Connecticut's premier chamber choir, Voce, Inc. recorded a CD full of compositions by Morten Lauridsen over Memorial Day weekend with the composer himself in residence.  As a member of Voce and the Voce Chamber Artists, I am proud to have been a part of this recording as a singer, and pianist.  The CD is both cutting edge, and a retrospective of sorts, featuring selections from each and every choral and song cycle written by the composer, and also including a handful of works never before recorded.  Dr. Lauridsen collaborated in concert with Voce in 2008 and after spending just days with the choir decided his next CD had to be recorded by Voce, a young choir which he believed had potential to become a representative East Coast chamber choir to interpret his music.

Including selections from the Rose Songs, the complete Nocturnes cycle, and three of the Madrigali, the highlight of the recording will be the recording premiere of Chanson Eloignee, a gorgeous piece on Rilke poems about the love of singing.  Additionally, Be Still My Soul an angry comment on the Vietnam War written for Lauridsen's doctorate recital will be debuted, featuring tenor Paul Fletcher, Hartford Symphony cellist Eric Dahlin, clarinetist and Voce Executive Director Tom Cooke, and myself.  A highlight unto itself, the premiere recording of this song is not to be missed.  The CD also includes the beautiful and sublime Agnus Dei segment of the Lux Aeterna, for the first time recorded with organ.  Lauridsen said, "The organ carries with it a lot of historical baggage," implying the instrument's primal sound and unquestionable longevity in the Western Music world. I will also be featured on piano on selections from A Winter Come, Lauridsen's earliest song cycle that first put him on the map, recorded for the first time with tenor, featuring Jack Pott.

UPDATE: The CD is now available for purchase.  If you are interested go to Voce's website.