This CD represents a celebration of gay contributions to western art song in the "age of the closet." The second half of the 19th century represents for cultural historians the birth of homosexuality as a category of identity. Before this period, homosexuality was not a well-defined cultural concept; equivalent terms for it did not exist in ancient Greece or other societies where same-sex behaviors occurred. In fact, the word "homosexual" did not even appear in print until 1926.  For these reasons, we have chosen only to include those artists from the late 19th and early 20th centuries for whom compelling evidence existed regarding their sexual orientation.

The composers presented here showcase an incredibly rich font of talent. It is a delight to bring them together, some of whom are not well-known to listeners, and some of whom are but not in this context. The biographies of these composers truly are fascinating; the history of their lives and sexuality will be borne out through continued study and research. As a gay musicology continues to develop, hopefully listeners will build their own projects and make connections for themselves - but the real reward of this compilation is the joy in hearing this much-neglected music interpreted by Elif Savas with sensitivity and clarity of conception.

For more information or further reading about the lives and works of these composers, please check out the following books: