ALLA BORZOVA (b.1961): Songs for Lada for Soprano, Folk Contralto, Children's Choir and Orchestra, To the New World for Orchestra.

Description: Songs is an appealing and charming cantata setting texts drawn from Byelorussian folk and children's songs and rhymes. The vocabulary is very tonal, with some theatrical elements and the use of folk instruments and styles (including some non-traditional playing methods here and there, recorded birdsong, and the use of a folk-style singer). The music is tuneful, lively and engaging. To the New World is a quarter-hour tone poem in Romantic vein, that poignantly incorporates material drawn from the ethnic musics of the many European races that have immigrated to the U.S. in a polyglot celebration of cultural diversity. Texts and translations available on-line. Valentina Fleer (soprano), Valentina Kozak (contralto), Michigan State University Children's Choir, Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Leonard Slatkin.