Stanford Songs, Vol. 1

Track Listings

1. Belle Dame Sans Merci

2. 8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.1, Blue W

3. 8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.2, Day Is

4. 8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.3, Sweet

5. 8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.4, Spring

6. 8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.5, Came a

7. 8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.6, The Wo

8. 8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.7, Bright

9. 8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.8, The Ra

10. Songs (6) For Voice & Piano, Op. 4, No.1, "Sterne

11. Songs (6) For Voice & Piano, Op. 4, No. 3, "Dass D

12. 8 Heine Songs, Op.4, No.4, Frühling

13. Songs (6) For Voice & Piano, Op. 4, No. 6, Der SCH

14. 8 Heine Songs, Op.7, No.1, Ich Lieb' Eine Blume

15. Songs (6) For Voice & Piano, Op. 7, No. 2, "Wie De

16. Songs (6) For Voice & Piano, Op. 7, No. 5, "Ich Ha

17. Songs (6) For Voice & Piano, Op. 7, No. 6, Schlumm

18. 50 Songs of Old Ireland: My Love's an Arbutus

19. 50 Songs of Old Ireland: The Little Red Lark

20. Songs of Erin, Op.76: Trottin' to the Fair

See all 31 tracks on this disc

Tracks:

A Soft Day - Bernadette Greevy
Irish Skies - Bernadette Greevy
Cherry Ripe - Janice Watson
Mustard And Cress - Neal Davies
The Lily Of A Day - Janice Watson
Henry King - Neal Davies
Fain Would I Change That Note - Graham Johnson
In Summer-Time On Bredon - Christopher Maltman
The Lads In Their Hundreds - Christopher Maltman
Among The Rocks - Graham Johnson
It Was A Lover And His Lass - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
The Water Mill - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
On Wenlock Edge - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
The Call - Graham Johnson
Silent Noon - Graham Johnson
Now In These Fairylands - Philip Langridge
The Dream-City - Philip Langridge
Margrete's Cradle Song - Susan Gritton
The Heart Worships - Christopher Maltman
Take, O Those Lips Away - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
Now Sleeps The Crimson Petal - Graham Johnson
Love Calls Through The Summer Night - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
I Will Go With My Father A-Ploughing - Graham Johnson
The Rio Grande (Capstan Shanty) - Ian Partridge
Theodore, Or The Pirate King - Ian Partridge
A Long Time Ago (Hilliard's Shanty) - Ian Partridge
Oh Dear, What Can The Matter Be? - Bernadette Greevy

Tracks:

The Grenadier - Richard Edgar-Wilson
The Young Lover - Richard Edgar-Wilson
Betty And Johnny - Richard Edgar-Wilson
Rise Up And Reach The Stars - Richard Edgar-Wilson
The Bells - Nik Hancock-Child
Ann's Cradle Song - Nik Hancock-Child
As I Lay In The Early Sun - Nik Hancock-Child
The Cherry Tree - Nik Hancock-Child
Dusk - Nik Hancock-Child
Peter Warlock's Fancy - John Constable
The Frostbound Wood - John Constable
Chopcherry - John Constable
A Sad Song - John Constable
Rutterkin - John Constable
Bethlehem Down - John Constable
Wapping Old Stairs - Felicity Lott
Long Steel Grass - Martyn Hill
Tango-Pasodoble - Martyn Hill
Popular Song - Martyn Hill
Beatriz's Song - Felicity Lott
Lay Your Sleeping Head, My Love - Philip Langridge
Early One Morning - Felicity Lott
The Foggy, Foggy View - Philip Langridge
Now The Leaves Are Falling Fast - Philip Langridge
Tell Me The Truth About Love - Della Jones
The Choirmaster's Burial - Philip Langridge

Customer Reviews:

A century of British art songs to delight those who love them.......2006-06-26

These 53 songs have been collected by Naxos from their extensive acquisitions from Collins Classics, and perhaps other British sources now out of business. There's a steady cottage industry, year after year, producing the typical English art song, which is usually based on folk songs, but even in more modern idioms is profuondly conservative and nostaligic. Half these songs, not to mention half the composers, are totally unknown to American audiences, but the familiar names of Vaughan Williams and Britten represent high quality, and the lesser lights, such as Warlock and Quilter, are mainstays in this repertoire.

