In 2008, PARMA Recordings acquired Capstone Records, the highly respected New York-based classical label founded by composer Richard Brooks in 1986, with the intent of shepherding the company and its music into the digital era. This product, originally released on Capstone and now presented by PARMA's Ravello Records imprint, is one of a series of re-releases from the catalog called THE CAPSTONE COLLECTION. For more music in this series, please visit www.ravellorecords.com. This three-album collection contains all of the installments in composer Allen Brings’ SPECTRA series – live presentations of his work captured with the backing of Connecticut Composers, Inc., a nonprofit supporting composers living and working in the state. The trio of releases includes SPECTRA: A CONCERT OF MUSIC FOR VOICES (2002), featuring Missa Brevis played by the Kent Singers and conductor Marguerite Mullee; SPECTRA: A CONCERT OF MUSIC FOR PIANO (2004), featuring Ten Conceits played by pianists Ulrich Urban, Margaret Mills, Genevieve Chinn and Angela Pistilli; and SPECTRA: A CONCERT OF MUSIC FOR ORCHESTRA (2007), featuring Serenade for Orchestra played by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra and Hartt Symphony Orchestra with conductors Christopher Zimmerman, Marguerite Mullee and Joel Eric Suben. Both a composer and a pianist, Brings has twice served as chairman of the eastern region of the American Society of University Composers and currently serves as vice president of Connecticut Composers. He has received an ASCAP Award every year since 1975. Additionally, Brings has taught at a number of schools, and holds professor emeritus status at his alma mater, the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College of the City University of New York, where he was coordinator of the theory and ear training program. He is now a director of the Weston Music Center and School of the Performing Arts in Connecticut, where he teaches piano and theory.

Artists

Ulrich Urban (piano), Margaret Mills (piano), Genevieve Chinn (piano), Angela Pistilli (piano), Kathleen Stark (alto), Mellissa Meckles (bassoon), Sharon Abner (piano), Sharon Abner (organ)

The Kent Singers, Hartt Symphony Orchestra, Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Marguerite Mullée, Christopher Zimmerman, Joel Eric Suben