A Native Hill
Digital Release Today
on Navona Records
Gavin Bryars & The Crossing
A Native Hill: the album
April 9, 2021

“The expression of that sound [the 24-voice chord opening the final movement] simultaneously conveyed exaltation and unresolvable grief...the closer you listened, the more it was anything but what it seemed to be...the piece left me feeling as if I had been on a much-needed, weeklong vacation — one that I look forward to taking again when The Crossing’s already-finished recording of A Native Hill comes out. Stay tuned for a date and label.”
–The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 2019
 
That date is today, and that label is Navona Records.

Topsoil and Streams. 
Animals and Birds.
Time and Living and Dying.
Questioning and Acceptance.

These are the seeds by which Gavin Bryars has cultivated what is among the most remarkable works in our history. 
Our 24th album.

A Native Hill
on words of Wendell Berry

Listen to it on Spotify, Apple Music, or Tidal
Physical copies available June 11th.

Read the program note and full texts HERE.
A Native Hill is a gift to The Crossing from the composer. 
with special thanks to Tony Creamer and an anonymous donor. 

Album artwork by Steven Bradshaw.

* * *

THE CROSSING
Jessica Beebe
Kelly Ann Bixby
Katy Avery
Nathaniel Barnett
Karen Blanchard
Steven Bradshaw
Colin Dill
Micah Dingler
Ryan Fleming
Joanna Gates
Dimitri German
Dominic German
Steven Hyder
Heidi Kurtz
Maren Montalbano
Rebecca Myers
Becky Oehlers
James Reese
Daniel Schwartz
Rebecca Siler
Julie Snyder
Daniel Spratlan
Elisa Sutherland
Daniel Taylor
 
Donald Nally – Conductor
Kevin Vondrak – Assistant Conductor
John Grecia – Keyboards
 
A Native Hill was recorded October 8-11, 2019 at St. Peter’s Church in the Great Valley, Malvern, PA
 
Recording Producers – Paul Vazquez, Donald Nally, and Kevin Vondrak
Recording Engineers – Paul Vazquez and Dante Portella
Editing, Mixing & Mastering – Paul Vazquez 
Production assistance – Logan Henke
 
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR:
Our artists, composers, audience, friends, and supporters;
Gavin Bryars;
Jack Shoemaker at Counterpoint Press;
the staff and congregation at our home, The Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill;
those who opened their homes to our artists during the recording of A Native Hill: Rev. Cindy Jarvis, David and Rebecca Thornburgh, Jeff and Liz Podraza, Beth Vaccaro and Landon Jones, Rebecca Siler, Corbin Abernathy and Andrew Beck, David Newmann and Laura Ward.
 
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CROSSING
Kelly Ann Bixby
Phil Cooke
Micah Dingler
Shawn Felton
Tuomi Forrest - Vice President
Mary D. Hangley
Lisa Husseini
Cynthia A. Jarvis
Mary Kinder Loiselle
Michael M. Meloy
Donald Nally
Eric Owens
Pam Prior - Treasurer
Andrew Quint
James Reese
Kim Shiley - President
Carol Loeb Shloss - Secretary
John Slattery
Elizabeth Van de Water
 
THE STAFF OF THE CROSSING
Jonathan Bradley, executive director
Shannon McMahon, operations manager
Kevin Vondrak, assistant conductor & artistic associate
Paul Vazquez, sound designer
Katie Feeney, grant manager
Elizabeth Dugan, bookkeeper
Ryan Strand, administrative assistant
 
The Crossing is represented by Alliance Artist Management
 
For Navona Records

General Manager of Audio & Sessions – Jan Košulič
Audio Director – Lucas Paquette
 
Executive Producer – Bob Lord
 
Executive A&R – Sam Renshaw
A&R Director – Brandon MacNeil
 
VP, Design & Marketing – Brett Picknell
Art Director – Ryan Harrison
Design – Edward A. Fleming
Publicity – Patrick Niland, Sara Warner
New music only happens through your support.