I'd challenge all but the most addicted listener to make it through more than ten songs at a sitting, and many of these pieces are tepid, offering comfort rather than inspiration. The singers are among the best, but Graham Johnson and Steuart Beford, who do most of the accompaniments, are lackluster. I know that won't be a popular comment, yet if you compare any of these songs with rendiitons done by Janet Baker, John Shirley-quirk, and most recently Bryn Terfel and Ian Bostridge, you immediately notice how much more intensity and drama is pesent than htis colleciton reveals.

Average customer rating:

Stanford Songs, Vol. 2

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

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Stanford Songs, Vol. 1
Locatelli's Opus 4 - The Raglan Baroque Players / Elizabeth Wallfisch

ASIN: B00004TQP6
Release Date: 2000-07-11

Average customer rating:

THE SORT OF MUSIC THAT BOSTRIDGE'S VOICE WAS MADE FOR
Artistry beyond measure
Perfectly Enjoyable
Do Not Be Deceived By His Look Of Innocence
One of the best English-Song CD's available

Ian Bostridge - The English Songbook

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Ian Bostridge - Songs of Faure, Debussy & Poulenc
Ian Bostridge - Schubert Lieder, Volume II
Ian Bostridge - J.S. Bach: Cantatas & Arias / Biondi, Europa Galante
Perspectives
Ian Bostridge - Liederkreis Op. 24, Dichterliebe Op. 48 & 7 Lieder

ASIN: B00002CF0T
Release Date: 1999-11-02

Tracks:

La Belle Bame sans Merci
Sleep
I Will Go With My Father A-Ploughing
The Cloths of Heaven
To Gratiana Dancing and Singing
To Lucasta, On Going To The Wars
Twilight Fancies
Orpheus With His Lute
Jillian of Berry
Cradle Song
The Dance Continued
Linden Lea
Silent Noon
My Love's An Arbutus
The Death of Queen Jane
No Longer Mourn For Me
Since We Loved
The Sally Gardens
Rest, Sweet Nymphs
Come Away, Death
Now Sleeps The Crimson Petal
Bold William Taylor
Brigg Fair
The Little Turtle Dove

Customer Reviews:

THE SORT OF MUSIC THAT BOSTRIDGE'S VOICE WAS MADE FOR.......2002-10-09

Ian Bostridge has one of the most beautiful voices on record, and he has consistently shown courage and wisdom in selecting material that will extend and develop his gifts. Not all of this material has been a perfect match for his young and soaring tenor voice, notably some of Schubert's more dramatic "lieder". In contrast, nothing could be more perfectly suited to his voice than this generous and beautiful collection of traditional English poetic settings by Britten, Finzi, Grainger, Warlock and others.

Bostridge brings more than just a beautiful tone and a subtle musical phrasing to these songs. The challenge any intepreter of English songs has to face is that, in contrast with the pure syllables of most continental languages, the complex vowels of "Southern British English" are formidably difficult to render attractively in song. It's not just a question of singing them prettily. Think how accurately the pronunciation of a word like "house" or "bath" can betray someone's geographical and social background; our vowels are a caste-mark as well as a means of communication. But somehow Bostridge himself, in his fruitful partnership with Julius Drake, manages to transcend our socio-linguistic divisions and deliver these songs in a way that places no barrier between the listener and the music.

The material is wonderful in its own right - a collection of lilting pastoral airs and occasional boisterous ditties. They are at one and the same time ancient and modern, embracing at once the mutual cross-fertilisation between classical and "pop" sensibilities that has always underpinned the best of English music. Even the most trivial of these songs (e.g. "Jillian of Berry") are memorable, and some of them (notably Sir Charles Stanford's chilling musical setting of the Keats' poem, "La Belle Dame Sans Merci") would not have been beneath Schubert himself.

