The poetry of Emily Dickinson (1830–1886), now considered to be one of the greatest American writers, expresses a profound depth of feeling which has long been an inspiration to composers of art songs. Eight of the finest in this genre explore Dickinson’s universal themes of love, death, immortality, and man’s relationship with nature, from Aaron Copland’s famous evocative settings, to songs from Scott Gendel’s ASCAP/Lehmann prizewinning cycle Forgotten Light. Lee Hoiby’s profoundly moving contributions are his last recording as a pianist.