"This is a heartfelt tribute to the work of the poet-farmer Wendell Berry. In 2012, composer Andrew Maxfield visited Berry in the poet’s Kentucky homestead, and recorded a number of poems read by the poet himself. These form the spoken tracks here which preface Maxfield’s settings. The performances of Maxfield’s works are by the 40-strong chamber choir the Salt Lake Vocal Artists, an ensemble of preternatural tightness, and the excellent baritone Rex Kocherhans for the solo numbers. Apparently the recording sessions were blighted by extra percussion, the sound of rain against the roof of the recording venue; no trace of that in the beautifully finished recording that is presented here.
Berry’s poetry speaks of a return to grass-roots values of neighborliness, and caring for the environment we live in. The simplicity of these aims, and the artful simplicity of Berry’s writing, is mirrored in Maxfield’s pieces." (Fanfare Magazine--full review here)