{"product_id":"choir-of-the-church-of-the-advent-boston-of-mere-being-cd","title":"Of Mere Being [CD]","description":"\u003cp\u003eRodney Lister's Choral Works: A Journey Through Text, Harmony, and ExpressionRodney Lister's choral compositions represent a remarkable synthesis of literary sensitivity, harmonic sophistication, and an abiding commitment to vocal expressivity. This recording offers a collection of Lister's works composed over several decades for the chorus of Greenwood Music Camp, a summer program with which he has been deeply involved as a composer, pianist, and mentor. The repertoire featured here provides a rare and illuminating perspective on the evolution of his choral writing, spanning from early diatonic and modal explorations to later works of greater harmonic intricacy.Lister's deep engagement with text is evident throughout this collection. Drawing upon poets such as Wallace Stevens, Gertrude Stein, and others, his settings bring out the rhythm, colour, and nuance of the language in ways that feel both natural and revelatory. Early works embrace clarity and directness, allowing the shape and syntax of the poetry to guide musical decisions, while later pieces exhibit a denser harmonic language that reflects his affinity for figures like Virgil Thomson and even the chromatic daring of composers such as Gesualdo. Throughout, his choral textures remain vibrant and varied, capable of both luminous transparency and rich complexity.A defining characteristic of Lister's music is his ability to balance tradition and innovation. He employs familiar harmonic structures yet subtly subverts expectations, allowing triadic formations to shift and realign in ways that create an ever-changing sense of musical space. The result is music that feels both grounded and pleasingly unpredictable, continually engaging the listener in an unfolding dialogue between stability and transformation. His approach to choral writing is informed by his experience as both a composer and pianist, ensuring that every line is singable, every phrase thoughtfully shaped, and every harmonic progression imbued with a keen sense of dramatic pacing.This recording not only highlights Lister's distinctive compositional voice but also captures his deep personal investment in the choral medium. His long-standing association with Greenwood Music Camp and other ensembles has allowed him to refine his craft in a setting that fosters both artistic rigor and communal engagement. The performances here reflect that intimate understanding between composer and ensemble, bringing his works to life with clarity, warmth, and expressive depth. For those interested in contemporary choral music that bridges past and present, intellect and emotion, structure and spontaneity, Lister's choral works offer a rewarding experience.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cdiv data-bt-autogen\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTracklist:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOf Mere Being~Toward a Supreme Fiction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOf Mere Being~A Clear Day and No Memories\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOf Mere Being~The Snow Man\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOf Mere Being~Another Weeping Woman\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOf Mere Being~Of Mere Being\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNever Give All the Heart\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVanishing Point\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTo the Harbormaster\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDownward Look\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLost Feed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStanza XV\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStanza XVI\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStanza XXXVIII\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOn the Road Home\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTo the Republic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePasture Poem\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMeasuring Worm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGreen\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTo a Waterfowl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBees\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOur Revels Now Are Ended\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUPC:\u003c\/strong\u003e 809730711121\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLabel:\u003c\/strong\u003e Metier\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRelease Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6.20.25\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e CD\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Choir Of The Church Of The Advent Boston","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58254347534417,"sku":"476465","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0620\/5023\/8545\/files\/4420799-3383111.jpg?v=1759472946","url":"https:\/\/apocalypsevinyl.com\/products\/choir-of-the-church-of-the-advent-boston-of-mere-being-cd","provider":"Apocalypse Vinyl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}