Howard Hanson Born: 28 Oct. 1896, Wahoo, Nebraska Died: 26 Feb. 1981, Rochester, NY

(U.S. Opera Home Page)

• Merry Mount, opera in three acts of six scenes (10 Feb. 1934, NY Met)

Howard Hanson was in his day considered the most important of American composers. Since his death interest in his neo-romantic music has waned, but he has never fully disappeared from the repretoire. His only opera, Merry Mount, was one of the Met's most successful essays into new American works in the thirties, both artistically and with the public. (At its premiere, the opera recieved a total of fifty curtain calls, still a house record.) Hanson was also an important musical educator and helped promote the music of such composers as Roy Harris and Jack Beeson.

"Oh, 'Tis An Earth Defiled" from Merry Mount, on Lawrence Tibbett: From Broadway to Hollywood. Tibbett; Met. Opera House Orchestra/Pelletier. Compact disc: Nimbus NI7881.

"Oh, 'tis an earth defiled" from Merry Mount, on Souvenirs from American Operas. Various artists, 1998. Compact disc: IRCC 818.

"Oh, 'Tis An Earth Defiled" from Merry Mount, on The Stanford Archive Series. Tibbett; Met. Opera House Orchestra/Pelletier. Compact disc: Delos 5500.

"Oh, 'Tis An Earth Defiled" from Merry Mount, on Four American Baritones of the Past. Various artists 1999. Compact disc: Preiser 89957.

Orchestral suite from Merry Mount, on Hanson: Symphony No. 4 etc. Seattle Symphony/Schwartz 1991. Compact disc: Delos 3105.

Orchestral suite from Merry Mount, on Howard Hanson: The Composer And His Orchestra. Rochester Orchestra/Hanson, rel. 1996. Compact disc: Polygram 434370.

Orchestral suite from Merry Mount, on Hanson: Orchestral Works Vol. 1. Nashville Symphony/Schermerhorn 2000. Compact disc: Naxos 559072.

Orchestral suite from Merry Mount, on Howard Hanson Conducts Hanson. Mormon Youth Chorus and Symphony/Hanson rel. 1995. Compact disc: Citadel 88110.

Orchestral suite from Merry Mount, on Hanson Conducts Hanson. Hanson cond., rel. 1997. Compact disc: Biddulph Conductor Series 38.