SNO's 4th Album APPROACHING Features 80 Minutes Of New Music

Symphony Number One released its new album at an event on Friday, November 3, 2017.

Titled Approaching, this is SNO's 4th offering, featuring music by young Baltimore composers Nicholas Bentz and Hangrui Zhang, as well as rising American composer, Martha Horst. Clocking in at over 79 minutes, this is the longest commercial release for the startup orchestra. The duration comes within a few seconds of the physical limitations of the CD format which can hold a maximum of 80 minutes of music.

Filling the majority of the disk is Approaching Eternity by composer and violinist Nicholas Bentz. SNO's Music Director and the conductor of all three works, Jordan Randall Smith had this to say:

"Clocking in at 54 minutes, Nick's work represents the first time the orchestra has truly reached its longterm goal to commission 'feature-length' works that can serve not as the sideshow, but as the centerpiece of a concert. Suddenly, Mozart and Tchaikovsky are just the "opening acts" for flesh-and-blood composers who live in the 21st century alongside the rest of us. Speaking for myself, it was deeply gratifying to get to perform this work, the longest and one of the most moving premieres I've ever given. And for it to have been composed by Nick Bentz, my friend and SNO co-founder, was an extraordinary treat. Nick, Martha, and Hangrui are all significant voices in new music today. Their music is deeply inspirational to me, each piece in its own unique way."

This is SNO's fourth commercial release, following last year's offering, More. Released on SNO's house imprint, SNOtone, this new album will also feature the highly regarded American composer, Martha Horst, and Baltimore-based Chinese composer Hangrui Zhang. Horst's work, Straussian Landscapes, is a prismatic look into three key moments or episodes from the music of Richard Strauss, while simultaneously remaining 100% true to Horst's colorful style.

At just 2 1/2 years into the small orchestra's brief tenure, this 4th album represents only a fraction of the 40+ new works which it has so far commissioned and performed.

The album will be available globally on Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify in CD, download, and streaming formats. Check the album homepage for updates and more details.