Cris Forster - Song of Myself (2025) [Hi-Res]

Song of Myself: Intoned Poems of Walt Whitman is a musical exploration of selected excerpts from Walt Whitman’s iconic poem, composed and performed by Cris Forster. Renowned for his innovative acoustic instrument design and microtonal compositions, Forster blends his voice with custom-built instruments like the Chrysalis I and Harmonic/Melodic Canon. The album features three excerpts from Whitman’s poem: “A Child Said What Is the Grass?”, “The Past and Present Wilt – I Have Fill’d Them, Emptied Them,” and “The Spotted Hawk Swoops by and Accuses Me, He Complains of My Gab and My Loitering.” Additionally, it includes two tracks from Forster’s Ellis Island/Angel Island (“Blue Nights” and “Dream Time”), performed on a unique ensemble of instruments including Glassdance, Just Keys, Bass Canon, Bass Marimba, and Diamond Marimba II. The microtonal tuning creates a distinctive and immersive listening experience.

Tracklist:
1-1 Cris Forster - I Celebrate Myself, and Sing Myself [1:46]
1-2 Cris Forster - A Child Said, What Is the Grass? [6:41]
1-3 Cris Forster - Has Any One Supposed It Lucky to Be Born [3:37]
1-4 Cris Forster - With Music Strong I Come, with My Cornets and My Drums [2:05]
1-5 Cris Forster - This Is the Meal Equally Set, This the Meat for Natural Hunger [4:10]
1-6 Cris Forster - I Am the Poet of the Body and I Am the Poet of the Soul [4:26]
1-7 Cris Forster - Now I Tell What I Knew in Texas in My Early Youth [2:53]
1-8 Cris Forster - Enough! Enough! Enough! [3:56]
1-9 Cris Forster - There Is That in Me–I Do Not Know What It Us–but I Know It Is in Me [3:37]
1-10 Cris Forster - The Past and Present Wilt–I Have Fill'd Them, Emptied Them [3:05]
1-11 Cris Forster - The Spotted Hawk Swoops By and Accuses Me [3:51]
1-12 Cris Forster - I Celebrate Myself, and Sing Myself (Excerpt) [0:33]