Innova Recordings is the
independent record label of the non-profit
American Composers Forum based in
St. Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1982 to document the winners of the McKnight Fellowship offered by its parent organization, the Minnesota (now American) Composers Forum.
During its early years, it produced several sampler LPs featuring the work of Minnesota composers, many of whom have since gone on to national prominence, such as
Eric Stokes,
Ann Millikan,
Libby Larsen,
Paul Schoenfield, and Stephen Paulus. With the advent of the compact disc, Innova began releasing highlights from the top ensembles, such as the
Dale Warland Singers,
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the Alexander String Quartet, that had been on the Composers Forum concert seasons.
The label produces between 25 and 40 CDs and DVDs per year. There are currently over 460 titles in the catalog covering the fields of
classical music
Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be #Relationship to other music traditions, distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical mu ...
,
experimental,
electronic,
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
, and
world music
"World music" is an English phrase for styles of music from non-English speaking countries, including quasi-traditional, Cross-cultural communication, intercultural, and traditional music. World music's broad nature and elasticity as a musical ...
. It is best known for its series of releases featuring
Harry Partch and
Henry Brant. The label was awarded an endowment by the McKnight Foundation.
Notable accolades
*Laurel Leaf Award from the American Composers Alliance (2012)
*ASCAP Deems Taylor Award (1998) for ''Enclosure Three: Harry Partch''
*Grammy Nominations: David Frost (2003), Stuart Hyatt, (2005), Orlando Jacinto Garcia (2010)
*''Stereophile'': 80 Must-Have Recordings (2007), for ''Delusion of the Fury, Harry Partch''
*Grants from the New York State Music Fund, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
*Million-dollar endowment by the McKnight Foundation
See also
*
List of record labels
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File:AmMusicBunk78.jpg
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Lists of record labels cover record labels, brands or trademarks associated with marketing of music recordings and music videos. The lists are organized alphabetically, ...
References
External links
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{{Authority control
Record labels established in 1982
American independent record labels
Independent record labels based in Minnesota
Classical music record labels
Experimental music record labels
Electronic music record labels
American jazz record labels
World music record labels
1982 establishments in Minnesota