"The Resonance Ensemble is a superb advocate for the music they commission."

This article originally appeared in Issue 50:1 (Sept/Oct 2026) of Fanfare Magazine.

Resonance Ensemble is a professional vocal/instrumental performing arts organization based in Portland, Oregon. According to its mission statement, Resonance Ensemble “performs powerful concerts sparking meaningful social change through commissioning, collaborating, and connecting…Resonance commissions and champions new works by composers and poets whose stories have been underrepresented on the concert stage.” Safe Harbor, a new two-disc release on the Aerocade Music label, presents 12 vocal works commissioned and premiered by the Resonance Ensemble. The featured texts cover a wide range of historical and social issues, including slavery, interactions between African Americans and the police, the immigrant experience, the coronavirus pandemic, and violence perpetrated upon people of color (including transgender women). The works explore a variety of choral settings, both a cappella and with instrumental participation, along with spoken narration and solo vocalists. Along the way, the music embodies aspects of classical, folk, spiritual, jazz, doo-wop, and other popular genres.

These are pieces likely to offend those who think “diversity, equity, and inclusion” and “woke” are pejorative terms. But that’s not the only reason I enjoyed this recording! The music is consistently inventive, expressive, melodic, and highly accessible to a wide range of audiences. And the Resonance Ensemble performs it superbly. The tonal beauty, energy, enthusiasm, and taut ensemble the artists bring to each work are irresistible. The Resonance Ensemble is a superb advocate for the music they commission. The recorded sound is first-rate, and the CD booklet includes full texts, along with extensive program notes. Recommended. Ken Meltzer