Universally recognized as the greatest American composer of art songs, Ned Rorem’s strengths lie in his uncanny facility with language, his deep understanding of the texts, and his ability to compose fluid, eminently singable vocal lines. Singers favour his evocative music because his songs feel comfortable in the voice. Listeners feel involved because the texts are clear and communicative, their emotions heightened by the music. Composers of diverse schools respect and admire his output because he has kept alive a tradition otherwise relegated mostly to music theatre or popular songs. From among his hundreds of songs, we have put together these selections which include some of Ned Rorem’s own favourites. – Carole Farley
Tracklist
Artist details
Rorem, Ned
The Waking
1 The Waking 02:44
Rorem, Ned
Roethke, Theodore - Lyricist
Root Cellar
2 Root Cellar 02:00
My Papa's Waltz
3 My Papa's Waltz 01:21
Rorem, Ned
I Strolled Across an Open Field
4 I Strolled Across an Open Field 01:12
Memory
5 Memory 01:06
Rorem, Ned
Roethke, Theodore - Lyricist
Orchids
6 Orchids 01:56
The Serpent
7 The Serpent 01:56
Rorem, Ned
Night Crow
8 Night Crow 01:33
Rorem, Ned
Roethke, Theodore - Lyricist
Snake
9 Snake 00:58
Rorem, Ned
Wylie, Elinor - Lyricist
Little Elegy
10 Little Elegy 01:24
Rorem, Ned
The Nightingale
11 The Nightingale 01:11
Nantucket
12 Nantucket 01:12
Rorem, Ned
Pearse, Padriac - Lyricist
Lullaby of the Woman of the Mountain
13 Lullaby of the Woman of the Mountain 02:01
Rorem, Ned
Browning, Robert - Lyricist
Love in a Life
14 Love in a Life 03:29
Rorem, Ned
Spenser, Edmund - Lyricist
What if Some Little Pain...
15 What if Some Little Pain... 01:47
Rorem, Ned
Bishop, Elizabeth - Lyricist
Visits to St. Elizabeth's
16 Visits to St. Elizabeth's 03:31
Rorem, Ned
Frost, Robert - Lyricist
Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening
17 Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening 01:43
Rorem, Ned
Hopkins, Gerard Manley - Lyricist
Spring
18 Spring 01:50
Rorem, Ned
Moss, Howard - Lyricist
See How They Love Me
19 See How They Love Me 01:38
Rorem, Ned
Tennyson, Alfred - Lyricist
Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal
20 Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal 02:51
Rorem, Ned
Stein, Gertrude - Lyricist
I am Rose
21 I am Rose 00:21
Rorem, Ned
Ask Me No More
22 Ask Me No More 02:56
Rorem, Ned
Tennyson, Alfred - Lyricist
Far-Far-Away
23 Far-Far-Away 01:46
Rorem, Ned
Hillyer, Robert - Lyricist
Early in the Morning
24 Early in the Morning 01:35
Rorem, Ned
Bible - Lyricist
Alleluia
25 Alleluia 02:22
Rorem, Ned
Goodman, Paul - Lyricist
Such Beauty as Hurts to Behold
26 Such Beauty as Hurts to Behold 02:11
Sally's Smile
27 Sally's Smile 00:48
Rorem, Ned
Whitman, Walt - Lyricist
Youth, Day, Old Age, and Night
28 Youth, Day, Old Age, and Night 02:04
O You Whom I Often and Silently Come
29 O You Whom I Often and Silently Come 00:25
Full of Life Now
30 Full of Life Now 01:46
Rorem, Ned
As Adam Early in the Morning
31 As Adam Early in the Morning 01:24
Rorem, Ned
Whitman, Walt - Lyricist
Are You the New Person?
32 Are You the New Person? 02:31
