August 16, 2024 New Releases from Navona and Ravello Records

THE VOICE OF BRUBECK, VOL. 1 [Released August 30, 2024] from Navona Records showcases Dave Brubeck’s contributions to symphonic, chamber, and sacred vocal music, and explorations of new musical forms. Brubeck was an innovative musical figure who left an indelible footprint on the history of jazz, and this album offers a diverse palette of celebrated and previously-unrecorded choral and orchestral works that the legendary artist regarded as some of his finest.

Rain Worthington writes music to captivate the listener, creating textural and lyrical worlds that are inhabited by various colors and tones. In this live performance of her piece Dream Vapors Suite from the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, the composer presents intense dreams, intangible perceptions, and musically evocative elaborations.

One might be tempted to think that there is no crossover in music that hasn’t been done yet; and thankfully, one would be mistaken. DEEP RIVER presents a vibrant selection of 21 African American spirituals, interpreted by countertenor Michael Walker II and early music consort Alchymy Viols.

Lyrebird Brass presents the world premieres of five contemporary brass quintets in BOOK OF BRASS, an album shaking up the scene with an assortment of boundary-pushing works by highly lauded and awarded composers. BOOK OF BRASS is a winning installment in Lyrebird Brass’s already impressive oeuvre, pulling out all the stops with spirited fanfares and contemplative odes.

ROYAL CORONATION OVERTURE by Dr. Patrick Brill is a contemporary take on the program overture model of the 19th Century, a genre most commonly heard in concert hall performances, as well as church services and royal coronation ceremonies. This studio recording of the piece is also available in a Dolby Atmos immersive audio format, placing listeners directly into the lavish fanfare by which this music is historically accompanied.

The Syracuse University Wind Ensemble presents world premiere recordings of works by Frank Ticheli and Natalie Draper on ANGELS RISING: MUSIC OF REMEMBRANCE AND LIGHT. Bookended by iconic Gershwin pieces, both works commemorate the 35 Syracuse University students lost in the 1988 Lockerbie bombings.

Matthew Burtner lifts the veil between humanity and its planet on PROFILED FROM ATMOSPHERES, translating its messages into an intimate medium invariably understood amongst its inhabitants. The result is an eerie, haunting sonification that serves as a poignant reminder; if we want to continue hearing the songs of the atmosphere and the planet it blankets, it’s our responsibility to preserve it.