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New Music Friday: Mythology Symphony: Orchestral Works by Stacy Garrop
On November 13, Cedille is excited to release Mythology Symphony: Orchestral Works by Stacy Garrop, featuring performances by the Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA) Symphony and Chamber Orchestras. This is the first album devoted to orchestral music by Stacy Garrop, an American composer whose work exudes “vision and breadth” (Gramophone). It features world-premiere recordings of three works, including the spacious and cinematic Mythology Symphony. Characterized by Garrop’s signature lyricism and vivid storytelling, the five-movement symphony, inspired by female figures from Greek mythology, receives a vibrant and compelling performance by Billboard-charting international conductor Alondra de la Parra.
Peabody Conservatory-based conductor Markland Thakar conducts two Garrop works for chamber orchestra: the mythic Thunderwalker and Shadow, a moving interplay of counterpoint, shifting textures, and profound emotion. Garrop’s music “excites the enthusiasm of performers and audiences alike,” says the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. She has “a sharp ear for instrumental color and narrative form: She can tell a story” raves the Detroit Free Press.
If you enjoy this recording, please consider posting a review on its Amazon.com and/or iTunes product pages. This will help the CD appear higher in search results — giving Stacy Garrop’s artistry greater visibility. You also may have noticed that our recently re-launched website offers the ability to post reviews of our recordings for other Cedille patrons to read. I encourage you to share your thoughts there as well!
Recommended
Commissioned by Cedille Records specially for our 2025 Emerging Artist Competition winner, oboist Oliver Talukder, as a companion for his Briefly Gorgeous album, Powder is a two-track single of Two Songs for voice, oboe/English horn, and piano by Delfin Demiray, who was Talukder’s classmate at the Curtis Institute of Music. The first song features Chicago mezzo, Sophia Maekawa, while Talukder performs the second song’s special effect and extended technique-infused vocal line himself (as an “overdub”), demonstrating yet another facet of his artistry.
Winner of Cedille Records’ 2025 Emerging Artist Competition, Chicago-born oboist Oliver Talukder makes his solo recording debut with Briefly Gorgeous. Joined by pianist Moriah Trenk, Talukder presents an album inspired by themes of identity, love, family, and belonging. Drawing on his Mexican and Bengali heritage and his Chicago upbringing, the program explores where classical music intersects with Latino and South Asian traditions, creating a musical portrait shaped by Talukder’s unique story.
With the new month comes a new featured playlist on Spotify — or, in this case, a refresh of our Artist Debuts on Cedille playlist, originally created in 2022 to celebrate the inaugural album by the first Emerging Artist Competition winner, saxophonist Julian Velasco.
The update is to celebrate oboist Oliver Talukder, winner of Cedille’s second competition, as well as other artists who have made their Cedille debus since 2022. (Oliver’s track will be added on Friday when his album, Briefly Gorgeous, is released.)
Enjoy Cedille’s Weekly Featured Release.