James Newby, Joseph Middleton – I Wonder as I Wander (2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

James Newby, Joseph Middleton – I Wonder as I Wander (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:15:08 minutes | 1,20 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © BIS

When deciding on the repertoire for his début recital, James Newby’s first choice fell on An die ferne Geliebte, songs that he had been performing ever since the beginning of his career. But Beethoven’s song cycle – and perhaps even more so the quasi-operatic Adelaide – also sets a tone for the entire programme, that of longing and of wanting to be elsewhere, near the distant beloved. These are emotions that Schubert, perhaps more than any other composer, has plumbed in depth, and Newby went on to select five of his songs that in various ways depict the restlessness and loneliness of the eternal wanderer.

Mahler is another composer who knew something about longing – for instance that it can be deadly, which he demonstrated with his Zu Straßburg auf der Schanz, in which a soldier awaits execution after trying to desert to his homeland while the piano imitates the muffled rolling of drums. The military theme continues in the high-strung Revelge, as a young soldier marches towards his death, thinking about his sweetheart with ever-greater desperation. The final song by Mahler, Urlicht, expresses the anguish and pain of earthly life, and the longing for Heaven and, in effect, death.

Framing this programme with five folk song arrangements by Benjamin Britten, James Newby and Joseph Middleton explore Man’s never-ending search (geographical or psychological) for that distant object of desire: who, what or wherever it may be.

Tracklist:

01. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Britten: Tom Bowling & Other Song Arrangements: No. 6, I Wonder as I Wander (04:31)
02. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Britten: Folksong Arrangements, Vol. 3 “British Isles”: No. 2, There’s None to Soothe (01:54)
03. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Schubert: Der Wanderer, D. 489 (05:42)
04. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Schubert: Der Wanderer, D. 649 (03:04)
05. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Schubert: Auf der Donau, Op. 21 No. 1, D. 553 (03:11)
06. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Schubert: Im Freien, Op. 80 No. 3, D. 880 (05:38)
07. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Schubert: Abendstern, D. 806 (02:57)
08. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Beethoven: Adelaide, Op. 46 (05:25)
09. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Beethoven: 8 Songs, Op. 52: No. 4, Maigesang (02:10)
10. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Beethoven: An die ferne Geliebte, Op. 98: No. 1, Auf dem Hügel sitz ich spähend (02:35)
11. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Beethoven: An die ferne Geliebte, Op. 98: No. 2, Wo die Berge so blau (01:33)
12. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Beethoven: An die ferne Geliebte, Op. 98: No. 3, Leichte Segler in den Höhen (01:31)
13. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Beethoven: An die ferne Geliebte, Op. 98: No. 4, Diese Wolken in den Höhen (00:57)
14. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Beethoven: An die ferne Geliebte, Op. 98: No. 5, Es kehret der Maien, es blühet die Au (02:33)
15. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Beethoven: An die ferne Geliebte, Op. 98: No. 6, Nimm sie hin denn, diese Lieder (04:22)
16. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Mahler: Lieder und Gesänge, Vol. 3: No. 10, Zu Straßburg auf der Schanz’ (04:26)
17. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn (Version for Voice & Piano) [Excerpts]: No. 11a, Revelge (06:51)
18. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn (Version for Voice & Piano) [Excerpts]: No. 11, Urlicht (05:22)
19. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Britten: Folksong Arrangements, Vol. 4 “Moore’s Irish Melodies” (Excerpts): No. 5, At the Mid Hour of Night (02:45)
20. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Britten: Folksong Arrangements, Vol. 4 “Moore’s Irish Melodies” (Excerpts): No. 9, The Last Rose of Summer (04:23)
21. James Newby & Joseph Middleton – Britten: Folksong Arrangements, Vol. 4 “Moore’s Irish Melodies” (Excerpts): No. 2, Sail On, Sail On (03:10)

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