It has been fashionable over the generations to belittle British classic music. "The land without song" England was dubbed, as the sleeve notes poignantly remind us. This CD is a healthy reminder that the global success of English popular music in the latter four decades of the 20th century did not appear out of nowhere; it was built on a solid foundation of past accomplishment that it was for too long fashionable to dismiss. Highly recommended.

Artistry beyond measure.......2002-09-20

This disk is a wonderful treasure. "To Gratiana Dancing and Singing" is an exquisite song that you should not go another day without hearing. I am speaking literally.

Mr. Bostridge's interpretation of Browne's song is amazingly compelling. His ability to express goes beyond that of most other singers - even some great ones. He notes the problems in singing in English (the "extra" vowels, the English vs. German approach to word painting, etc.) and I have to say he triumphs on this disk.

As he also notes, this is NOT a recording of a recital program nor are the songs "English" in nationality - the songs are just set to texts in the English language. I had not heard of some of these composers, but I am enthusiastic in saying that every song on this disk has something very nice to recommend it - at least at the voice and hands of Ian Bostridge and Julian Drake.

I must say a few words about Mr. Drake's playing. Overall he is simply incredible. He has a beauty of tone and a singing style that is not in anyway mere accompaniment. It really isn't even a partnership. It is a unity of artistry that creates this single entity, a song. There aren't many that can pull this off and Mr. Drake should be treasured for this ability. Just amazing artistry.

Please get every disk that Mr. Bostridge and Mr. Drake have done together. You will thank me for recommending this if you didn't know this already. Feel free to email me with your thoughts on this disk or any comments you have about Bostridge and Drake.

Perfectly Enjoyable.......2002-02-09

I already liked Ian Bostridge, but I thought "English songs" would be rather light and without substance. But I have fallen in love with this CD and never tire of it! I was already an admirer of Vaughan Williams, Britten, Finzi, Warlock and Delius, and I'm glad for this introduction to other composers as well. Also, much beautiful poetry is chosen, from Shakespeare, Yeats, Rossetti, Keats, and others, and each is treated with careful consideration by the composer, *partnering* music with poetry rather than simply enhancing or overshadowing the lyric. Bostridge seems to have the perfect voice for this music, light and charming when appropriate, heart-breaking at other times, always an engaging storyteller. He obviously understands intimately each word and note that he sings. The listener can hear his facial expressions and body language! The English Songbook is a beautiful collection of excellent craftsmanship, and one of the best CDs I have.

Do Not Be Deceived By His Look Of Innocence.......2001-10-14

Just look at Ian on the cover photo of this CD. He's sitting there looking coy, playing with his finger, hair a little mussed, with a very cute boyish smile, as if to say, "I didn't do anything wrong mommy, honest." Well he has done it this time.

This CD was my first exposure to Ian Bostridge. I bought it because I was very surprised to know that one of my favorite poems, the Cloths of Heaven by Yeats, was set to music. I spent 17 bucks for one song, and ended up cashing in on 23 others.

To Gratiana Dancing and Singing quickly became a favorite, as did Bold William Taylor. This last one was my first realization of Ian's gift of storytelling. Somehow he is able to make his voice sound like a woman, namely Sally Gray, and the narrator, and the macho Captain, all in the same song. The multiple personalities come out to play similarly in The Death of Queen Jane. I am lulled into quiet reflection and relaxation when Ian sings the Cradle Song.

Check out his CDs of Schubert Lieder, also accompanied by Julius Drake. Ian may be even more at home in German than he is in his native English! Julius is at home with Schubert, especially the water songs, and we are at home listening to this wonderfully weird, warm voice paired with masterful piano playing.

One of the best English-Song CD's available.......2001-09-12

Unlike the reviewer "A music fan from California, USA" I realize that this is not a recital program of music (as even noted in the liner). This is though, an unequaled collection of some of the most beautiful English Songs ever. Ian is on top of his game and J Drake plays, well, I don't have the words. He never fails to impress with his skills. Each key under each finger sings! Back to Ian. As a professional tenor, I am in awe of his voice. It is tender, moving, all the things you want in a good recitalist, and (unlike any of the opera tenors I can think of) it is note perfect. Yes, there are times when his voice seems a little light for the song he may be performing, but it is passionate and caries the pathos of each note/word he sings. BUY THIS CD - you will love it for ever!

