DAVID DIAMOND (1915-2005): Rounds for String Orchestra, WILLIAM SCHUMAN (1910-1992): Symphony No. 5, ARTHUR FOOTE (1853-1937): Suite in E, Op. 63, SAMUEL BARBER (1910-1981): Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 1, Adagio for Strings, Op. 11.

Description: Diamond's 15-minute Rounds from 1944 takes its title from the canon-like group singing of 16th century England and, though he does not rigorously follow their rules, he produces a bright, optimistic, rhythmically exciting piece which, while immediately identifiable as American, is also plainly not of the grandiose "war symphony" genre also thriving at that time. Schuman's 18-minute string symphony from the previous year, much more approachable than his late symphonies, does fit that mould, in its "conflict-grief-resolution" setup. Barber's 1929 Serenade is only a bit more modern-sounding than Foote's Romantic effusion of just 22 years previous. do.gma Chamber Orchestra; Mikhail Gurevich. SACD hybrid