The City and the Sea

Eric Whitacre, renowned for his evocative choral compositions, presents "The City and the Sea," a captivating collection of five settings of poems by e.e. cummings. This album, released on February 17, 2025, under DUX Recording Producers, is a testament to Whitacre's mastery of choral music, showcasing his unique 'oven-mitt' technique, which employs white key clusters in the piano to create a distinctive rhythmic framework.

"The City and the Sea" is not just a collection of songs but a cohesive narrative that weaves together urban landscapes and introspective moments. The album opens with "I Walked the Boulevard," a playful and vivid portrayal of an urban street scene, followed by the enchanting "The Moon Is Hiding In Her Hair." Each of the five movements offers a unique interpretation of cummings' poetry, from the whimsical "Maggy and Milly and Molly and May" to the serene "The Seal Lullaby."

In addition to the five cummings settings, the album features a diverse range of Whitacre's choral works, including the hauntingly beautiful "She Weeps Over Rahoon" and the collaborative piece "The Bells." The album also includes a set of Five Hebrew Love Songs, each offering a unique blend of cultural and musical influences.

With a duration of 48 minutes, "The City and the Sea" is a compact yet powerful exploration of Whitacre's choral repertoire. The album is a celebration of poetry, music, and the human voice, and it is sure to captivate both longtime fans of Whitacre's work and newcomers to his music.