Lyricist(s): Carroll, Lewis
Conductor(s): Becker, Gisèle
Label: Naxos
Genre: Chamber Music; Choral - Secular
Period: Contemporary
Catalogue No: 8.572685
Barcode: 747313268573
Release Date: 09/2011

SAYLOR, M.: Hunting of the Snark (The) / New Music for Vintage Silent Film Comedies (Cantate Chamber Singers, Snark Pit-band, Snark Ensemble, Becker)

Maurice Saylor’s setting of Lewis Carroll’s The Hunting of the Snark is written for a chorus and ‘Snarkestra’, Saylor’s word for his quirky, misfit pit-band. This includes all manner of percussion and woodwinds, as well as such exotica as harmonica, bass accordion and washtub, instruments “reviled by society at large”, in Saylor’s words. To the nonsense text he brings a riot of colour and wit as well as a series of traditional devices such as refrains, sea chanties, and a chorale. The result is music of vibrancy, excitement, and even dangerous volatility. The three silent film scores are pacey, dapper and splendidly jazzy.

Tracklist

Saylor, Maurice
Carroll, Lewis - Lyricist
Cantate Chamber Singers (Choir)
Snark Pit-band (Ensemble)
Becker, Gisèle (Conductor)
Holton-Arms Lower School Chorus (Choir)
1 Fit the First: The Landing 12:55
Cantate Chamber Singers (Choir)
Snark Pit-band (Ensemble)
Becker, Gisèle (Conductor)
2 Fit the Second: The Bellman's Speech 05:27
Cantate Chamber Singers (Choir)
Snark Pit-band (Ensemble)
Becker, Gisèle (Conductor)
3 Fit the Third: The Baker's Tale 11:53
Cantate Chamber Singers (Choir)
Snark Pit-band (Ensemble)
Becker, Gisèle (Conductor)
4 Fit the Fourth: The Hunting 02:46
Cantate Chamber Singers (Choir)
Snark Pit-band (Ensemble)
Becker, Gisèle (Conductor)
5 Fit the Fifth: The Beaver's Lesson 05:20
Cantate Chamber Singers (Choir)
Holton-Arms Lower School Chorus (Choir)
Snark Pit-band (Ensemble)
Becker, Gisèle (Conductor)
6 Fit the Sixth: Brief Snarkestral Outburst I 00:18
Cantate Chamber Singers (Choir)
Snark Pit-band (Ensemble)
Becker, Gisèle (Conductor)
7 Fit the Seventh: Brief Snarkestral Outburst II 00:36
Cantate Chamber Singers (Choir)
Snark Pit-band (Ensemble)
Becker, Gisèle (Conductor)
8 Fit the Eighth: The Vanishing 06:56
Cantate Chamber Singers (Choir)
Snark Pit-band (Ensemble)
Becker, Gisèle (Conductor)
Carluzzo, Phil
Snark Ensemble (Ensemble)
9 Stolen Goods 09:03
Snark Ensemble (Ensemble)
Saylor, Maurice
Snark Ensemble (Ensemble)
10 Publicity Pays 09:54
Snark Ensemble (Ensemble)
Simpson, Andrew Earle
Snark Ensemble (Ensemble)
11 Too Many Mammas 08:49
Snark Ensemble (Ensemble)

Total Playing Time: 01:13:57