from the song cycle Dream

Tiana Sorenson, Soprano
Karina Kontorovitch, PIano

Recored by Keenan Recordings
Copyright 2021
Recorded at Ravenswood United Methodist Church in Chicago, IL

Dream Keeper

Premiere of Carl A. Alexander's "Look to this Day." A beautiful and optimistic Sankrit poem craftly set for TTBB and SATB. 

Look to this Day - Carl A. Alexander

Performance of Carl Alexander's transciption of "Walking in the Light of Love", a shape note hymn originally written by TJ Gilley. This is only the foundations of an interesting arrangement of this hymn that is available for SATB and TTBB voices. Please enjoy!

Walking in the Light of Love - trans. Carl A. Alexander

This stirring trio of beloved spirituals captures the awe in expectation of the revelation. Growing up Southern Baptist we were taught to embrace both the highs and lows of the journey to get to heaven, a living duality of the spiritual and the physical. This blending of worlds manifests in a confluence of traditional spirituals, gospel, and bee bop, all parts of my church experience. This piece conjures up the spirit of my ancestors as the music leans on a rhythmic and harmonic freedom that borders on improvisation as gestures hocket in and out of the texture in anticipation. 

Premiered by the Chicago Chamber Choir
Conductor: Dr. Christopher Windle

That Great Day

Trānźi, meaning “move on” in Corsican, are meditative movements for cello and piano that capture the emotional resonance of sharp transitions in life. Blending hopeful and bittersweet sonic gestures while shifting time, the three movements of Trānźi outline the spirit of hopefulness before a transition, the helplessness during this phase, and the newness that comes after.  Trānźi is an expression of the challenge that transitions allow us to grow through.

Movement 3

Movement 2

Movement 1

Coastal Cities

for Wind Quartet
by: Carl A. Alexander

Allison Rye| Oboe
Lewis Gilmore| Clarinet
Manuel Ramos| Clarinet
Nick Ritter| Bassoon 

Recording Engineer: Sean Keenan (Keenan Recording)
Copyright July 2016

Recorded at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Evanston, IL

Coastal Cities

N[igh]t takes advantage of time and space to present a melody that soars and rests without bound. For English Horn solo and an ensemble of Flute, Oboe, Bass Clarinet, and Bassoon the sound of this combination of reed/wind instruments is magnetic. This piece is based on a poem by African American poet Eugene Francis. Thank you to the fantastic ensemble who made this piece possible and an exceptional thank you to Dane who brought this lowly melody to life. 

Dane Philipsen | English Horn

Nate Pham | Flute
Jasper Igusa | Oboe
Rodrigo Orviz | Bass Clarinet
William George | Bassoon

Night

Everything is dark.
The sun that shined rays of
hope has now vanished. 
The birds that trilled odes of joy
are now silent.
Only the icy wind remains,
Whispering of pains, fears 
and shames.
The stars offer room to cope,
But those distant orbs 
Are of little hope.
Death would certainly feel
Much better than this.
The moon awaits 
To grant that wish.
Death?

N[igh]t

Saviour is one of the many projects where I was introduced to a new technique for writing for the voice. This piece is a combination of prepared field recording and live voice. Composed a week after Donald Trump's election to the office of President of the United States, my emotional and mental state of beings were in complete crisis. This text along with the many components of this soundscape you will hear in the piece, were my saving grace and restored my state of mind.  I must thank the professor who challenged me to write this piece and pour out my pent up rage and underlying sorrow into something that I believe is universal. 

Saviour

Ah!
We need no Saviours!
We can make no more Saviours!
Saviours only bring darkness
And hiding the light.

Saviour

The final/encore track from  Shelter: A Glance at Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome. A beautiful collaboration between harpist Autumn Selover and Countertenor, Carl Alexander to re-tell the story and psychology behind the spiritual Deep River.

Carl Alexander

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