Today’s special posting is a recording of the World Premiere of an exceptional work by James Bassi. You can find Dean Kostos’s complete text on the YouTube page. Here are Jim’s own notes: “This is my third work commissioned by Voices of Ascension; it was premiered in April 2005. It features a text by the poet Dean Kostos, who is a close friend and colleague of mine. The text was written expressly for this piece, and Dean and I collaborated on shaping the dramatic nature and structure. Dean’s brilliant and vivid poetry, inspired in part by The Book of Revelation, unravels a mystical tale of two angels, ruling like demigods, controlling the forces of war and peace on earth. Throughout this work, the two angels are involved in an argument and struggle over who possesses the greater power and the greater influence on earthly mortals. At the height of their conflict, an intervening angel appears, in the form of a high florid soprano solo, a kind of deus ex machina, causing the two to cease their battling and to join forces for peace. I am proud of this particular composition, both musically, and in the dramatic sense. In this world premiere recording, besides Dennis’s masterful conducting and the stunning singers of Voice, we have the added blessings of Mark Kruczek, brilliantly playing the virtuoso organ part, and the soprano Eileen Clark, who is ravishing in her solo work.”

JAMES BASSI Dialogue: Angel of Peace, Angel of War

Voices of Ascension
Dennis Keene, Artistic Director
Eileen Clark, Soprano
Mark Kruczek, Organ

Recorded live April 2005 at Church of the Ascension
The singers in this performance are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO.