• The Dawn of the Bicameral Clarinetist

    Catalog #: NV6693

    Release Date: December 6, 2024

    20th Century
    Solo Instrumental
    Clarinet
    Electronic

    Imagine the clarinet like you've never heard it before--elevated by cutting-edge technology and taking flight to new, uncharted frontiers. With THE DAWN OF THE BICAMERAL CLARINETIST, clarinet virtuoso Dr. Gary Dranch offers an extraordinary exploration of the pivotal era between 1968 and 1979, when portable synthesizers first made their way onto the concert stage. This Navona Records release sheds light on the clarinet's development in a time shaped by the Space Age, when composers, inspired by technological advances, crafted a unique collaboration between electronic devices and live musicians. The album title reflects this groundbreaking synergy, where the clarinetist merges with the digital realm, leading audiences into strange and beautiful new dimensions. Featuring rare live recordings and a thrilling fusion of jazz, rock, and classical influences, THE DAWN OF THE BICAMERAL CLARINETIST captures the essence of this transformative period with striking clarity and depth. If your interests lie in the intersection of technology and art, this album is sure to make a positive and enduring impression.

  • Changing

    Catalog #: NV6686

    Release Date: November 8, 2024

    20th Century
    21st Century
    Renaissance
    Vocal Music
    Choir

    Choral Chameleon, under the direction of Vince Peterson, explores the concept of change as a fundamental aspect of our existence on CHANGING from Navona Records. The texts and poems in this release delve into change as something that is inevitable and cyclical, to be actively embraced and critically examined in how it transforms our experiences, identities, and worldviews. CHANGING encourages listeners to move forward together with joyful anticipation of what is to come — not only with willingness, but with courage and evergreen determination.

  • Sonata for Flute and Piano

    Catalog #: NV6685

    Release Date: December 6, 2024

    21st Century
    Chamber
    Flute
    Piano

    SONATA FOR FLUTE AND PIANO by Timothy Schmalz is a vibrant and eclectic three-movement piece. This technically-demanding sonata incorporates a wide range of musical styles, inspired by Schmalz’s years spent studying works from the classical and pre-Romantic periods as well as the 20th and 21st centuries. The musical vernacular of the work is at once daring and playful, with the final movement representing a full “dream cycle.” Likened to a “musical children’s book” by the composer, this piece — Schmalz’s first foray into sonatas for small chamber ensembles — invites listeners young and old into the realm of imagination.

  • Life’s Sweet Shadows

    Catalog #: NV6682

    Release Date: November 15, 2024

    21st Century
    Vocal Music
    Voice

    Celebrated soprano Ellaina Lewis honors composer Richard Thompson's art song oeuvre in LIFE'S SWEET SHADOWS, a recording created in collaboration with masterful sound designer Joe Williams. Immersed in the rich text of Paul Laurence Dunbar and Langston Hughes, Lewis gives a profoundly emotional performance, her rich timbre pronouncing the story within each song and elevating the complexities of Thompson's compositional style. Lewis shines in each expression, proving equal beauty in the musings of One Life as the joyful call of Passion. Lovingly brought to fruition with the help of many supporters, including the encouragement of pianist Kim Davenport, LIFE'S SWEET SHADOWS is a triumph in art song.

  • Shifting Direction

    Catalog #: NV6681

    Release Date: November 15, 2024

    21st Century
    Chamber
    Clarinet
    Flute
    Violin

    A resilient voice for new music, Eric Allen conducts the Texas Tech University Contemporary Music Ensemble in SHIFTING DIRECTION, a collection of three works by composers Joan Tower, Jennifer Jolley, and Jennifer Higdon. Elevated by Allen's precise conducting and careful attention to detail, SHIFTING DIRECTION provides three unique listening directions for contemporary music enjoyers to delight in. In Petroushskates, Tower paints an image of a carnival on ice, a whirling winter affair inspired by the thematic material of Stravinsky's Petrushka as it appears in the opening Shrovetide fair sequence. Weaving and flowing, the music creates the graceful effect of seeing a figure skating routine. Jolley's Blue Glacier Decoy pays tribute to the path of modern dancer and choreographer Trisha Brown, who revered the glacier and incorporated its landscape and movement into her work. SHIFTING DIRECTION closes with a bang — or rather, a zap — with Higdon's Zaka, a word which is defined as doing the following at great speed: zap, sock, race, turn, drop, sprint. The ensemble moves at an electric pace to capture the essence of the term.

