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)
1Fit the First: The Landing12:55
Cantate Chamber Singers (Choir)
Snark Pit-band (Ensemble)
Becker, Gisèle (Conductor)
2Fit the Second: The Bellman's Speech05:27
Cantate Chamber Singers (Choir)
Snark Pit-band (Ensemble)
Becker, Gisèle (Conductor)
3Fit the Third: The Baker's Tale11:53
Cantate Chamber Singers (Choir)
Snark Pit-band (Ensemble)
Becker, Gisèle (Conductor)
4Fit the Fourth: The Hunting02:46
Cantate Chamber Singers (Choir)
Snark Pit-band (Ensemble)
Becker, Gisèle (Conductor)
5Fit the Fifth: The Beaver's Lesson05:20
Cantate Chamber Singers (Choir)
Holton-Arms Lower School Chorus (Choir)
Snark Pit-band (Ensemble)
Becker, Gisèle (Conductor)
6Fit the Sixth: Brief Snarkestral Outburst I00:18
Cantate Chamber Singers (Choir)
Snark Pit-band (Ensemble)
Becker, Gisèle (Conductor)
7Fit the Seventh: Brief Snarkestral Outburst II00:36
Cantate Chamber Singers (Choir)
Snark Pit-band (Ensemble)
Becker, Gisèle (Conductor)
8Fit the Eighth: The Vanishing06:56
Cantate Chamber Singers (Choir)
Snark Pit-band (Ensemble)
Becker, Gisèle (Conductor)
Carluzzo, Phil
Snark Ensemble (Ensemble)
9Stolen Goods09:03
Snark Ensemble (Ensemble)
Saylor, Maurice
Snark Ensemble (Ensemble)
10Publicity Pays09:54
Snark Ensemble (Ensemble)
Simpson, Andrew Earle
Snark Ensemble (Ensemble)
11Too Many Mammas08:49
Snark Ensemble (Ensemble)

Total Playing Time: 01:13:57