Folk-Song Arrangements / Part-Songs for Women's Voices (Complete)
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QUILTER
Folk-Song Arrangements / Part-Songs for Women's Voices (Complete)
Amanda Pitt (soprano) Joanne Thomas (mezzo-soprano) Philip Langridge (tenor) David Wilson-Johnson (bass-baritone) David Owen Norris (piano)
[ Naxos English Song Series Vol 11 / CD ]
Release Date: Sunday 29 May 2005
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"A worthy addition to British song history. Quilter enhances traditional tunes with understated, self effacing arrangements"
(MusicWeb June 2005)
"The opening song of the album is 'Drink to me only' (to words by Ben Jonson, 1573-1637), sung ardently by David Wilson-Johnson, its haunting accompaniment singing so eloquently and touchingly of a love that is constant and true. That special quality of golden nostalgia pervades so many of these arrangements. Just think of his treatment of the Scottish song 'Ye banks and braes' sung most sympathetically by Amanda Pitt. She rises so well to the rhythmic and tempi challenges of the following arrangement of 'Charlie is my darling' while David Owen Norris has fun with its amusing and rousing march-like piano line, a delicious accompaniment. And the depth of feeling that they convey in that lovely song of regret 'Ca the yowes to the knowes' - one of Arnold's favourite songs. 'The Jolly Miller' is distinguished by an imaginative piano part that wonderfully evokes the movement of the miller's wheel and his tipsiness.
'Barbara Allen' also has a telling piano accompaniment especially when Barbara scorns the dying (for love) Jemmy Grove and David Owen Norris dramatically hammers home the sound of dead-bell.
To the duets for female voices. 'Where go the boats?', one of Quilter's Four Child Songs, is another of those heart-stopping melodies that persist in the mind. This song, to words by Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894), has all the magical enchantment of childhood and is sung most beautifully by Amanda Pitt and Joanne Thomas, their voices blending beguilingly. I must also mention the ravishing beauty, as communicated by these two ladies, of 'Summer Sunset ' to words by Quilter himself. The pretty duet for women's voices, 'The Starlings', delicate and wistful, is distinguished by its evocative bird-song piano part and its independent soprano line. 'To a Harebell by a Graveside' is another simple but heart-touching melody. I must mention just two more songs for the women's voices: the graceful 'The Passing Bell' with its pretty 'ding-a-dong' refrain; and 'Blossom-Time' with its interesting harmonies and counterpoints in vocal writing.
One of the most unusual songs is 'I gotta robe' written in the style of a negro spiritual and sung with enthusiasm and style by David Wilson-Johnson. The song was originally written for the black American contralto, Marian Anderson.
Philip Langridge (with beautifully clear diction) sings passionately Quilter's sweet arrangement of 'The Rose of Tralee' and another of Quilter's most tender melodies, 'What will you do, love' (?when waves divide us and friends chide us for being fond ? In faith abiding I'll still be true?) Here is beguiling simplicity; it just rends the heartstrings. The manuscript is marked 'for Arnold' dated June 1942.
Of course Roger Quilter was very fond of light music and wrote much material for the theatre. This collection includes three songs from the stage. Of these the most memorable is the haunting 'Love Calls through the Summer Night'. It is unashamedly popular but none the worse for that. Valerie Langfield reckons it recalls Edward German, this may be true of the outer sections but the lovely central refrain is surely pure Ivor Novello (who was very popular at that time). Philip Langridge and Amanda Pitt sing it with commendable unembarrassed élan in the rather florid style of the period. Older readers who remember Anne Ziegler and Webster Booth will remember what I mean.
A memorable collection, sympathetically performed. With over half the songs premiere recordings, this is an album that all Quilter enthusiasts simply must have."