  • Mythology Suite - Album Cover

    Mythology Suite

    Catalog #: NV6678

    Release Date: December 6, 2024

    20th Century
    21st Century
    Orchestral
    Wind Ensemble

    MYTHOLOGY SUITE from the acclaimed Nevada Wind Ensemble is a chronological cross-section through the ensemble's highly diverse repertoire: vibrant, unapologetically modern, a determined confluence of 20th century serious music and contemporary 21st-century composition. It's rare to hear a wind ensemble soaring to such lofty heights as under the baton of Reed Chamberlin, who commands the ensemble exceptionally well in this Navona Records release.

  • Denmark Vesey

    Catalog #: NV6676

    Release Date: November 8, 2024

    21st Century
    Chamber
    String Quartet

    Composer Thomas Cabaniss and the Charleston Symphony String Quartet bring a new and exquisite recording of Cabaniss's third, fourth, and sixth string quartets to Navona Records. A complementary record to the previously released FOUR ELEMENTS, DENMARK VESEY completes Cabaniss's six-quartet series. Bearing endless musical complexities masked in an air of exquisite melodic simplicity, the Charleston Symphony String Quartet effectively captures the evolving story between each movement and each quartet. Just as easily as they lean into the melancholy lines of the sixth, whose narrative tells the viscerally emotional story of Denmark Vesey, a slave revolt leader, they capture the harsh futuristic elements of the fourth and the flowing dance movements of the third. No doubt, DENMARK VESEY again proves Cabaniss to be a composer of wide variety, a collaboration that cements his legacy in the string ensemble genre.

  • Meciendo

    Catalog #: NV6675

    Release Date: October 25, 2024

    21st Century
    Vocal Music
    Choir

    The multi-GRAMMY® award winning ensemble The Crossing, led by Donald Nally, delivers an enthralling program of contemporary choral compositions with MECIENDO from Navona Records. New works from six composers unknown to one another and yet wondrously aligned; their music weaves together seamlessly, even mystically, into a meaningful story of spirituality and interconnectedness. Warmth and sparkle alternate effortlessly in the choral textures created by this renowned ensemble, enveloping listeners in a sound that travels from the closed arms of a loved one to the stars above. Available in stereo and Dolby Atmos immersive audio formats, MECIENDO blends the intimate and the profound in an awe-inducing performance.

  • Gustav Hoyer: Symphony No. 1

    Catalog #: NV6674

    Release Date: October 25, 2024

    21st Century
    Orchestral
    Orchestra

    Emerging from Gustav Hoyer’s innate desire to push the boundaries of his personal musicality, SYMPHONY NO. 1 is the cumulation of a lifetime of affectionate study of orchestral craft. Mirroring Hoyer’s own musical passage from then to now, and commenting on the strange, uncertain state of our world following a pandemic, Symphony No. 1 dances a path of regaining hope in the face of anxiety and strife. Vast instrumentation conveys tense uncertainty and glorious resurrection in a shattering finale that ensures Hoyer’s first symphony will be regarded as a triumph for the composer and an unforgettable experience for listeners.

  • Beethoven: The Complete Cello Sonatas

    Catalog #: NV6673

    Release Date: November 8, 2024

    Romantic
    Chamber
    String Quartet

    Lauded cellist Emily Mantone is accompanied by Umi Garrett on BEETHOVEN: THE COMPLETE CELLO SONATAS, working in tandem to bring a new and distinctive tone to the five sonatas weaving through the lifetime of the great composer.

