Voices from the Homefront (Jacob Adams and Paul Lee)

The music recorded on this disc spans a period of great change in the United States, from 1939 to 1948. During these years, the lingering effects of the Great Depression gave way to the upheaval of World War II, followed by the post-War optimism of the early baby-boom years. Though these composers are all roughly of the same generation, these pieces reflect different points in their evolution: for some they rank among their earliest works, and for some they represent their final contribution. The diversity of music for such a concentrated period is striking: some hark backward—to Baroque and Romantic eras—while some represent the most modern trends. Each of these composers enjoyed success as a musician during their lifetime, yet for many, their legacies as composers have faded. Ultimately, the disc provides a remarkable sampling of underrated voices worthy of renewal: American men and women from different ethnic backgrounds, both native-born and immigrant, offering their musical perspectives through the medium of viola and piano.

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Frederick Block (1899-1945)

Sonata for Viola and Piano, op. 78
I. Moderato
II. Molto Andante
III. March – Finale

Jeanne Behrend (1911-1988)
Lamentation for Viola and Piano

Carl Fuerstner (1912-1994)
Two Pieces for Viola and Piano
I. Kleiner Marsch
II. Pavane

Ulysses Kay (1917-1995)
Sonatine for Viola and Piano

Ulysses Kay
Sonata for Viola and Piano
I. Largo
II. Allegro
III. Adagio
IV. Allegretto

Halsey Stevens (1908-1989)
Serenade for Viola and Piano

Miriam Gideon (1906-1996)
Sonata for Viola and Piano
I. Allegretto
II. Andante teneramente
III. Allegro furioso