released October 12, 2020

OPERA CHORAL VOCAL MUSIC OF LEE MCCLURE

🔶1. MOTHER AND CHILD – Excerpt
Opera – soprano, 4-hand-piano
Aria: “The Virgin Has Made A Miracle”
Libretto by Ron Whyte

Soprano: Judi Silvano, lead role: Angelina
Pianists: Neil Swanson, Christopher Vassiliades
Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, NYC, May 23, 1990

Link to scenario, timeline: archive.org/details/mother-and-child-suite-no.-2-scenario-timeline-credits
This recording is from the staged reading of “Mother And Child” and can be seen in the complete film of “Mother And Child” with subtitles:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtiSiK_hZOA


🔶2. VOICE – Excerpt
Opera – soprano, baritone, piano, double bass
Two duets: “You’re A Crippled Giant” and “Did You See Me?”
Libretto by Ron Whyte

Baritone: Robert Osborne, lead role: Ron Whyte
Mezz-soprano: Iraida Noriega, role: Ms Ronnie Stier
Piano: Bill Grossman,
Double bass: Lawrence Goldman
Eclectix concert, CAMI Hall, Nov. 14,1992

Link to scenario, timeline: archive.org/details/voice-scenario-timeline-credits


🔶3. DARK STAR
Chorus, a cappella
Text & music by Lee McClure. Composed 1978

Performed by The Gregg Smith Singers
St. Peter’s Church, NYC, April 24, 1988


🔶4. INVOCATION – Four Songs
Nine singers, a cappella
Text by Ron Whyte

Recording of The Accidentals
Margaret Dorn, director and soloist
Sopranos: Margaret Dorn, Emily Bindiger
Altos: Rosie Vallese, Patti Wys
Tenors: Bill Mitchel, Jim Vincent
Baritone: Todd Johnson
Basses: Dennis Deal, Marty Nelson
CAMI Hall, NYC, Nov. 15, 1997


🔶5. ELOHIM AND ADAM
Soprano, narrator, orchestra
Text by Hale Thatcher

Performed by the Old First Orchestra
Conductor: Mark Smith
Soprano: Eileen Williams. Narrator: Kent Fillmore
Old First Church, Van Ness & Sacramento St.
San Francisco, California, Feb. 13, 1983

This recording is the basis of the video-photo-montage by Lee McClure: www.youtube.com/watch?v=StSz-D0l2lQ


🔶 6. LITANY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT – Excerpt
Chorus, piano
Text by Robert Herrick
“Fast Blues” & “Anthem”

Performed by The Gregg Smith Singers
St. Peter’s Church, NYC, April 24, 1988


🔶 7. VOICE – Complete
Opera – soprano, baritone, piano, double bass
Libretto by Ron Whyte

Baritone: Robert Osborne, lead role: Ron Whyte
Mezzo-soprano: Iraida Noriega, role: Ms. Ronnie Stier
Eclectix Concert, CAMI Hall, Nov. 14, 1992

Link to scenario and timeline: archive.org/details/voice-scenario-timeline-credits


🔶8. CHANT FOR THE ARTIST – (revised)
Chorus, counter-tenor soloist, piano
Text by Ron Whyte

The Gregg Smith Singers
Counter-tenor soloist: David Peaston
St. Peter’s Church, NYC, April 24, 1988


🔶9. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOU
Soprano & jazz quartet
Music by Billy Eckstine
Text and arrangement by Lee McClure

The Lee McClure Ensemble
Conductor, arranger, composer: Lee McClure
Vocals: Margaret Dorn
Saxes, flute: Chris Hunter
Piano, organ: Bob Albanese
Double bass, E.Bass: Ratzo Harris
Drums: Tony Moreno

From the 2008 CD: “A Jazz Christmas Like You’ve Never Heard”:
leemcclure.bandcamp.com/album/a-jazz-christmas-like-youve-never-heard


🔶10. MOTHER AND CHILD SUITE NO.2 – Ten Songs
Opera – soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto
2 cellos, 4-hand-piano
Libretto by Ron Whyte

Soprano: Judi Silvano, lead role: Angelina
Mezzo-soprano: Linda LoPresti, role: Mother #2
Contralto: Holly Durniak, role: Mother #3
Music Director, conductor: Bill Grossman
Pianists: Neil Swanson, Christopher Vassiliades
Cellists: Mike Finkel, David Runnion

Link to scenario and timeline: archive.org/details/mother-and-child-suite-no.-2-scenario-timeline-credits
Link to the complete film of “Mother And Child” with subtitles:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtiSiK_hZOA
Suite of Ten Songs combines recordings from:
Staged reading of “Mother And Child”
Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, NYC, May 23, 1990
and
Concert performance: CAMI Hall, NYC, Sept. 7, 1990


🔶11. LULLABYE ANTONIA SUITE – Impressions of a Young Girl
Theater songs – soprano, piano
Text by Ron Whyte

Soprano: Lisa Bielawa
Piano: Nurit Tilles
Eclectix Concert, CAMI Hall, NYC, May 18, 1991

Link to scenario and timeline: archive.org/details/lullabye-antonia-suite-scenario-timeline-credits

Recordings in this Suite made from video of staged performance:
archive.org/details/LullabyeAntonia


🔶12. LITANY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT - Complete
Chorus, piano
Text by Robert Herrick

The Gregg Smith Singers
St. Peter’s Church, NYC, April 24, 1988

This recording is the basis of the video-photo-montage by Lee McClure: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YunSshIslEc (text in subtitles)


🔶13. WE THREE KINGS – Excerpt
Soprano & jazz quartet

The Lee McClure Ensemble
Conductor, arranger, composer: Lee McClure
Vocals: Margaret Dorn
Saxes, flute: Chris Hunter
Piano, organ: Bob Albanese
Double bass, E.Bass: Ratzo Harris
Drums: Tony Moreno
From the 2008 CD: “A Jazz Christmas Like You’ve Never Heard”: leemcclure.bandcamp.com/album/a-jazz-christmas-like-youve-never-heard


🔶14. WAKE HER UP
Theater song – soprano, piano
Text by Ron Whyte

Soprano: Linda LoPresti
Piano: Kenneth Laufer
CAMI Hall, NYC, July 8, 1990

This song and "Sermonette TV Sign Off Devotional" are from the unfinished 1980 full length theater piece, SURVIVAL that Ron Whyte was developing based on his three years in seminary and as a Chaplain at Bellevue Hospital.
Recorded at the wedding of Lee McClure and Suzanne Kaufman.


🔶15. MERELY BLUE
Soprano & jazz Sextet
Text by e.e. cummings

Soprano voice
4 saxophones: soprano, alto, tenor, baritone
Electric bass & Drums

On this recording Paul McCandless is on soprano sax. Others unknown.
Recording of premiere at Brooklyn College, 1977


🔶16. SAMBA GOSPEL – Excerpt
Soprano & jazz quartet
Text & music by Lee McClure

The Lee McClure Ensemble
Composer, conductor, arranger: Lee McClure
Vocals: Margaret Dorn
Saxes, flute: Chris Hunter
Piano, organ: Bob Albanese
Double bass, E.Bass: Ratzo Harris
Drums: Tony Moreno
From the 2008 CD: “A Jazz Christmas Like You’ve Never Heard”: leemcclure.bandcamp.com/album/a-jazz-christmas-like-youve-never-heard