"The Moon's a Gong, Hung in the Wild" is a captivating collection of songs composed by Jake Heggie, released in 2015 under AVIE Records. This album features a diverse range of vocal music, showcasing Heggie's versatility and depth as a composer. The 19-track album spans a duration of approximately 52 minutes, offering a rich tapestry of musical experiences that are by turns rhapsodic, humorous, and nostalgic.
The album opens with a series of pieces inspired by art and sculpture, titled "Statuesque," followed by a suite of songs dedicated to the moon, "Songs to the Moon." These tracks are interspersed with standalone pieces like "Winter Roses," "The Breaking Waves," and traditional folk songs such as "Barb'ry Allen," "He's Gone Away," and "Danny Boy." The album concludes with the hauntingly beautiful "White in the Moon."
Recorded in January 2015 at the Lisztzentrum Raiding in Austria, the album benefits from the exceptional performances of Austrian mezzo-soprano Angelika Kirchschlager and Dutch pianist Maurice Lammerts van Bueren. Their collaboration brings a passionate and nuanced interpretation to Heggie's compositions, making this album a standout in the realm of classical vocal music. Whether you're a longtime fan of Jake Heggie's work or new to his compositions, "The Moon's a Gong, Hung in the Wild" offers a compelling and enjoyable listening experience.
(C) 2015 Maurice Lammerts van Bueren
Tracks
Statuesque: I. Henry Moore - Reclining Figure in ElmwoodJake Heggie, Angelika Kirchschlager, Maurice Lammerts Van Bueren
Statuesque: II. Pablo Picasso - Head of a Woman, 1942Jake Heggie, Angelika Kirchschlager, Maurice Lammerts Van Bueren
Statuesque: III. Winged Victory - We're ThroughJake Heggie, Angelika Kirchschlager, Maurice Lammerts Van Bueren
Songs to the Moon: I. Prologue - Once More - To Gloriana, Part I - Fairy Tales for the ChildrenJake Heggie, Angelika Kirchschlager, Maurice Lammerts Van Bueren
Songs to the Moon: II. EuclidJake Heggie, Angelika Kirchschlager, Maurice Lammerts Van Bueren
Songs to the Moon: III. The Haughty Snail-King (What Uncle William Told the Children)Jake Heggie, Angelika Kirchschlager, Maurice Lammerts Van Bueren
Songs to the Moon: IV. What the Rattlesnake SaidJake Heggie, Angelika Kirchschlager, Maurice Lammerts Van Bueren
Songs to the Moon: V. The Moon's the North Wind's Cooky (What the Little Girl Said)Jake Heggie, Angelika Kirchschlager, Maurice Lammerts Van Bueren
Songs to the Moon: VI. What the Scarecrow SaidJake Heggie, Angelika Kirchschlager, Maurice Lammerts Van Bueren
Songs to the Moon: VII. What the Gray-Winged Fairy SaidJake Heggie, Angelika Kirchschlager, Maurice Lammerts Van Bueren
Songs to the Moon: VIII. Yet Gentle Will the Griffin Be (What Grandpa Told the Children)Jake Heggie, Angelika Kirchschlager, Maurice Lammerts Van Bueren
Winter Roses: Looking West - Sweet LightJake Heggie, Angelika Kirchschlager, Maurice Lammerts Van Bueren
The Breaking Waves: I. AdventJake Heggie, Angelika Kirchschlager, Maurice Lammerts Van Bueren
The Breaking Waves: II. DarknessJake Heggie, Angelika Kirchschlager, Maurice Lammerts Van Bueren
The Breaking Waves: III. MusicJake Heggie, Angelika Kirchschlager, Maurice Lammerts Van Bueren
Barb'ry AllenJake Heggie, Angelika Kirchschlager, Maurice Lammerts Van Bueren
He's Gone AwayJake Heggie, Angelika Kirchschlager, Maurice Lammerts Van Bueren
Danny BoyJake Heggie, Angelika Kirchschlager, Maurice Lammerts Van Bueren
White in the MoonJake Heggie, Angelika Kirchschlager, Maurice Lammerts Van Bueren
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