Sticky Melodies
Johanna Beyer
Astra Chamber Music Society including Astra Choir, soloists and ensemble, conductor John McCaughey
Choral and chamber music of Johanna Beyer, published by New World Records, the Recorded Anthology of American Music
This double-CD set, featuring world premiere recordings of all the works, is the first ever devoted entirely to the music of Johanna Magdalena Beyer (1888-1944), an important member of the New York City modernist group of composers that included Henry Cowell, Ruth Crawford Seeger, Charles Seeger and Carl Ruggles.
Astra Chamber Music Society including Astra Choir, soloists and ensemble, conductor John McCaughey
With extensive program notes by Larry Polansky and John McCaughey.
Track Listing
Johanna Beyer: Sticky Melodies
Astra Chamber Music Society, directed by John McCaughey
NWR 80678-2
CD 1
Suite for Clarinet no. 1 (1932) Daniel Goode, clarinet 11:35
String Quartet no. 1 (1933-34) Miwako Abe, Aaron Barnden, violins - Erkki Veltheim, viola - Rosanne Hunt, cello 19:22
Three Songs for Clarinet and Soprano (1934) Merlyn Quaife, soprano; Craig Hill, clarinet 7:38
Bees (date unknown) Peter Dumsday, piano 0:54
The Federal Music Project (1936) The Astra Choir conducted by John McCaughey 5:14
Movement for Two Pianos (1936) Peter Dumsday, Kim Bastin, pianos 4:00
CD 2
Suite for Clarinet no. Ib (1932) Craig Hill, clarinet 9:21
String Quartet no. 2 (1936) Miwako Abe, Aaron Barnden, violins - Erkki Veltheim, viola - Rosanne Hunt, cello 9:15
Ballad of the Star-Eater (1934) Merlyn Quaife, soprano - Craig Hill, clarinet 7:26
Movement for Double Bass and Piano (1936) Nicholas Synot, double bass; Kim Bastin, piano 4:01Three Pieces for Choir (1937) - 1. The Main Deep - 2. The Composers Forum Laboratory - 3. The People, Yes! The Astra Choir, conducted by John McCaughey 8:31
Sonatina in C (1943) Peter Dumsday, piano 7:05
Total playing time: 95:43
Recorded in November-December 2007 at Gasworks Theatre, Middle Park, Elm Street Hall, North Melbourne & Eleventh Hour Theatre, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia.
Suite for Clarinet I was recorded in 2004 at Faulkner Hall, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire.
