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

James Gilchrist, Nathan Williamson – One Hundred Years of British Song, Vol. 2 (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 01:06:00 minutes | 952 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © SOMM Recordings

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.

Tracklist:

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

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