KERMIT POLING (b.1960): Concerto De Chiaro for Guitar and Orchestra, Along These Footsteps to Paradise - Suite for Strings No. 2.

Description: Composer-conductor-violinist Poling has an attractive, tonal idiom in which he has composed extensively on religious subjects, and for the stage, screen and concert hall. Along These Footsteps is a suite of engaging character portraits of Saints of the Catholic Church - the three Archangels named in the Bible; St Faustina, the originator of the Divine Mercy image; Joan of Arc, a stirring miniature tone poem that quotes the Dies irae and the French melody that became the carol 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel'; Kateri Tektakwitha, the first Native American to be recognized as a saint, with melodic and rhythmic references to Native American music; and Frère André of Montréal. The works are neo-romantic, with neo-Baroque inflections and some folk music influence, and most engaging. The guitar concerto is a sunny, diverting work in traditional three-movement form, its title punning on the name of its performer and dedicatee and the Italian word for 'light'. Spanish inflections, especially in the solo part, pay tribute to the guitar's heritage. Giovanni De Chiaro (guitar), London Symohony Orchestra; Kermit Poling.