James Gilchrist & Nathan Williamson - One Hundred Years of British Song, Vol. 2 (2021) [Official Digital Download 24/88]

SOMM Recordings announces Volume 2 of its revelatory survey of One Hundred Years of British Song with tenor James Gilchrist and pianist Nathan Williamson.

Volume 1 received wide acclaim, Gramophone hailing it as “a most impressive release”, adding “Gilchrist’s contribution is past praise… [with] immaculate support throughout from Williamson”. Awarded its Recording of the Month accolade, Limelight declared it “a penetrating, frequently revelatory start to a promising new series”.

Featuring 10 first recordings – Elizabeth Maconchy’s Three Donne Songs and seven songs by Doreen Carwithen – Volume 2 focuses on five composers whose belated involvement with song straddled the Second World War.

Maconchy’s Three Donne Songs are described by Williamson in his informative booklet notes as “substantial, ambitious songs, imbued with a genuine sense of drama by an assured composer at the height of her powers”. Carwithen’s seven miniatures represent her complete song output and display, as Williamson notes, “the most imaginative and creative writing… real gems revealing the seeds of a truly imaginative and expressive musical personality”. William Alwyn’s A Leave-Taking deftly counterbalances the obvious influence of German romanticism with music of striking, involving simplicity. Alan Rawsthorne’s Two Songs to Poems of John Fletcher combine Elizabethan counterpoint with music hall humour. Rawsthorne also contributes to Prison Cycle alongside Alan Bush, a vivid setting of political texts by the German socialist playwright and poet Ernst Toller.

James Gilchrist’s previous SOMM releases include two volumes of Parry’s English Lyrics (SOMMCD 257; 270) and Penelope Thwaites’ From Five Continents (SOMMCD 0612), to which, theclassicalreview said, “Gilchrist brings authority throughout”.

Nathan Williamson’s SOMM association includes Great American Sonatas (SOMMCD 0163), lauded by Gramophone as “a release of distinction”, and Colour and Light (SOMMCD 0196), a 2019 Recording of the Year for International Piano: “No praise could be high enough for Williamson’s performances”.

Tracklist:
1. A Leave-Taking: No. 1, The Pilgrim Cranes (03:00)
2. A Leave-Taking: No. 2, Daffodils (02:17)
3. A Leave-Taking: No. 3, The Ocean Wood (03:42)
4. A Leave-Taking: No. 4, Fortune's Wheel (01:16)
5. A Leave-Taking: No. 5, Study of a Spider (05:22)
6. A Leave-Taking: No. 6, The Two Old Kings (04:15)
7. A Leave-Taking: No. 7, A Leave-Taking (05:51)
8. The Prison Cycle, Op. 19 (Pages from "The Swallow Book") [Arr. for Tenor & Piano]: No. 1, Andante lentamente (01:30)
9. The Prison Cycle, Op. 19 (Pages from "The Swallow Book") [Arr. for Tenor & Piano]: No. 2, Andantino piacevole (02:52)
10. The Prison Cycle, Op. 19 (Pages from "The Swallow Book") [Arr. for Tenor & Piano]: No. 3, Poco gravamente (01:38)
11. The Prison Cycle, Op. 19 (Pages from "The Swallow Book") [Arr. for Tenor & Piano]: No. 4, Andante (01:49)
12. The Prison Cycle, Op. 19 (Pages from "The Swallow Book") [Arr. for Tenor & Piano]: No. 5, Grave (01:55)
13. 2 Songs to Poems of John Fletcher: No. 1, Away, Delights (03:20)
14. 2 Songs to Poems of John Fletcher: No. 2, God Lyaeus (00:55)
15. 3 Donne Songs: No. 1, A Hymn to God the Father (03:23)
16. 3 Donne Songs: No. 2, A Hymn to Christ (05:39)
17. 3 Donne Songs: No. 3, The Sun Rising (03:26)
18. Serenade for Tenor & Piano (01:21)
19. 3 Songs to Poems by Walter de la Mare: No. 1, Noon (02:03)
20. 3 Songs to Poems by Walter de la Mare: No. 2, Echo (Seven Sweet Notes) (02:10)
21. 3 Songs to Poems by Walter de la Mare: No. 3, The Ride-by-Nights (01:30)
22. Clear Had the Day Been (01:45)
23. Slow Spring (02:41)
24. Echo (Who Called?) (02:08)


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