Charles Ives (1874-1954), an American composer, wrote nearly 200 songs, which represent a central part of his creative output.
Composition History
Ives frequently reworked his songs throughout his career, sometimes substituting texts or revising the music itself.
Recording & Production
This album is the fifth volume in an edition of Ives's songs, adopting an alphabetic approach to ensure each volume contains a representative cross-section of his work.
Compositional Technique
The song "A Son of a Gambolier" (1895) features a "Kazoo Chorus" where any available winds and strings can join in.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Ives's songwriting evolved from Austro-German Lieder and English parlour-song traditions to pieces showing anarchic humor and profound vision, mirroring the evolution of American music from the late 19th to early 20th centuries.
Composition History
Ives's last original song, "Sunrise" (1926), was left as a nearly illegible sketch and was realized after his death by John Kirkpatrick.