Average customer rating:

Satisfying programme

The English Anthem, Vol. 3

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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The English Anthem, Vol. 2
The English Anthem, Vol. 6
The English Anthem, Vol. 4
The English Anthem, Vol. 5
The English Anthem, Vol. 7

ASIN: B000002ZRW
Release Date: 1995-04-16

Tracks:

O How Glorious
The Lord Is My Shepard
Hymn To The Mother Of God
Expectans Expectavi
Faire Is The Heaven
Come, O Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire
In Exitu Israel
At The Round Earth's Imagined Corners
Set Me A Seal Upon Thine Heart
Turn Back, O Man
There Is An Old Belief
Give Unto The Lord

Customer Reviews:

Satisfying programme.......2001-01-07

This third volume in the extremely successful "English Anthem" series stands out as being one of the best programmes devised for it.

St. Paul's Cathedral Choir recorded it at about the same time that they made their Kenneth Leighton disc, hence the featured treble soloist on both is Thomas Colwell. His voice is particularly arresting, for instance, at the opening of Thomas Attwood's "Come, Holy Ghost" - by far the simplest work on the disc, within the grasp of even the smallest of choirs. At the other end of the spectrum is Robert Saxton's "At the round earth's imagined corners," commissioned by the choir in the early 90s, which is surprisingly effective and accessible compared to some of his (and his contemporaries) other works. As always with this series, the choir make these contrasted simple and complex works sound effortless.

Other works on the programme include Basil Harwood's "O how glorious is the Kingdom," William Harris's evergreen "Faire is the heaven," William Walton's exquisite and much-loved setting of "Set me as a seal" and one of Hubert Parry's "Songs of Farewell" - in this case, "There is an old belief." John Tavener's "Hymn to the Mother of God" makes a good impression here, although it's a pity that it's companion "Hymn for the Dormition of the Mother of God" is absent - the two are always presented together on recordings and were first performed together liturgically. "Turn back, O man" by Gustav Holst receives a most stirring rendition. The disc ends with Edward Elgar's very fine, cantata-like setting of Psalm 29, "Give unto the Lord," written for first performance at St. Paul's and sounding particularly glorious in the vast resonance of the building under the care of John Scott and his forces.

Tracks:

Belle Dame Sans Merci
8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.1, Blue W
8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.2, Day Is
8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.3, Sweet
8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.4, Spring
8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.5, Came a
8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.6, The Wo
8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.7, Bright
8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.8, The Ra
Songs (6) For Voice & Piano, Op. 4, No.1, "Sterne
Songs (6) For Voice & Piano, Op. 4, No. 3, "Dass D
8 Heine Songs, Op.4, No.4, Fr
Songs (6) For Voice & Piano, Op. 4, No. 6, Der SCH
8 Heine Songs, Op.7, No.1, Ich Lieb' Eine Blume
Songs (6) For Voice & Piano, Op. 7, No. 2, "Wie De
Songs (6) For Voice & Piano, Op. 7, No. 5, "Ich Ha
Songs (6) For Voice & Piano, Op. 7, No. 6, Schlumm
50 Songs of Old Ireland: My Love's an Arbutus
50 Songs of Old Ireland: The Little Red Lark
Songs of Erin, Op.76: Trottin' to the Fair
Tomb
Heraclitus, Op.110/4
Glens of Antrim, Op.174: Denny's Daughter
Glens of Antrim, Op.174: The Sailor Man
Glens of Antrim, Op.174: Lookin' Back
Glens of Antrim, Op.174: At Sea
Glens of Antrim, Op.174: I Mind the Day
Glens of Antrim, Op.174: The Boy from Ballytea
Sheaf of Songs from Leinster, Op.140: No.3, A So
Sheaf of Songs from Leinster, Op.140: No.5
Sheaf of Songs from Leinster, Op.140: No.6, Iris

Average customer rating:

