Songs - C. Ives
- Charles Ives (1874-1954)
… Alexander’s [performance] is stunning, at times operatic and at times ridiculous – as it should be for Ives. She sings these songs like they just occurred to her … Classical Pulse Like a Sick Eagle sets the voice keening in slow quarter-tone slides to evoke the deathly exhaustion of a stricken bird … I liked, too, the Dolly Parton manner she assumes at the beginning of Charlie Rutlage … the recording is excellent. Gramophone Nowhere is the existence of a characteristically American quality in Ives's music better demonstrated than in his songs. Though related to the late 18th and early 19th centuries' Central European idiom, if they are performed with the subtleties of the European vocal tradition, the result will be absolutely unnatural. The specifically American qualities and unmistakable individuality need an interpretor shaped by the informal and comparatively steady cadences of American speech. One of the main elements that contribute to their American character is the use of quotations from hymns, war songs, popular songs and ragtime. All this he used to reach his main goal: making the details of his texts as vivid and as realistic as possible. The extraordinary diversity of Ives's music is easily seen in his album of 114 Songs, but it was not until the 1950s that his importance as a composer was fully recognized. All of the songs on this record are from the 114 Songs, except Slugging A Vampire, and who can sing these better than American soprano Roberta Alexander? Among the most compelling singing actresses of our time, Roberta Alexander enjoys international renown for her riveting, incisive characterizations, miraculous vocal and dramatic range. She has performed principal roles at the major operahouses around the globe. Equally esteemed as an orchestral soloist, Ms. Alexander enjoyed success with distinguished conductors as Ashkenazy, Haitink and Harnoncourt with diverse repertoire. An uncommonly communicative recitalist, Ms. Alexander has offered acclaimed programs in the best concert halls all over the world. She is an especially ardent and persuasive interpreter of American masterworks. Her voluminous discography on Etcetera, Philips, Sony, Teldec and BMG reflects her astonishing mastery of varied vocal style. Tan Crone studied with Nellie Wagenaar, Nadia Boulanger and Rudolf Serkin. After living several years in New England, and making tours of North and South America as solo pianist and as accompanist, she returned to The Netherlands continuing to appear widely through Europe.

Track listing
CD 1 - Songs | |||
1 | Songs My Mother Taught Me | 02:10 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
2 | Slow March | 02:11 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
3 | Dreams | 03:25 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
4 | Memories | 02:41 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
5 | Berceuse | 01:34 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
6 | Romanzo Di Central Park | 01:55 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
7 | Slugging A Vampire | 00:25 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
8 | Spring Song | 01:19 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
9 | The Cage | 00:55 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
10 | Autumn | 03:06 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
11 | The Things Our Fathers Loved | 01:42 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
12 | Tom Sails Away | 02:57 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
13 | Down East | 02:45 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
14 | Serenity | 02:00 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
15 | Maple Leaves | 01:00 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
16 | Like A Sick Eagle | 02:16 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
17 | On The Counter | 01:16 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
18 | The See 'R | 00:45 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
19 | Evening | 01:38 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
20 | Immortality | 01:41 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
21 | The Housatonic At Stockbridge | 03:32 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
22 | The Greatest Man | 01:34 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
23 | Two Little Flowers | 01:24 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
24 | The Side Show | 00:38 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
25 | 1,2,3 | 00:28 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
26 | Charlie Rutlage | 02:55 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
CD 2 - Songs | |||
1 | The Circus Band | 02:15 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
2 | A Night Song | 01:00 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
3 | An Old Flame | 02:04 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
4 | From "Night Of Frost In May" | 01:22 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
5 | Ich Grolle Nicht | 02:46 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
6 | Feldeinsamkeit | 03:04 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
7 | Die Alte Mutter | 01:51 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
8 | Weil'auf Mir | 01:52 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
9 | Ilmenau | 01:43 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
10 | Rosamunde | 02:10 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
11 | Qu'il M'irait Bien | 01:03 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
12 | Elegie | 03:38 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
13 | Chanson De Florian | 01:56 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
14 | The Children’s Hour | 02:04 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
15 | Harpalus (An Ancient Pastoral) | 01:10 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
16 | There´S A Lane | 01:18 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
17 | Mirage | 00:54 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
18 | A Farewell To Land | 01:46 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
19 | Evidence | 01:27 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
20 | The Camp Meeting | 04:07 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
21 | Watchman | 01:49 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
22 | His Exaltation | 01:57 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
23 | At The River | 01:35 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
24 | From 'Paracelsus' | 03:41 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
25 | Remembrance | 00:34 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
26 | At Sea | 01:23 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
27 | Ann Street | 00:59 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' | |||
28 | They Are There | 02:39 | |
artists: 'Roberta Alexander' 'Tan Crone' 'Rien de Reede' composers: 'Charles Ives (1874-1954)' |