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List Price: $8.99 | | Label: Naxos American
Salesrank: 53819
Released: May 17, 2005 |
| Our Price: $4.48 |
| Used Price: $3.96 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Peter Boyer: Ellis Island: The Dream of America Track Listing:
1. Prologue
2. Words Of Helen Cohen
3. Interlude 1
4. Words Of James Apanomith
5. Interlude 2
6. Words Of Lillian Galleta
7. Interlude 3
8. Words Of Lazarus Salamon
9. Interlude 4
10. Words Of Helen Rosenthal
11. Interlude 5
12. Words Of Manny Steen
13. Interlude 6
14. Words Of Katherine Beychock
15. Epilogue: 'The New Colossus'
Peter Boyer: Ellis Island: The Dream of America Reviews:
Ellis Island - A Fine Balance of Art and Accessibility 
2007-05-15 - Finding the balance between art and its initial accessibility to an intended audience can be one of the greatest challenges facing the contemporary composer. Too much art, and new music loses the competition for the listener's ear to the great composers of history. Too little art, and new music begins to sound shallow after a few listenings. Peter Boyer's "Ellis Island" is both accessible and deep, deep enough to listen to again and again. For we who are Americans, "Ellis Island" even carries us beyond the art of music and inspires us to remember what has historically made America great.
"Ellis Island" creatively uses the narratives of seven people who came to America through the immigration station at Ellis Island as a general structure for its large form and its initial accessibility. Distinguished actors such as Academy Award winner Olympia Dukakis, and Tony Award winner Barry Bostwick capably personify the narratives. Combined with multi-media pictures when performed live, "Ellis Island" is gaining momentum and popularity by being programmed by increasing numbers of orchestras across America.
Boyer's themes are memorable, even singable. Because the subject of this work is part of American history, the orchestral colors are appropriately reminiscent of Aaron Copland's "American" works. Like a great film score, "Ellis Island" gives a theme to each of its colorful, narrated characters and then combines them all into one highly enjoyable, even inspiring symphonic work.
21st Century Composer Presents Another Outstanding Offering in "Ellis Island"
2006-02-07 - Extensive play of Peter Boyer's earlier recording "The Music of Peter Boyer" (which unfortunately is now out of print) by our local classical music station prompted my orginal and on going interest in this music from a gifted young composer. "Ellis Island" offers the listener a stunning and varied music mix and textures in various classical forms and formats to meet and enhance the context of the different narrations much in the way a musical score enhances and magnifies the story quality and emotion felt with the soundtrack of a movie or musical. While the use of accompanying narration or story telling is not new to the genre this particular piece has a truely American quality that those of us with any knowledge of our immigrant roots can relate. One can relate in one way or another to almost all the stories.
This recording fits nicely with other NAXOS recording in this series. Music that is sometimes not often heard or recorded or may be new, but is none the less worthy of our attention and that of others because it is that good.
Mr. Boyer falls into the catagory of other 21st century composers I find myself listening to-Joseph Curiale, Michael Torke, John Adams and others-who are carrying on the traditons of giants of the 20th century-Copeland, Elmer Bernstein, Leonard Bernstein and others-and taking this rich traditon of music to the next level and beyond. After "Ellis Island" I am anxiously looking forward to Mr. Boyer's next compositions and recording.
Inspiring piece of music and history 
2005-10-04 - Perhaps I am a sucker for anything about Ellis Island since both my parents came to this country through Ellis Island. Be that as it may, I thorougly enjoyed the spoken stories of immigrants and the musical interludes (which reminded me of Aaron Copland). The music moved me and I thought the mix of music and spoken sections was very effective. I recommend it.
Ellis Island brought tears to my eyes, loved it!
2005-08-03 - I really enjoyed the music and readings. Bought extra so I could use them as gifts.
Great Idea - Mediocre Realization 
2005-07-29 - I would really give this 3 1/2 stars. This is a good idea and the stories are varied and moving. The musical realization is well orchestrated but not very original. Boyer is an innovative orchestrator and has a formidable bag of tricks. Being familiar with some of his other music such as Ghosts of Troy, I would say that this music is a step down. He seems to be trying too hard to create something important. The opening theme is rather generic and seems to be channeling a combination of Aaron Copland and Jerry Goldsmith. In one of the interludes, there is a very "Twilight Zone" flavor created with marimba and piano (I could be wrong about the instruments here). He has used some of the same orchestral effects here that he used in Titanic to create the feeling of oceanic distress.
I would have thought Boyer would use this opportunity to create some interesting orchestral music combined with traditional ethnic elements native to the various cultures represented, and also to reflect distinctly American music that was present at the turn of the 20th century. He did this somewhat with the "Tin Pan Alley" interlude, but this was rather cliche.
For what I believe is a more successful and moving realization of somewhat the same time period and subject matter, check out Charles Strouse's score to the musical "Rags".
