{"product_id":"lara-downes-american-ballads-cd-signed-by-lara-downes","title":"Lara Downes - American Ballads (CD) Signed by Lara Downes","description":"\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“What a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ewonderful recording\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eI received,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ea really good choice of program\u003c\/strong\u003e.” – Leslie Kandell, The New York Times\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClassical pianist Lara Downes takes us on a journey through the heart and soul of the USA with her second Postcards Records album,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e“Lara Downes: American Ballads”\u003c\/em\u003e. On the acclaimed recording, Downes takes a look at some 20th Century American composers that have been influenced by the aural landscape that surrounded them, namely popular song, Jazz, and Folk music. American Ballads features compositions by Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, Charles Ives and others, but one of the highlights of the CD is the world premiere recording of legendary Jazz composer\/saxophonist Benny Golson’s Classical composition\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e“On Gossamer Wings”\u003c\/em\u003e, which Lara debuted at Lincoln Center\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote class=\"nitro-offscreen\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003cstrong\u003eA most delightful artist, with a unique blend of musicianship and showmanship.\u003c\/strong\u003e” – National Public Radio\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote class=\"nitro-offscreen\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003cstrong\u003eHere is technique so good you’re not even aware of it… and yet she never flaunts it, never gets in the way of the music.\u003c\/strong\u003e” – Lynnda Greene, Fanfare Magazine\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"nitro-offscreen\"\u003eAs a Classical music concept album,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e“American Ballads”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003erevisits a vanished but not-so-distant era in the United States. American music is as diverse and as varied in its origin as the people who live here and the landscapes we inhabit. Its distinct and beautiful flavor comes from the confluence of these many musical references, and from its very American spirit of independence and adventure. On this recording we find music of many forms and inspirations: an Appalachian Folk melody, a languid Blues, a lounge singer’s romance, the big-city sounds of the Jazz age, a tranquil hymn, a tender lullaby – all are beautiful and unique American Ballads.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote class=\"nitro-offscreen\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003cstrong\u003e…an imaginative mix…rhythmical and colorful… Very, very pleasing\u003c\/strong\u003e.” – Michael Barone, Public Radio Music Source\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote class=\"nitro-offscreen\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003cstrong\u003eA stylish force at the keyboard.\u003c\/strong\u003e” – Miami Sun Sentinel\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"nitro-offscreen\"\u003eThis impressive Postcards CD, entitled\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e“Lara Downes: American Ballads”\u003c\/em\u003e, is not only a collection of music inspired by many distinct American voices, but serves as proof of Lara Downes’ imaginative musical vision, and is a testimony to the talent of one of the world’s great young Classical pianists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"nitro-offscreen\"\u003eSong Selection:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"nitro-offscreen\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExcursions, Opus 20\u003cbr\u003e1. I Un Poco allegro\u003cbr\u003e2. II In slow blues tempo\u003cbr\u003e3. III Allegretto\u003cbr\u003e4. IV Allegro molto\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd valign=\"top\" class=\"lazyloaded\"\u003e(Samuel Barber, 1944)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2:52\u003cbr\u003e3:35\u003cbr\u003e2:58\u003cbr\u003e2:11\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFour Piano Blue\u003cbr\u003e5. I Freely Poetic\u003cbr\u003e6. II Soft and Languid\u003cbr\u003e7. III Muted and Sensuous\u003cbr\u003e8. IV With Bounce\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e(Aaron Copland, 1949)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2:28\u003cbr\u003e2:27\u003cbr\u003e2:13\u003cbr\u003e1:02\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9. On Gossamer Wings\u003cbr\u003e(World Premiere)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e(Benny Golson, 2000)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e10:21\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAmerican Ballads\u003cbr\u003e10. I Streets of Laredo\u003cbr\u003e11. II Wayfaring Stranger\u003cbr\u003e12. III The Bird\u003cbr\u003e13. IV Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair\u003cbr\u003e14. V Cod Liver Ile\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e(Roy Harris, 1947)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1:40\u003cbr\u003e1:31\u003cbr\u003e1:30\u003cbr\u003e1:04\u003cbr\u003e2:14\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNorth American Ballads\u003cbr\u003e15. III Down by the Riverside\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e(Frederic Rzewski, 1979)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5:54\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2nd Piano Sonata: “Concord, Mass. 1840-1860”\u003cbr\u003e16. III The Alcotts\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e(Charles Ives, 1909-15)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5:30\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuite from The Plow That Broke the Plains\u003cbr\u003e17. I Prelude\u003cbr\u003e18. II Cowboy Songs\u003cbr\u003e19. III Blues\u003cbr\u003e20. Finale\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e(Virgil Thompson, 1942)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0:52\u003cbr\u003e1:41\u003cbr\u003e3:27\u003cbr\u003e2:37\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e21. American Nocturne\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e(Dana Suesse, 1942)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3:43\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"nitro-offscreen\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"nitro-offscreen\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLINE UP:\u003cbr\u003eLara Downes:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eSolo piano\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"nitro-offscreen\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduced by:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eBob Karcy\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTotal Time:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eApprox 64 minutes\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arkadia Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44943260483677,"sku":"7720022A","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0625\/3186\/2621\/files\/Lara_Downes_American_Ballads.jpg?v=1787652280","url":"https:\/\/arkadiavinyl.com\/products\/lara-downes-american-ballads-cd-signed-by-lara-downes","provider":"Arkadia Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}