Schuman, W.: Symphony No. 8 / Night Journey / Ives, C.: Vari

Naxos's acclaimed series of William
Schuman's symphonies concludes
with his powerful and at times playful
Eighth Symphony, in which the great
American composer takes full
advantage of the diverse instrumental
colors available from a very large
orchestra, including two harps, piano,
and batteries of brass, wind
and percussion instruments. The
introspective Night Journey is based
on Schuman's score for Martha
Graham's ballet about Jocasta's
tragic destiny as both mother and wife
of Oedipus, while his arrangement of
Ives's popular Variations on 'America',
again rich in percussion, combines
reverence and exuberance.