Hard to single out any one composer
A Mixed Bag, but a good one

The English Anthem, Vol. 6

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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The English Anthem

ASIN: B000002ZWV
Release Date: 1996-04-10

Tracks:

For lo, I raise up, Op. 145
Dum transisset sabbatum
Ave verum corups, Op. 2 No. 1
Plebs angelica
If the Lord had not helped me
Let thy hand be strengthened
Strengthen ye the weak hands
Three Anitphons: Antiphon I
Three Antiphons: Antiphon II
Three Antiphons: Antiphon III
My soul, there is a country
Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us
'Tis the day of Resurrection

Customer Reviews:

Hard to single out any one composer.......2000-06-25

Besides the incomparable John Tavener, Sir Charles Villiers Stanford's "For Lo, I raise up", Sir William Harris's "Strengthen ye the weak hands", Sir C Hubert H. Parry's "My soul, there is a country'", are memorable.

A Mixed Bag, but a good one.......2000-05-03

The St. Paul's Cathedral Choir, like the Westminster and Winchester Cathedral Choirs, has a long-standing and fruitful contract with Hyperion, and has produced a number of recordings including this on-going series. Any of volume in "The English Anthem" is a prime example of the standards of the Choir, as well as showing just what range of styles exists within the genre.

On this disc, a particularly varied programme is presented, including such popular Victorian and neo-Victorian figures as Harris ("Strengthen ye the weak hands"), Stanford ("For lo, I raise up") and Parry ("My soul, there is a country"), each typical in his own way through these anthems. There are also a number of offerings from the twentieth century, and these too are broad-ranging in terms of style and the levels of skill needed to make them work. Tippett's rare gem "Plebs angelica" strikes an austere and exultant note; Bairstow's "If the Lord had not helped me" is a sombre, calm and reverent piece; Elgar's "Ave verum corpus" is simplicity itself. The series also appears to be a forum for the Choir to show off the various offerings written for them- amongst these are the short setting "Let thy hand be strengthened" by former organist Christopher Dearnley, the "Three Antiphons" of John Tavener and by far the most difficult and unusual work on the disc (both to perform and to listen to): "Dum transisset Sabbatum" by Jonathan Harvey.

This is indeed a mixed bag, and for that reason I have given it four stars as it may not be wholly to everyone's liking. Whatever one's taste, however, one thing is certain: every work on here is brilliantly and sensitively performed, under the direction of John Scott. Throughout, the choir prove their unique ability to fill the magnificent acoustics of their home. (It should be appreciated that just because a building is very resonant, that does not make it easy to sing in!)

Listening to any track really does give you the feel of what it must be like every day in St. Paul's when the anthem of the day is announced. A treasure trove of choral gems that you'll want to go back to again and again- and whether or not you decide to collect the whole "English Anthem" series, it is still worth having one of these records around.

Music Track:

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1. Belle Dame Sans Merci
2. 8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.1, Blue W
3. 8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.2, Day Is
4. 8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.3, Sweet
5. 8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.4, Spring
6. 8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.5, Came a
7. 8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.6, The Wo
8. 8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.7, Bright
9. 8 Songs from the Spanish Gypsy, Op.1: No.8, The Ra
10. Songs (6) For Voice & Piano, Op. 4, No.1, "Sterne
11. Songs (6) For Voice & Piano, Op. 4, No. 3, "Dass D
12. 8 Heine Songs, Op.4, No.4, Frühling
13. Songs (6) For Voice & Piano, Op. 4, No. 6, Der SCH
14. 8 Heine Songs, Op.7, No.1, Ich Lieb' Eine Blume
15. Songs (6) For Voice & Piano, Op. 7, No. 2, "Wie De
16. Songs (6) For Voice & Piano, Op. 7, No. 5, "Ich Ha
17. Songs (6) For Voice & Piano, Op. 7, No. 6, Schlumm
18. 50 Songs of Old Ireland: My Love's an Arbutus
19. 50 Songs of Old Ireland: The Little Red Lark
20. Songs of Erin, Op.76: Trottin' to the Fair