- Ian Lace, MusicWeb International, April 2005
Tracks:
The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Drink to me only with thine eyes
01. The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Drink to me only with thine eyes 02:44
David Wilson-Johnson, bass-baritone / David Owen Norris, piano
The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Over the mountains
02. The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Over the mountains 02:24
Amanda Pitt, soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
The Arnold Book of Old Songs: My Lady Greensleeves
03. The Arnold Book of Old Songs: My Lady Greensleeves 03:35
Amanda Pitt, soprano / Joanne Thomas, mezzo-soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
Love at the Inn: Little Moth
04. Love at the Inn: Little Moth 01:30
Amanda Pitt, soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
Love at the Inn: Love calls through the summer night
05. Love at the Inn: Love calls through the summer night 04:43
Amanda Pitt, soprano / Philip Langridge, tenor / David Owen Norris, piano
Love at the Inn: If Love should pass me by
06. Love at the Inn: If Love should pass me by 02:02
Amanda Pitt, soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
The Rose of Tralee (melody by C.W. Glover)
07. The Rose of Tralee (melody by C.W. Glover) 02:33
Philip Langridge, tenor / David Owen Norris, piano
The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Believe me, if all those endearing young charms
08. The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Believe me, if all those endearing young charms 01:38
David Wilson-Johnson, bass-baritone / David Owen Norris, piano
The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Oh! 'tis sweet to think
09. The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Oh! 'tis sweet to think 01:34
David Wilson-Johnson, bass-baritone / David Owen Norris, piano
Come Lady-Day
10. Come Lady-Day 01:46
Amanda Pitt, soprano / Joanne Thomas, mezzo-soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
The Starlings
11. The Starlings 01:42
Amanda Pitt, soprano / Joanne Thomas, mezzo-soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
To a Harebell by a Graveside
12. To a Harebell by a Graveside 01:38
Amanda Pitt, soprano / Joanne Thomas, mezzo-soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
It was a lover and his lass
13. It was a lover and his lass 02:33
Amanda Pitt, soprano / Joanne Thomas, mezzo-soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Ye banks and braes
14. The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Ye banks and braes 03:01
Amanda Pitt, soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Charlie is my darling
15. The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Charlie is my darling 01:34
Amanda Pitt, soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Ca' the yowes to the knowes
16. The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Ca' the yowes to the knowes 03:04
Amanda Pitt, soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
Where Go the Boats?
17. Where Go the Boats? 02:10
Amanda Pitt, soprano / Joanne Thomas, mezzo-soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
Windy Nights
18. Windy Nights 01:26
Amanda Pitt, soprano / Joanne Thomas, mezzo-soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
Summer Sunset
19. Summer Sunset 01:44
Amanda Pitt, soprano / Joanne Thomas, mezzo-soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Le pauvre laboureur (The Man Behind the Plough)
20. The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Le pauvre laboureur (The Man Behind the Plough) 02:25
David Wilson-Johnson, bass-baritone / David Owen Norris, piano
The Arnold Book of Old Songs: L'amour de moi (My Lady's Garden)
21. The Arnold Book of Old Songs: L'amour de moi (My Lady's Garden) 04:01
David Wilson-Johnson, bass-baritone / David Owen Norris, piano
The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Joli mois de mai (Pretty month of May)
22. The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Joli mois de mai (Pretty month of May) 01:05
David Wilson-Johnson, bass-baritone / David Owen Norris, piano
Daisies after rain (solo version)
23. Daisies after rain (solo version) 01:09
Amanda Pitt, soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
My heart adorn'd with thee
24. My heart adorn'd with thee 01:24
Amanda Pitt, soprano / Philip Langridge, tenor / David Owen Norris, piano
The Passing Bell
25. The Passing Bell 02:41
Amanda Pitt, soprano / Joanne Thomas, mezzo-soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
Blossom-Time
26. Blossom-Time 01:33
Amanda Pitt, soprano / Joanne Thomas, mezzo-soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
Daisies after rain (duet version)
27. Daisies after rain (duet version) 01:11
Amanda Pitt, soprano / Joanne Thomas, mezzo-soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
Weep you no more
28. Weep you no more 02:22
Amanda Pitt, soprano / Joanne Thomas, mezzo-soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
I got a robe
29. I got a robe 01:34
David Wilson-Johnson, bass-baritone / David Owen Norris, piano
'Tis St Valentine's Day
30. 'Tis St Valentine's Day 01:19
Amanda Pitt, soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
What will you do, love? (melody by S. Lover)
31. What will you do, love? (melody by S. Lover) 02:13
Philip Langridge, tenor / David Owen Norris, piano
The Arnold Book of Old Songs: The Jolly Miller
32. The Arnold Book of Old Songs: The Jolly Miller 01:56
Amanda Pitt, soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Barbara Allen
33. The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Barbara Allen 04:10
Amanda Pitt, soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Three Poor Mariners
34. The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Three Poor Mariners 01:13
David Wilson-Johnson, bass-baritone / David Owen Norris, piano
The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Since first I saw your face (melody by T. Ford)
35. The Arnold Book of Old Songs: Since first I saw your face (melody by T. Ford) 01:36
David Wilson-Johnson, bass-baritone / David Owen Norris, piano
The Arnold Book of Old Songs: The Ash Grove
36. The Arnold Book of Old Songs: The Ash Grove 02:40
Amanda Pitt, soprano / David Owen Norris, piano
