While still influenced by the traditions of western Europe, 20th-century American music was also a testing-ground for new techniques. From the refined neo-classicism of Bernstein’s Serenade to the outstanding professionalism of Bernard Herrmann’s film scores, from the vitality of Gershwin and the philosophical-musical innovations of Charles Ives to the poetic Iyricism of Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings, this CD presents five facets of the musical history of the New World.