  • Second Nature

    Second Nature

    Catalog #: NV6672

    Release Date: November 8, 2024

    21st Century
    Chamber
    Brass Ensemble

    As a musical ensemble and non-profit organization, Calliope Brass flourishes in its joint mission of cultivating both entertainment and education. And with the freshly-commissioned contemporary works on SECOND NATURE, this vibrant ensemble proves that innovation lies at the very core of its existence.  Leaning heavily into tailor-made commissions can be an artistic gamble for any musical group, but in this case it pays off. The compositions’ motives are diverse in their representations of nature — meditations on mushrooms, Greek mythology, and modern dating, to name a few — but the performance given by Calliope Brass is one thing only: comprehensively flawless.

  • Dashing Vol. 5

    Catalog #: NV6671

    Release Date: November 15, 2024

    21st Century
    Holiday
    Choir
    Harp
    Orchestra

    On the hunt for a flurry of contemporary classical works to soundtrack your holiday season? Look no further than DASHING VOL. 5 from Navona Records. This installment of the series unwraps the spirited, uplifting, and grandiose qualities of classical holiday music, exploring new interpretations of mainstay melodies, sonic interpretations of snowfall, delicate carols, and more. Featuring an array of instrumental and vocal music from several lauded composers and performers, DASHING VOL. 5 serves as a cheerful reminder that music may be the greatest gift of all.

  • Ink Traces

    Catalog #: NV6670

    Release Date: October 4, 2024

    21st Century
    Chamber
    Solo Instrumental
    Piano
    Violin

    Inspiring curiosity, cultural interaction, and deep listening, INK TRACES reflects violinist Julia Glenn’s 15-year journey exploring Chinese culture and interactions between Chinese language and music, fueled by frequent trips and three years living in China. This Navona Records release reflects a greater interdisciplinary approach seen in Chinese arts - one that blends poetry, dance, painting, calligraphy, and music and shows fascinating interchanges between gesture and sound. The title, inspired in part by Pan Kai's Ink Traces of Sigh for solo violin, is a nod to such interplay. The album explores three threads: probing the musical-linguistic play possible in the music of Chinese speakers, broadening perspectives on Chinese music, and fostering cultural dialogue between China and the United States. It features works by Chinese and Chinese-speaking composers, stretching traditional Western musical boundaries to create rich, imaginative soundscapes and processes.

  • Horizon

    Catalog #: NV6669

    Release Date: October 25, 2024

    21st Century
    Vocal Music
    Choir
    Piano
    Voice

    If one could have recorded an ancient culture, how would it have sounded? Croatian conductor Antoaneta Radočaj-Jerković and two all-female choirs under her lead pursue this question. The result is HORIZON, a haunting performance of the eponymous work by contemporary composer Dalibor Bukvić. HORIZON is meant to evoke the ambiance of the prehistoric Vučedol culture, which flourished between 3000 and 2200 B.C. in what is now (mostly) Croatia. And in this endeavor, it succeeds with unsettling precision: Bukvić's work and the choirs' impeccable performance conjure images of hermetic settlements, starry skies, pagan rituals, and an ever-present consciousness of impending extinction. An ethereal experience.

  • The Voice of Brubeck, Vol. 1

    Catalog #: NV6668

    Release Date: August 30, 2024

    20th Century
    Classical
    Jazz
    Vocal Music
    Flute
    Saxophone
    Voice

    From the iconic groove of his Take Five to the infectious melody he composed in Blue Rondo À la Turk and beyond, Dave Brubeck was an innovative musical figure who left an indelible footprint on the history of jazz. His groundbreaking approach to composition stretched far beyond the barriers of genre, however. THE VOICE OF BRUBECK, VOL. 1 from Navona Records showcases the legendary artist’s contributions to symphonic, chamber, and sacred vocal music, and explorations of new musical forms. Spearheaded by producer Arthur Gottschalk and the Lago Vista Community Concerts Foundation, this album offers a diverse palette of celebrated and previously-unrecorded choral and orchestral works that Brubeck regarded as some of his finest. Featuring the GRAMMY® Award-winning Houston Chamber Choir alongside a 19-piece orchestra and the Brubeck Brothers and Paul English Quartets, THE VOICE OF BRUBECK, VOL. 1 carries on the legacy of the widely influential pianist and composer’s body of work so that future generations may enjoy his music for years to come.

