The centenary of 's birth in 2022 brought a spate of recordings of his music, which is something of a change from the norm over the past few decades. is invariably called the dean of African American composers, but his career encompassed the heyday of hardcore modernism, and he has sometimes been more venerated than played. This release avoids the difficulties, and it provides a template for how other groups might program this immensely important composer's music. African American musical materials are always present in 's music to one degree or another, but here, they emerge with particular clarity. The program opens with 's , an adaptation of a string quartet movement that is perfect for orchestras that have played one too many times. The land right in the middle of the spectrum in 's output between modernism and vernacular influences, and they are ingenious little piece that devise new ways of keeping in touch with the roots. 's Pulitzer Prize-winning , a setting of 's When lilacs last in the dooryard bloom'd, receives a regal performance here from soprano . Also valuable is the , an underappreciated work by that must have influenced mightily. With two different conductors, in the works and , the Seattleites emerge with a real feel for the connections among these works. Fine engineering from the 's own label in the orchestra's home hall contributes to an edge for this album over other recent releases. ~ James Manheim