For my doctoral dissertation project at the University of Maryland, I will be conducting two performances of Lukas Foss’ cantata “The Prairie.”  We have rented the requisite number of octavos from G. Schirmer, but we would like to know if any choirs have this piece in their libraries and if they could lend us additional octavos should we need them (i.e., if additional singers join in the next few weeks). 

This work is now permanently out of print and seems to be rather neglected, but it was widely acclaimed when it was premiered in the mid-1940s.  It would be of interest to me in my research to find out where any extant copies exist (and how many are out there).  I would also be interested to hear from colleagues who have performed the work (as a conductor or singer).

If you are not familiar with the work, I recommend The Providence Singers’ recording (Andrew Clark, cond.).  If you are in the DC area at the end of February, please consider attending one of our performances: 2/28 (8 PM) at Memorial Chapel (UMD) and 3/3 (8 PM) at Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church (Washington, DC).

 

I can be reached at .  Thanks for any help you can provide!