music, ten operas, choral works, ballets and music for the theatre, plus he published sixteen books!
His diaries are well known for their candor about his life and loves. And many of his solo piano works were written for his longtime partner James Holmes.
At his death, the New York Times wrote, “Over his long career, his reason for actually writing the music itself, he said, was simple: “Because I want to hear it.”
Listen on demand to this week's episodes.
Monday, June 19
Rorem, Ned: Piano Concerto in Six Movements
VI. Sparks
The Louisville Orchestra/Jorge Mester
Jerome Lowenthal, piano
Ned Rorem
First Edition Music FECD 0021
4:41
Rorem, Ned: Piano Concerto in Six Movements
VI. Sparks (excerpt)
The Louisville Orchestra/Jorge Mester
Jerome Lowenthal, piano
Ned Rorem
First Edition Music FECD 0021
1:06
Rorem, Ned: Mountain Song
Fenwick Smith, flute
Rorem, N. Chamber Music with Flute – Mountain Song /
Romeo and Juliet / Trio / Book of Hours / Prayers
Naxos 8.559674
3:06
Rorem, Ned: Concertino Da Camera
I. Allegro Non Troppo
II. Molto Moderato
III. Presto
Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra/Scott Speck
Jory Vinikour, harpsichord
20th Century Harpsichord Concertos
Cedille CDR90000188
17:13
Rorem, Ned/Paul Goodman: "The Lordly Hudson"
Nathan Gunn, Kevin Murphy
American Anthem
EMI Classics 5 73160 2
2:15
Rorem, Ned: Symphony No.1
I. Maestoso; II. Andantino
III. Largo; IV. Allegro
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/José Serebrier
Three Symphonies
Naxos 8.559149
22:08
Tuesday, June 20
Rorem, Ned: "Eagles"
The Louisville Orchestra/Gerhardt Zimmermann
Air Music, Eagles
First Edition Records 787
8:19
Rorem, Ned: “Spring” “Youth, Day, Old age, and Night"
Carole Farley, soprano; Ned Rorem, piano
Ned Rorem: Selected Songs
Naxos 8.559084
3:57
Rorem, Ned: Symphony No. 2
I. Broad, Moderate
II. Tranquillo
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/José Serebrier
Three Symphonies
Naxos 8.559149
19:06
Rorem, Ned: Piano Concerto No. 2
II. Quiet & Sad
III. Real Fast!
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Jose Serebrier
Simon Mulligan, piano
Piano Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto
Naxos 8.559315
18:08
Wednesday, June 21
Rorem, Ned: Winter Pages
I. "Mirrors"
II. "The sun that brief December day"
III. "Around the house the flakes fly faster"
IV. "Paris then"
V. "Dorchester Avenue"
VIII. "Moments fly by like a snowstorm"
IX. "Rue des Saints-Pères"
X. "Valse Oubliée"
XII. "Still Life"
Ida Kavafian, Charles Wadsworth, Todd Palmer, Fred Sherry & Frank Morelli
Winter Pages/ Bright Music
New World Records 80416
17:40
Rorem, Ned: String Symphony
I. Waltz
II. Berceuse
III. Scherzo
VI. Rondo
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra/Robert Shaw
String Symphony / Sunday Morning / Eagles
New World Records NW 353 2
14:41
Rorem, Ned: “Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening”
Carole Farley, soprano; Ned Rorem, Piano
Ned Rorem: Selected Songs
Naxos 8.559084
1:45
Rorem, Ned: Spring Music
I. Aubade; II. Toccata
IV. Bagatelle; V. Presto
Beaux Arts Trio
Spring Music
Philips 438 866-2
15:07
Thursday, June 22
Rorem, Ned: Bright Music
I. Fandango
II. Pierrot
III. Dance-Song-Dance
Marya Martin, Andre-Michel Schub, Fred Sherry, Ani and Ida Kavafian
Winter Pages/ Bright Music
New World Records 80416
12:16
Rorem, Ned: Cello Concerto
V. "A Single Tone in A Dozen Implications" (excerpt)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Jose Serebrier; Wen-Sinn Yang, cello
Piano Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto
Naxos 8.559315
:45
Rorem, Ned: Cello Concerto
I. "Curtain-Rise"
II. "There & Back"
V. "A Single Tone in A Dozen Implications"
VII. "Valse Rappelee:
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Jose Serebrier
Wen-Sinn Yang, cello
Piano Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto
Naxos 8.559315
8:20
Rorem, Ned: Concerto for English Horn
I. "Preamble & Amble"
II. "Love Letter"
III. "Recurring Dream"
IV. "Perpetual Motion"
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra/Michael Palmer
Thomas Stacy, english horn
Three Concerti
New World Records 80489
16:06
Rorem, Ned: Conversation with Raymond Bisha,
Ned Rorem and Jose Serebrier: Part 4, 5
Raymond Bisha, Jose Serebier
Serebrier, J. / Rorem, N.: A Conversation with Raymond Bisha
Naxos 8.578195
3:39
Rorem, Ned: Flute Concerto
III. “Sirens”
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Jose Serebrier
Jeffrey Khaner, flute
Flute Concerto • Violin Concerto
Naxos 8.559278
4:44
Rorem, Ned: “Poulenc”
Susan Graham, soprano; Malcolm Martineau, piano
Songs of Ned Rorem
Erato 80222 2
1:54
Rorem, Ned: Cello Concerto
VIII. Adrift (excerpt)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Jose Serebrier
Wen-Sinn Yang, cello
Piano Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto
Naxos 8.559315
2:50
Friday, June 23
Rorem, Ned: Flute Concerto
IV. "Hymn"
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/ Jose Serebrier
Jeffrey Khaner, flute
Flute Concerto Violin Concerto
Naxos 8.559278
3:15
Rorem, Ned: Air Music
I. All players
III. Woodwind, strings and piano
IV. Solo tuba and violin with flutes, oboes, english horn, contrabassoon, and violins
V. Three clarinets, three trumpets, snare drum, solo violin and strings
VI. Trombone and cello, with piano, violin, and violas pizzicatto
VIII. Solo viola with bassoon, four horns, and harp
The Louisville Orchestra/Peter Leonard
Air Music, Eagles
First Edition Records 787
21:13
Rorem, Ned: Violin Concerto
1. Twilight
2. Toccata-Chaconne
3. Romance without Words
4. Midnight
5. Toccata-Rondo
6. Dawn
New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein
Gidon Kremer, violin
Violin Concertos/ Serenade
DG 445 185
28:43
Rorem, Ned: Opus 101 “Santa Fe Songs,” “Ferry me across the water”
Susan Graham, soprano; Malcolm Martineau, piano
Songs of Ned Rorem
Erato 80222
4:30