(New York, NY ) Just in time to celebrate Pride weekend! The live recording of Songs of the Phoenix, will be available everywhere, digitally, Friday, June 24th. Songs of the Phoenix features music by composers and lyricists Ty Defoe, Alexandra Elle, Siedah Garrett, Joriah Kwame, Daniel Lazour, Patrick Lazour, Melissa Li, Andrew Lippa, Ingrid Michaelson, Stephen Schwartz, Stephen Sondheim, Diana Syrse, and Kit Yan. Songs of the Phoenix was commissioned by The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and co-comissioned by Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus; Austin Gay Men’s Chorus; Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles; Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida; Heartland Men’s Chorus; New York City Gay Men’s Chorus; North Coast Men’s Chorus; One Voice Chorus of Charlotte, NC; Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus; Portland Gay Men’s Chorus; Windy City Gay Men’s Chorus & Treble Quire. The album was recorded live on April 10th, 2022.
About Songs of the Phoenix: In the early days of the pandemic, Tim Seelig and Andrew Lippa began conversations about completing a trilogy of works created by Andrew for the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. The first two were “I Am Harvey Milk” (2013) and “Unbreakable” (2018). Both had words and music by Andrew. This time, Andrew offered to curate a work that might address the myriad challenges facing our nation during the pandemic. Andrew envisioned a large work created by as diverse a group of librettists and composers as possible. Two years, later, Songs of the Phoenix was birthed with the world premiere on April 10 at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco.
Songs of the Phoenix features narration written by Josh Wilder and Carson Grace Becker and performed by Rodney Earl Jackson, Jr and Cheri Miller. Orchestrations by Peter Seibert and vocal arrangements by Dave Volpe and curation by Andrew Lippa. The album is produced by Leslie Ann Jones. The album is also produced by Dr. Timothy Seelig and Andrew Lippa with engineering by Dann Thompson and Leslie Ann Jones. Denise Woodward and Nick Abreu as recording engineers with edits by Leslie Ann Jones, Robert Gatley and Dann Thompson. The recording has been mixed by Leslie Ann Jones at Skywalker Sound, a Lucasfilm Ltd. Company with assistant mixing by Dann Thompson. Mastered by Michael Romanowski of Coast Mastering. The album was recorded live at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center, Louise M Davies Symphony Hall.
The orchestra is conducted by Dr. Timothy Seelig, and features Nicolas Perez on piano, Aaron Shaul on bass, Matthew Wrobel on bass, Juan Carreon on drums, Fred Morgan on percussion, Peter Seibert on keyboard, Yuri Kye on violin, Andrés Vera on cello, Tom Regouski on reeds. Dave Volpe created the TTBB arrangements and William Southerland created SATB vocal arrangements.
Song List:
1. PRELUDE 1 /THE LIFE CYCLE OF A STAR (ADAGIO) (Music by Andrew Lippa, Narration by Josh Wilder) 2. WE RISE (Music and Lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson)
3. WHO AM I? (Music by Melissa Li, Lyrics by Kit Yan and Melissa Li)
4. WE ARE THE TREES (Music and Lyrics by Ty Defoe Speaker:Landa Lakes)
5. MOTHER DEAR (Music by Andrew Lippa, Lyrics by Siedah Garrett)
6. PRELUDE 2 / INVISIBLE GRIDS (Music by Andrew Lippa, Narration by Carson Grace Becker) 7. SONG OF TOMORROW (Music and Lyrics by Joriah Kwamé)
8. MÚSICA Y SABORES (Music and Lyrics by Diana Syrse)
9. PRAYER (Music and Lyrics by The Lazours)
10. PRELUDE 3 / WAVE (Music by Andrew Lippa, Narration by Josh Wilder)
11. FLAG SONG (Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim)
12. BLOOM (Music by Stephen Schwartz, Lyrics by Alexandra Elle)
13. PRELUDE 4 / FIN (Music by Andrew Lippa, Narration by Josh Wilder)
14. SONG OF THE PHOENIX (Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa)
DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY HERE: https://www.broadwayrecords.com/products/songs-of-the-phoenix-san-francisco-gay-mens-chorus-mp3
MORE ABOUT BROADWAY RECORDS:
Broadway Records is the leading, Grammy® winning record label dedicated to releasing the most popular and current Broadway cast recordings, as well as preserving legacy musical theatre and theatre vocalists' repertoire. Under the leadership of Broadway Records' president and founder Van Dean, recent releases include: the New Off-Broadway Cast Recording of ASSASSINS, the New Broadway Cast Recording of Caroline, Or Change, If The Fates Allow: The Hadestown Holiday Album, Grammy® Nominated Burt Bacharach & Stephen Sater's Some Lovers, Grammy® Nominated Stephen Schwartz's Snapshots, The Lehman Trilogy, Randy Rainbow's A Little Brains, A Little Talent, Legacy: Two Song Cycles by Ahrens and Flaherty, the Grammy® and Tony Award-winning revival of The Color Purple, the Tony Award® winning and Grammy® nominated revival of Once On This Island, the Grammy® nominated Matilda The Musical, Fiddler on the Roof (2015 revival) and My Fair Lady (2018 revival), Anastasia, Bandstand, Groundhog Day, The Lightning Thief and NBC's television events, "The Wiz Live!" and "Peter Pan Live!" as well as solo albums from Patti LuPone, Lea Salonga, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jessica Vosk, Kyle Taylor Parker, and many more. The label's critically-acclaimed "Live at Feinstein's/54 Below" series features top Broadway stars including Aaron Tveit, Annaleigh Ashford, Norbert Leo Butz, Sierra Boggess, Laura Benanti, Robbie Rozelle, Adam Pascal & Anthony Rapp, Micky Dolenz, and many others. Broadway Records philanthropic endeavors also include the "Broadway For Orlando: What The World Needs Now is Love", "We Are The World" by Broadway United and "Broadway Kids Against Bullying: I Have a Voice" music videos and From Broadway With Love benefit concerts for Sandy Hook, Orlando (Emmy Award for Sound) and Parkland. www.BroadwayRecords.com
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About SFGMC
Founded in 1978, SFGMC sparked a nationwide LGBTQ choral movement after its first public performance at a vigil on the steps of City Hall following the assassinations of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone. Since then, SFGMC has been embedded in the fabric of San Francisco. It has soothed souls in pain, lifted spirits in triumph, and has remained a steadfast beacon of hope.
Under the leadership of Artistic Director Dr. Timothy Seelig, SFGMC has established a heightened level of performance standards bringing renewed audience and choral industry acclaim. Recent touring schedules, recordings, and outreach programs have broadened its impact and reputation in the community while maintaining its signature blend of humor, personality and ground-breaking performances. In 2019, SFGMC acquired a historic facility that has become its permanent home for rehearsals and offices. The building also serves as The Chan National Queer Arts Center, the first-ever community space for LGBTQ artists and arts organizations.
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