Skylark: Crossing Over

EDITORIAL REVIEWS
Crossing Over is comprised of compositions that depict the dream state at the end of life. Featuring unique voices in choral composition from around the world, and including several world premiere recordings, Crossing Over will take audiences on a musical and emotional journey that will tap deeply into the human spirit and illuminate the mystery of the end of mortal life and the possibilities of a life beyond.

The album features several well-known contemporary composers, as well as compositional voices that are just gaining notoriety. Skylark will commemorate British composer Sir John Tavener with the first US commercial recording of "Butterfly Dreams", an 8-movement dream-state piece composed in 2003. American composers will be prominently featured as well, with a rare recording of William Schuman's "Carols of Death", based on the poetry of Walt Whitman. Notably, the album will feature two young American compositional voices, with the debut recording of Robert Vuichard's "Heliocentric Meditation" based on the poetry of John Donne, and a recording of "Elegy" by Daniel Elder, based on the tune "Taps", played at United States military funerals. Skylark will also share stunning and seldom-heard music from the Icelandic choral tradition, including the first US recording of "Requiem" by Jón Leifs and an inspiring ancient psalmsetting by contemporary Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir. Thorvaldsdottir, recently named as the prestigious New York Philharmonic Kravis Emerging Composer, traveled from Iceland to work with Skylark during the sessions.

REVIEW
"It is an injustice of life that musical elegies and songs of consolation are customarily saved for the rituals following death, rather than employed in the moments immediately preceding the final breath. Skylark's nectarous new release, "Crossing Over," lives at this intersection of existence and the void, and one can only hope to have a soundtrack like this at hand when the time comes."
--WQXR, Doyle Armbrust, March 14, 2016

"What a beautiful recording and program from Sono Luminus, with a unique idea to tie the music together. Crossing Over is comprised of compositions that depict the dream state at the end of life. Featuring unique voices in choral composition from around the world, and including several world premiere recordings, Crossing Over to my ear was neither depressing or overly solemn, but beautiful music that lifts the spirits and creates a calm environment perfect for meditation or reflection.

.This is a significant classical release. Combining some world premier performances, a natural and beautifully ethereal recording, and a well thought-out program, this disc is highly recommended." --Mel Martin, Audiophile Audition, April 19, 2016

Disc 1
1: Elegy
2: 1. Butterfly Dreams Based On Chuang Tse
3: 2. Haiku By Kokku
4: 3. Haiku By Buson
5: 4. Haiku By Issa
6: 5. Haiku Anon.
7: 6. The Butterfly By Pavel Friedmann
8: 7. Butterfly Song from Acoman Indian
9: 8. Butterfly Dreams Based On Chuang Tse
10: Otche Nash
11: Requiem
12: Heliocentric Meditation
13: 1. The Last Invocation
14: 2. The Unknown Region
15: 3. To All, to Each
16: Heyr Pú Oss Himnum Á
17: Funeral Ikos

Disc 2
1: Elegy
2: 1. Butterfly Dreams Based On Chuang Tse
3: 2. Haiku By Kokku
4: 3. Haiku By Buson
5: 4. Haiku By Issa
6: 5. Haiku Anon.
7: 6. The Butterfly By Pavel Friedmann
8: 7. Butterfly Song from Acoman Indian
9: 8. Butterfly Dreams Based On Chuang Tse
10: Otche Nash
11: Requiem
12: Heliocentric Meditation
13: 1. The Last Invocation
14: 2. The Unknown Region
15: 3. To All, to Each
16: Heyr Pú Oss Himnum Á
17: Funeral Ikos

Composer: Anna Thorvaldsdottir, John Tavener, Jon Leifs, William Schumann, Daniel Elder, Nicolai Kedrov, Robert Vuichard

Number of Discs: 2

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