Boston Camerata & Anna Azema – Free America! (2019) [FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

The United States of America, a promised land? “Free America!” celebrates the ideas and hopes which preoccupied the young American Republic in the years 1770-1860: the need for freedom of assembly, a willingness to rebel and go into battle fully aware of the cost, but above all, a desire for a new harmony whose songs, hymn tunes, and marches accompany the long journey to a new “promised land.” A powerful message, informing the first collaboration between harmonia mundi and Anne Azéma, now leading the Boston Camerata.

With Joel Cohen holding the conductor’s baton for just under forty years (1969-2008), notably giving us the magnificent anthologies on the theme of Christmas, the Boston Camerata ensemble returns to the label harmonia mundi, forty years after their first projects were published on the French label (such as Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas in 1980, or Pierre Certon’s Chansons and the Mass “Sus le pont d’Avignon” in 1979). Here, it is Joel Cohen’s wife Anne Azéma who is conducting the ensemble. This new recital “Free America!” celebrates the themes that fuelled the hopes of the young American Republic in the 1770s and 1860s: rallies, rebellion, battles and their rewards. The pioneers channelled their hopes for the Promised Land into their singing and dancing. They celebrate the Union, freedom, equality, and above all a desire for “new social harmony, a new community credo, in a new land”. Most of the newcomers to the United States came from countries ruled by monarchies and the United States of America emerged as a unique opportunity to establish new governmental regimes that could better cater to the aspirations of each individual, with the hope of achieving greater equality. These simple songs celebrate the founding fathers, as well as heroes of war and politics such as George Washington, or philosophical and spiritual guides such as Thomas Paine. This recital consists of marches, anthems, jigs and songs (inspired by European practices of course) and showcases an early glimpse of the “American” sound, which would in a way be re-exploited by the great American composers of the 20th century (such as Ives and Copland) as they searched for an original sound. – Pierre-Yves Lascar

Tracklist:
1. Friendly Union 02:18
2. The Cuba March – The New Union 01:07
3. Bunker Hill 01:49
4. Liberty Tree 02:49
5. Chester 02:36
6. Captain Robert Kidd 01:06
7. Jolly Soldier 02:30
8. Boston March 01:19
9. Saw you my Hero 01:08
10. David’s Lamentation 02:07
11. Johnny has Gone for a Soldier m02:55
12. Prince William’s March 01:33
13. Repentance 02:18
14. Thirst for Gold 02:11
15. My Body Rock ‘Long Fever 02:47
16. Didn’t my Lord Deliver Daniel 01:34
17. Sanctum Te 01:28
18. Pretty Home 01:17
19. Hebrew Children 01:50
20. False are the Men of High Degree 01:12
21. The Rich Man 03:15
22. The Jolly Sailor 02:16
23. The Appletree 01:24
24. Trumpet of Peace 02:09
25. March (Clamanda) 01:51
26. O Zion Arise 02:04
27. Free Americay! 02:09
28. Rise Columbia! 03:05
29. Yankee Doodle or The Lexington March 03:23

Personnel:
Boston Camerata
Anne Azéma, direction

Download:

mqs.link_B0st0nCamerataAnnaAzmaFreeAmerica20192496.part1.rar
mqs.link_B0st0nCamerataAnnaAzmaFreeAmerica20192496.part2.rar