Man Up / Man Down Constellation Men's Ensemble

• Jeffrey Derus (b. 1990): HOME:
• 1 Derus: HOME 04:50
• Robert Maggio (b. 1964): Man Up / Man Down I. Skate Park Guy 1:
• 2 Maggio: Man Up / Man Down I. Skate Park Guy 1 01:16
• Man Up / Man Down II. All The Silences:
• 3 Maggio: Man Up / Man Down II. All The Silences 02:51
• Man Up / Man Down III. Interlude I - Manhood in the 21st Century:
• 4 Maggio: Man Up / Man Down III. Interlude I - Manhood in the 21st Century 00:51
• Man Up / Man Down IV. Skate Park Guy 2:
• 5 Maggio: Man Up / Man Down IV. Skate Park Guy 2 01:06
• Man Up / Man Down V. Jet:
• 6 Maggio: Man Up / Man Down V. Jet 04:12
• Man Up / Man Down VI. Interlude II - Refrains & Misconceptions:
• 7 Maggio: Man Up / Man Down VI. Interlude II - Refrains & Misconceptions 02:32
• Man Up / Man Down VII. Skate Park Guy 3:
• 8 Maggio: Man Up / Man Down VII. Skate Park Guy 3 01:14
• Man Up / Man Down VIII. Flower Beds:
• 9 Maggio: Man Up / Man Down VIII. Flower Beds 05:39
• Man Up / Man Down IX. Interlude III - A life just like their fathers':
• 10 Maggio: Man Up / Man Down IX. Interlude III - A life just like their fathers' 03:11
• Man Up / Man Down X. Skate Park Guy 4:
• 11 Maggio: Man Up / Man Down X. Skate Park Guy 4 01:18
• Man Up / Man Down XI. West Point:
• 12 Maggio: Man Up / Man Down XI. West Point 04:41
• David Lang (b. 1957): manifesto:
• 13 Lang: manifesto 04:08
• Total Runtime 37:49

Info for Man Up / Man Down

Constellation has been in existence since 2013 and yet, 10 years later, this is our first album to be released. Part of that was simply our longstanding focus on “Music & Brotherhood” that began with Saturday morning rehearsals followed by a “cheers!” in Evanston, IL. Another part of that has been the uphill battle to create, sustain, and grow an arts organization in America today.

But the biggest focus for me has always been the “why” of all of our performances. What place does another vocal ensemble have in the recorded history of music to release albums unless it has something to say? With the creation of Man Up / Man Down, I knew we had something important to add to the conversation.

The album features Robert Maggio’s large-scale work of the same name, Man Up / Man Down, which explores masculinity in America through multiple lenses, including anonymously sourced responses from prompts about pride, parenting, our past, and more. The album begins with Jeffrey Derus’ HOME, depicting a mother rocking her child to sleep and the world that constantly tries to invade our innermost peace. It ends with david lang’s manifesto and after a journey of such intense introspection regarding societal norms of masculinity, simply wanting “to be with someone who gets me” is such a perfect close.

Constellation Men's Ensemble

Constellation Men’s Ensemble (CME)
is a Chicago-based vocal group dedicated to creating distinct performances in unique spaces, empowering the next generation of singers through educational engagement, and expanding the repertoire for men’s vocal music by commissioning new works from both emerging and established composers.

In 2016, CME founded their new music series NOVA, “new, original, vocal, art.” NOVA seeks to capitalize on their mission of commissioning new works. Most recently, the third annual NOVA concerts were centered around the theme of “the sounds of silence,” and featured the largest commissioned work to date by Chicago composer Nicholas Cline. This year, NOVA will premiere works dealing with the theme of house & home including our first ever multimedia vocal oratorio by composer Sean Ellis Hussey. “VOICES,” will tell stories of our nation’s foster care system.

Constellation has had the opportunity to partner with Music of the Baroque to bring their music and passion to students within Chicago Public Schools. Workshop performances focused on careers in music, the joy of community through singing, and the multitude of ways that music can remain a part of your life post high school. Last fall, they toured to New England and Maine, working with over 2,000 middle and high school students through their passion of connecting with the next generation of singers.

Booklet for Man Up / Man Down