  • Adolphus Hailstork: Chamber Works

    Catalog #: NV6667

    Release Date: November 15, 2024

    21st Century
    Chamber
    Piano
    String Quartet
    Voice

    It's admittedly rare to hear contemporary classical music that delivers a shot of energy and drive like a cup of coffee: strong enough to wake you up, but in a way that is still pleasing to the senses. ADOLPHUS HAILSTORK boasts exactly this rare and invigorating combination — and the energetic performance by The Harlem Chamber Players adds an extra boost on top. Hailstork’s music blends African, American, and European traditions; there are parts that positively sound like something Shostakovich or Prokofiev might have written, perhaps echoes of Hailstork's studies with Nadia Boulanger in the 1960s. There are moments of contemplation, but if this album is anything, it's invigorating and profound.

  • From the Sea to the Stars

    Catalog #: NV6666

    Release Date: October 25, 2024

    20th Century
    21st Century
    Chamber
    Oboe
    Piano

    Outside of Russian ballets and Mozart symphonies, the oboe is an instrument that generally does not get a lot of credit. But on FROM THE SEA TO THE STARS, the instrument is thrust into the spotlight it deserves. The driving force? Accomplished American oboists Lindsay Flowers and Andrew Parker. Center stage, it turns out, is a surprisingly merited place for the oboe and its bigger sister, the English horn — especially in contemporary composition. Flowers and Parker have curated a moody selection of beautiful, minimalist pieces that allow the respective instruments to shine on their own — accompanied only here and there by a pleasingly subtle piano. Delicate, lyrical, and utterly charming.

  • New Enchantments

    Catalog #: NV6665

    Release Date: September 20, 2024

    21st Century
    Romantic
    Chamber
    Baroque Ensemble
    Bassoon
    Piano

    Fairy tales have deeply and consistently fascinated humanity throughout the centuries. Enter NEW ENCHANTMENTS, bassoonist Cornelia Sommer's exploration of magical archetypes that features music by living composers along with new arrangements by Sommer herself across six world premiere recordings. Sommer has also written a prize-winning dissertation on the subject of fairy tales in music, adding further depth to this performance that showcases her musical virtuosity, great feeling for nuance, lyrical storytelling, and profound expertise to illuminate every last detail. Enriching and engrossing, this album could not be more aptly titled.

  • Contemporary Colours Vol 2

    Catalog #: NV6664

    Release Date: November 8, 2024

    21st Century
    Orchestral
    Orchestra

    Lauded by Gramophone Magazine for the “well-drilled performances” delivered in their first installment, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra returns with CONTEMPORARY COLOURS VOL 2, the long-awaited follow up to their 2020 Navona Records release. A keen promoter of Maltese composers, the orchestra brings to life works that explore themes of Greek tragedy, religious symbolism, existential philosophy, struggles that shape the human experience, and more. Conductor Miran Vautopić leads the celebrated ensemble through this exhilarating display of Maltese virtuosity.

  • Casanova

    Catalog #: NV6663

    Release Date: October 4, 2024

    21st Century
    Concertos
    Cello
    Wind Ensemble

    At this point, it would only be fair to call Dutch composer and conductor Johan de Meij “the Dutch King of program music.” Widely known to audiences for his 1988 Symphony No. 1 The Lord of the Rings, De Meij now presents CASANOVA, the complete recording of his compositions and transcriptions for cello and wind orchestra. Like the majority of De Meij’s oeuvre, the works on CASANOVA are committed to a late Romantic aesthetic: frequently citing Rachmaninoff, Debussy, or Puccini, and intended to conjure specific imagery. The resulting music is soothing, colorful, and pleasing to the ear.