ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY RELEASES ALBUM

ST. LOUIS The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra has announced the release of "The American Album," conducted by Leonard Slatkin.

The album features works by Copeland, Gould and Ives, as well as the National Anthem and "America the Beautiful."

"Now is the perfect time to reacquaint ourselves with American music," said Slatkin, music director and orchestra conductor. "This album is a salute to the musical spirit of the United States. The music is both uplifting and reflective and will provide comfort and support to its listeners."

The album, more than two years in the making, continues a tradition of performing and recording American music.

The orchestra recently toured seven Missouri cities with "America's Musical Spirit: Concerts for Missouri," dedicated to the freedoms that Americans enjoy. Songs from "The American Album" were included in this tour.

In January, 1989, the orchestra signed an exclusive, five-year, 30-disc recording contract with BMG classics/RCA Victor Red Seal. As part of the agreement, the orchestra records two albums of contemporary American music each year.

This season, the orchestra's recordings were nominated for a Grammy Award for the 14th consecutive year, bringing the total number their nominations to 38. In 1985, the orchestra and Slatkin won two Grammy Awards for the RCA recording of Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony. At the first Classical Music Awards held at Carnegie Hall in the fall of 1987, the orchestra received the Outstanding Orchestral Recording award for Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5, also on RCA.