Review: Ives' Extraordinary Complete Songs on Naxos

Charles Ives was a devoted song composer, writing nearly 200 over the course of his career. No composer's song output contains music of wider expressive range, or a more eclectic mix of styles. This six-disc Naxos edition represents both a landmark in the Ives discography, and in the history of art-songs on records.
Musical Example courtesy of Naxos Records

[wdashwor]

I downloaded and explored this collection a few months ago. WOW! The variety and genius here is just staggering. Thank for featuring this wonderful set. And Charlie Rutlage is the perfect hook to draw listeners.

[johnboyd]

Thanks Dave for discussing Ives's wonderful songs. I have the Naxos set and like it very much and also have the Albany Records set and like it even more than the Naxos set. The Albany version of 'Feldeinsamksit' with Mary Ann Hart is one of my favorites.

[LouiePlaysDrums]

Charles Ives had a great sense of humor. I like that.

[written]

I heard a delightful, and varied batch of Ives songs performed at the Newport Music Festival about a decade ago.
His ability to interweave or just semi-quote American folk tunes and hymns in his dissonance is amazing. And as you said, there’s much poignancy in his songs.

[stevecook]

I've enjoyed several single discs of Ives songs. Thanks for bringing this set to our attention!

[flexusmaximus]

Great, great video Dave. I'm so happy to know fellow ives fanciers are out there. I've liked ived since I first heard Bernsteins recording of the 2nd. Its the one topic that my Germanic centered music lovers look down their nose at me.
Paul

[DvdAndrsn]

Ive's Christmas Carol was the first song I ever sang in public (not counting Edelweiss as a kid; I quickly grew out of THAT). I love his songs. I've sung Serenity, which is sublime, and At the River publicly, Berceuse to the dogs (and they're not big Ives fans). One of these years I'll tackle General Wm Booth Enters into Heaven (who was the founder of the Salvation Army, not a mere "revival preacher").

[bbailey]

My favorite Ives song disc in Gerald Finley with Julius Drake on Hyperion, beautiful singing and pointed interpretation. Also enjoy the Fischer Dieskau you mentioned. This Naxos collection goes way beyond Ives own publication of 114 songs (Presser). A great achievement.

[anthonycook]

I heard a Musak arrangement of the Ives Christmas Carol (minus the rhythmic trip) playing in a department store several years ago! I have collected about half of Ives' songs over many years- including some of the Naxos discs- and find them amazing. Some are like intense Twilight Zone episodes, some are disarmingly nostalgic, some cynical, some spiritual, and most are beautiful gems. "Serenity" is a masterpiece that suspends time. Listen to "The Greatest Man" for Father's Day, and have Kleenex handy!

[johnwright]

Yes, Ives was a great song writer and one of my favorite CDs of some of these is with the versatile Thomas Hampson and Tilson Thomas on piano and in orch works with the San Francisco Symphony on RCA/Sony.

[mohameditsenplitz]

Hello David, is the series The Most Beautiful Melodies still going on? I just discovered it and immediately a tune jumped up in my mind, but maybe you already played it in your series, I don't know. My choice is the theme of the slow movement of Barber's Symphony No.1 (oboe and strings). I have known this symphony for thirty years, listened to it hundreds of times and it still makes me cry. For me it evocates autumn in New England in better days and somewhat faded photographs of playing children.
Peter (from Belgium)

[jamesprudhomme]

This is a great video detailing new material for me!

Do you have a preference between Schumann and Ives' setting of "Ich Grolle Nicht, " and if so, why?

[fakology]

Dear David, you were so persuasive in your idea that the song genre isn’t interesting (cause pop rock songs are almost the same). What has happened? Why did you make an exception for Ives?

[johnmontanari]

Too bad Tex Ritter never did "Charlie Rutledge." But this sounds like great set to dip in and out of.