- Nicholas Phan, Brooklyn Rider, et. al.: “Stranger – Works for Tenor by Nico Muhly” (Avie)
- London Choral Sinfonia, Michael Waldron, et. al: “Colourise” (Orchid Classics)
In his program notes for “Stranger,” Nico Muhly writes that he “almost always” prefers prose to poetry as a composer; setting prose “offers a more oblique entry-point into the text.” I find his use of the word “oblique” interesting here, as prose is often far more direct in its context: A journal article is written by academics for readers (usually also academics). A letter is written by a wife and sent to her husband. A petition is signed by community members and addressed to their local and national representatives.