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Shall I Compare Thee?

Chicago a cappella’s sixth CD recording is a unique celebration of texts by William Shakespeare, all set to music by world-class composers of our own time. The disc's release marks the recorded premieres of seven works and includes several songs written especially for Chicago a cappella.

Cedille Records 90000 085
Running time: 63:00
Includes 32-page booklet with notes, texts and translations
Recorded at Northeastern Illinois University Recital Hall, Chicago

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TRACK LISTING:
Kevin Olson (b. 1970): Summer Sonnet*
Martha Sullivan (b. 1964): Blow, blow, thou winter wind* Jaakko Mäntyjärvi (b. 1963): *Four Shakespeare Songs*
Come Away, Death Lullaby Double, Double, Toil and Trouble Full Fathom Five
Matthew Harris (b. 1956): from Shakespeare Songs
It Was a Lover and his Lass Take, O Take Those Lips Away Who is Silvia? And Will A’Not Come Again?*
John Rutter (b. 1945): It Was a Lover and his Lass Nils Lindberg (b. 1933): Shall I compare? Håkan Parkman (1955–1988): from Three Shakespeare Songs
Madrigal (Take, O Take Those Lips Away)
Sonnet 147 (My love is as a fever)
György Orbán (b. 1947):Orpheus with his lute Orbán: O mistress mine! Juhani Komulainen (b. 1953): *Four Ballads of Shakespeare**
To be, or not to be* O weary night* Three words* Tomorrow and tomorrow*
Robert Applebaum (b. 1941): Spring*
Applebaum: Witches’ Blues*
Applebaum: Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?*
*World Premiere Recording The participation of the artists in this recording was underwritten in part through the generosity of the Nora Bergman Fund.

REVIEWS

“[A] charming, beautifully sung collection....Chicago a cappella sings with clarity, well-balanced tone, and deep emotional involvement.”

—Joseph McLellan, Washington Post

“Chicago a cappella is full of musical personality. The voices blend beautifully, but there's individuality to all of them. Excellent Cedille sound and an uncommonly handsome booklet add an emphatic hey nonino to a unique, unstuffy, beautifully sung enterprise.”

—Philip Greenfield, American Record Guide

“If the success of an album depends on the number of times one throws it into
the player, then "Shall I Compare Thee?" must be my record of the year. This disc
features one-of-a-kind songs based on Shakespearean texts, immaculate a
cappella singing, and an equally immaculate recording. The results are hard to
resist.”

—John Puccio, Sensible Sound

“[Jonathan] Miller seems to have a particular knack for choosing and/or training voices that blend beautifully without sacrificing one whit of their individuality; ergo, you'll find that the solo licks on this program are just as characterful and engaging as the ensemble sound. Don't miss this one.”

—James Carson, Fanfare

Grade: A
“[Chicago a cappella] sings each number with pure intonation, beautiful blend and clear diction, and the soloists who step out of the ensemble perform with plenty of pizazz.”

—Wilma Salisbury, Cleveland Plain Dealer

“gloriously sung....Chicago a cappella's blend is consistent and admirable. This is an adventurous, rewarding exploration of how the music of Shakespeare's texts continues to attract composers.”

—Craig Smith, Santa Fe New Mexican

“...a delightful and original CD. The nine singers are fresh voiced, beautifully tuned and convey joy in singing....The Chicagoans' diction is so good that the texts supplied are almost unnecessary. Recommended warmly.”

—Peter Grahame Woolf, Musical Pointers

“Choral music fans looking for something new, different, artfully sung, intelligently programmed, and expertly recorded should investigate this excellent recording without delay. [Mäntyjärvi’s] Lullaby (“You spotted snakes”, from A Midsummer Night's Dream) and Double, Double, Toil and Trouble (from Macbeth) are unqualified masterpieces, the latter a stunningly effective evocation of scene and text that stands above all other vocal portrayals. Chicago a cappella is a highly accomplished group of nine singers who show an obvious affinity for modern music. A delight!”

—David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com

“Speaking of music that is more fun than human beings should be allowed, the most addictive CD to come my way in a long time is Shall I Compare Thee? Choral Songs on Shakespeare on the Cedille label. Some of the pieces are familiar from previous Shakespeare compilations...but most of the material is new—to me, at least—and none of it has ever been sung this well on CD. The Chicago a cappella is some kind of magic blend of the great old jazz group, the Hi-Los, with a little Double Six of Paris and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir thrown in. I challenge anyone who listens to the first cut—Summer Sonnet by Kevin Olson, a composer and pianist at Elmhurst College near Chicago—to stop humming it for a week.”

—Jerry Bowles, Sequenza21

CDs can also be ordered by phone (773-755-1628), or via mail or fax using our printable order form.