Lara Downes: American Ballads PRESS RELEASE Lara Downes solo piano TRACKS: Excursions, Opus 20 Samuel Barber, 1944 1. I Un poco Allegro 2. II In slow blues tempo 3. III Allegretto 4. IV Allegro molto Four Piano Blues Aaron Copland, 1949 5. I Freely Poetic 6. II Soft and Languid 7. III Muted and Sensuous 8. IV With Bounce 9. On Gossamer Wings Benny Golson, 2000 (World Premiere) American Ballads Roy Harris, 1947 10. I Streets of Laredo 11. II Wayfaring Stranger 12. III The Bird 13. IV Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair 14. V Cod Liver Ile North American Ballads Frederic Rzewski, 1979 15. III Down by the Riverside 2nd Piano Sonata: "Concord, Mass. 1840-1860" Charles Ives, 1909-1915 16. III The Alcotts Suite from The Plow That Broke the Plains Virgil Thompson, 1942 17. I Prelude 18. II Cowboy Songs 19. III Blues 20. IV Finale 21. American Nocturne Dana Suesse, 1942 Total Time: Approx. 64 min Pianist Lara Downes takes us on a journey through the heart and soul of the USA with American Ballads, as she interprets 20th century works by Barber, Copland, Ives, Thompson and features the world premiere recording of jazz composer/saxophonist Benny Golson's On Gossamer Wings.This collection of solo pieces reflects the influence of popular music on our master composers and captures the essence of the American spirit, brilliantly performed by one of today's remarkable talents. REVIEWS OF American Ballads TOUR SCHEDULE