Various Composers - Hold These Truths (Lara Downes)

Information

1. Edmar Colón - Welcome
2. Shawn Okpebholo - Wondrous Free
3. Oscar Peterson - Hymn to Freedom
4. Willie Nelson - Changing Skies (arr. Nick Montopoli & Jeremy Siskind)
5. Elie Siegmeister - Lusty and Joyful (from American Sonata)
6. Harry Burleigh - On Bended Knee
7. Harry Burleigh - The Frolic
8. Charles Ives - In the Mornin' (arr. Joseph Brent)
9. Daniel Gilliam - Jubilee
10. Traditional - In the Sweet By and By (arr. Joseph Nimoh)
11. Caleb Burhans - In Time of Desperation
12. Stephen Foster - Hard Times Come Again No More (arr. Joseph Brent)
13. Christopher Tin - Hope is the Thing with Feathers (arr. Austin Ali)
14. Carlos Simon - Hold Fast To Dreams (arr. Joseph Brent): Dreamy
15. Carlos Simon - Hold Fast To Dreams (arr. Joseph Brent): Animated
16. Carlos Simon - Hold Fast To Dreams (arr. Joseph Brent): Funky
17. Leonard Bernstein - Lucky To Be Me (arr. Bill Evans)
18. Jeff Beal - Elation
19. Howard Hanson - Joy
20. Ricky Ian Gordon - Finding Home
21. Aaron Copland - Simple Gifts

Lara Downes, piano

Invoke

    Nick Montopoli, violin & banjo

    Zach Matteson, violin

    Karl Mitze, viola & mandolin

    Geoff Manyin, cello

9 Horses

    Joseph Brent, mandolin

    Sara Caswell, violin

    Andrew Ryan, bass

Date: 2026

Label: PENTATONE

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In her latest PENTATONE release, Hold These Truths, American pianist Lara Downes curates a deeply personal musical journey inspired by a two-year cross-country tour commemorating the United States' 250th anniversary. The album serves as a collective portrait of American identity, weaving together early spirituals, classic works by Copland and Bernstein, and contemporary pieces by Carlos Simon and Christopher Tin. Informed by the stories and perspectives of communities she encountered, Downes explores themes of freedom, resilience, and belonging. Following her acclaimed albums Love at Last (2023) and This Land (2025), this collaborative project beautifully blends storytelling, artistry, and cultural reflection.

Acclaimed American pianist, curator, and NPR host Lara Downes is a visionary trailblazer celebrated for bridging musical genres and championing underrepresented voices. Recognized as Performance Today’s Classical Woman of the Year, Downes has built an extensive global fanbase through her chart-topping albums on major labels, her video series Amplify, and her nationally syndicated radio programs. She maintains a rigorous international performance schedule with premier orchestras and festivals while collaborating with an eclectic range of elite writers, musicians, and contemporary composers. A fierce advocate for civic engagement, Downes launched The Declaration Project in 2024, a national multi-generational initiative exploring American identity that culminates in a major July 2026 world premiere at Lincoln Center.