MONICA HARTE soprano
BRIAN WILLSON conductor

Songs from Another Place is based upon six poems by Mark Strand. Although all were originally written independently of one another, each poem so deeply inspired a feeling of the "unknown" that they immediately felt like a cycle to me. Written for Soprano, String Bass and Electronics, the cycle works and has been successfully performed with and without the electronic component. The themes weave from instrument to voice and back, each triggering the electronics as specific dramatic effects. The effects used in this recording create various dream-like qualities, including echoes, pitch variation, and distance among others.

The Visitation of the Priory of St. Michael the Archangel Without Stamford is a fictional reenactment of a mid-15th century yearly visit of a Bishop to a convent and the various nuns' once-a-year chance to vent their spleen. The personality of each nun is evident by her words and her music. And many of them mention Eleanor Croyland, the final young nun to speak. She had a relationship with the young groundskeeper, who said he was Jesus, the flower maker. Her final prayer is both a love song and an avowal of her faith.

Monica Harte has performed more than 25 coloratura roles in the standard operatic repertoire and numerous world premieres. She has also sung concerts throughout North America and Europe. She is the soprano soloist on the critically acclaimed 2007 CD release, McLeer's Requiem, and the CD Long Island Songs, which features music by Tom Cipullo, Anne Phillips, George Brunner and Christian McLeer. She recently recorded works by McLeer and David Buddin for The Tempest Project CD to be released by POGUS Productions and the cycle Music in Motion for Rob Voisey’s CD, Starlings. Ms. Harte is the General Director and co-founder of Remarkable Theater Brigade, which produces contemporary operas and concerts in New York City.

George Brunner is an American composer and performer. Born in Philadelphia, he founded Electronic Music New York in 1986 and has worked as Producer with renowned composers such as Pauline Oliveros, Noah Creshevsky, Morton Subotnick and Jean Claude Risset, among others. Mr. Brunner is also the founder of the Brooklyn College Electroacoustic Music Ensemble and the Director of the Music Technology Program for the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College. His music has been commissioned for festivals and concerts in the United States, Europe, Asia and South America, including Electronic Music Midwest, Kungliga Musikhögskolan (Stockholm), and Institut International de Musique Electroacoustique (Bourges).

Bern H. Herbolsheimer has received international recognition for his more than 500 compositions, encompassing ballet, symphony, opera, chamber and choral works. His first opera, Aria Da Capo, won first prize in the National Opera Association's New Opera Competition. Mark Me Twain, his second opera, was commissioned and premiered by the Nevada Opera and his Symphony No.1, an NEA commission, was premiered by the Florida Symphony. His choral music is performed worldwide.

Morris Lang has served as Associate Principal Timpanist and percussionist with the New York Philharmonic since 1955. He has performed with all of the major conductors of the twentieth century and participated in Bernstein’s Young People’s Concerts and Live from Lincoln Center. He has participated in the recording of more than 100 orchestral CDs and all the major works in the percussion repertoire. His many publications include The Beginning Snare Drummer, The New Conception, Dictionary of Percussion Terms. At PASIC 2000, he was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame, and later given a Lifetime Achievement award by the Sabian Company and KOSA.

Nancy Merriam has performed for audiences throughout the United States and her native country, Canada. Her concert activities include solo, ensemble and orchestral playing. Nancy particularly enjoys performing concerts of contemporary music and concerts for children featuring the bass as a solo instrument. A former member of the San Antonio Symphony, Nancy is currently a freelance musician in the greater Philadelphia area.

Brian Willson has conducted, performed and lectured in 21 countries. He has performed with numerous noted artists, including Big Nick Nicholas, Frank Lacy and Terry Silverlight. He also has several Broadway show tours to his credit. His first CD, Things Heard Unheard, features Yuko Fujiyama and Dominic Duval and was released on the Deep Listening Label. He is the drummer for the Katy Roberts Quintet CD recorded in Paris, Live at L’Archipel. His conducting experience includes two film scores, a CD for Jose Halac, improvised music ensembles, and the Scandanavian-European tour of A Chorus Line.