What joins this collection of well- and lesser-known 20th century American composers is the form in which they're represented, labeled conveniently if not definitively as "art songs." Unlike their predecessors from the 18th and 19th centuries, these songs seem generally more concerned with style than with melody, but there are moments of variety and discovery.
The Copland song, penned early in the famous populist's career, is uncharateristically neoclassical, though the skippity-chase between reeds is familiar. Miriam Gideon achieves an evocative spectrum of moods as she sets ancient texts and a children's song to cerebral melodies and arrangements. Louise Talma's brief depictions of individual precious jewels are more programmatic, but with clever surprises. Henry Cowell's 'Vocalise' is perhaps the most eminently musical of the lot, in the interactive teaming of voice and instruments and the refreshing syncopations. Ruth Crawford Seeger's setting of Carl Sandburg's song/poems is arty but fun.
The instrumentalists are faultlessly precise, the singers enhancing: Phyllis Bryn-Julson's light, pleasant soprano is beautifully paired with flute, mezzo Beverly Morgan brings rich character, and tenors Constantine Cassolas and Paul Sperry infuse an engaging Peter Pears-like urgency.