ERNEST BLOCH (1880-1959): America: An Epic Rhapsody for Orchestra, Concerto Grosso No. 1 for Piano and String Orchestra.

Description: Composed in 1926, the mammoth, 50-minute America describes the history of the nation by concentrating on three periods (1620; the Civil War and "The Present - The Future"), using elements from Native Americans, the Pilgrims, Celtic, African-Americans, Creole and other popular musics. Throughout, the germ cells of the concluding choral anthem, as fulsome a bit of musical praise as any American immigrant ever wrote, build until their final, climactic revealing. Patricia Michaelian (piano), Seattle Symphony Chorale, Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz. Original 1992 and 1993 Delos releases.