English Art Song

[mn dave]

I don't think we have a thread for this topic. Anything you want to say here is welcome. Recordings to recommend, composers, etc.

[Anne]

I don't think we have a thread for this topic. Anything you want to say here is welcome. Recordings to recommend, composers, etc.

I know you said songs but Wagner's Ring is in English.  Clemens Kraus is the conductor.  I would imagine Kraus has other works he conducts in English.

[mn dave]

Thanks, Annie. Is that out of print?

I just ordered this. Anyone heard it?

[71 dB]

I haven't got this yet but it has got rave reviews.



Elgar - Complete Songs Volume 1 [Hybrid SACD]

[bhodges]

Definitely check out some Ives songs.  Either of Gerald Finley's recordings, Jan DeGaetani on Nonesuch, or the songs on When the Moon by Susan Narucki.

Bryn Terfel's The Vagabond is a great menu of Vaughan Williams, Finzi, Butterworth and Ireland, and won a number of awards.

Also, you might check out The Faces of Love, a beautiful assortment of songs by Jake Heggie, delivered by Renée Fleming, Frederica von Stade, Jennifer Larmore, Sylvia McNair, Carol Vaness, Brian Asawa and others.  I bought it for the Fleming track, "I Shall Not Live in Vain," which is heartbreaking, but the rest are excellent, too.

And forgot about Susan Graham's recital of Ned Rorem.  Usual caveat: try to sample some of all of these, just so you can determine whether or not you like the voices themselves.

--Bruce

[Anne]

 
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen by Richard Wagner, Clemens Krauss, Bayreuther Festspiele Orchester, and Astrid Varnay (Audio CD - Jan 1, 1997)
1 Used & new from $58.99
(17) 
Music: See all 3 items




2.     
Enjoying Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung by Speight Jenkins, Clemens Krauss, Astrid Varnay, and Gustav Neidlinger (Audio CD - Mar 18, 1997)
2 Used & new from $79.95
(2) 
Music: See all 3 items



These are available at Amazon.

[Wendell_E]

Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen by Richard Wagner, Clemens Krauss, Bayreuther Festspiele Orchester, and Astrid Varnay (Audio CD - Jan 1, 1997)
1 Used & new from $58.99
(17) 
Music: See all 3 items

Mmmmm.  That's in German, not English.  There is, of course, a Ring in English, conducted by Reginald Goodall: 
http://www.amazon.com/Wagner-Ring-Cycle-Box-Set/dp/B00005LZVY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1215725464&sr=1-2

Back to songs, Dave should check out Britten's Serenade and Nocturne:
http://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-Britten-Serenade-Illuminations-Nocturne/dp/B0000041RD/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1215725804&sr=1-3

and this disc of Leontyne Price singing Samuel Barber:
http://www.amazon.com/Leontyne-Price-Sings-Barber/dp/B000003FNF/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1215725742&sr=1-1

[mn dave]

Thanks for all the recommendations. Much appreciated.

[Anne]

Thanks, Wendell.  Sorry about that, Dave.

[mn dave]

Thanks, Wendell.  Sorry about that, Dave.

Not a problem, Anne.

[Lethevich]

This is quite a special disc for anyone interested in English songs:



Very good performances, but this would primarily be bought as an affordable intro into some lesser known repertoire. Five Mystical Songs and especially On Wenlock Edge are quite well known (and deservedly so), but the rest are also great discoveries. It was a lover and his lass and silent noon were both incredible discoveries for me, songwriting of the most delicate and beautiful nature.

[Nunc Dimittis]

Definitely check out the songs of Samuel Barber.  He wrote quite a few throughout his life.  I really like Hermit Songs, Op. 29  and The Secrets of the Old and Sure on this Shining Night both from 4 Songs, Op. 13.  Then there is the incomparable Knoxville, Summer of 1915, Op. 24.

[mahler10th]

Benjamin Britten has put to song some fine poetry into the English Language.  His Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings is a fine work indeed, heard it performed a few months ago and liked it instantly.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Well, I can't resist plugging Brian as a song-writer:



A representative selection in excellent performances, with Brian's only chamber work (Legend for violin and piano) as an added bonus.

[Tsaraslondon]

Janet Baker recorded two English Song Anthologies. Unfortunately the later one she recorded for EMI is now only available piecemeal on various compilations (any of which would be worth owning, mind you). The earlier one she recorded for Saga is now available on Regis and, quite apart from being beautifully sung, is full of vocal gems.



But this is a particularly rich field. Composers worth investigating include Britten, Vaughan Williams, Warlock, Butterworth, Quilter, Finzi and Bridge; and, from across the pond, Barber, Copland, Ives and Rorem.

And, not to be forgotten, of course, Dame Janet's wonderful version of Elgar's Sea Pictures

[knight66]

I echo the above. There is a treasure trove of English song. Some of it even equals Schubert. Bryn Terfel's disc 'The Vagabond' is one of the finest of any such discs. Vaughn Williams struck gold with his cycle, 'The Roadside Fire' which is something akin to Schone Mullerin. The traveller goes through a real inner journey. The words are good quality poetry rather than doggerel and the music heightens that poetry to excellent effect. Terfel then had all the vocal technique to fine his voice down to enable you to share the intimate experiences of the character and he is a master of communication.

The songs come out as you might have heard them in your head, but have never heard in life.

RVW's 'Silent Noon' has been mentioned, again, beautiful poetry, but an illusive song. Terfel sings it on his second English song disc, but he gallops through it destroying the atmosphere of a stunningly hot summer day where time stands still. Janet Baker sings it on a BBC disc, live, for once she has a catch in her voice, a great pity she has not recorded it again. I have not heard the Anthony Rolfe-Johnson version mentioned above, but I would think he is exactly the singer for it, beautiful tone, a great legato singer....I might well get the disc for that if for no other reason.

The Janet Baker disc mentioned by Tsaraslondon is a very early disc, it has rather boxy sound, but the voice is well forward, and it is a treasuretrove of beautiful singing allied to interpretation and some relatively rare songs. As well as the masterpiece, 'I will go with my father a ploughing', she gives us another Gurney song, 'Sleep'. Most beautiful with melismas that allow Baker to inject expression and jolt you. She really was a special singer.

Mike

[mn dave]

What a great bunch of responses. Thank you very much.

[knight66]

A pleasure....I could overload you with recommendations, but I should think you only have a certain amount of budget to devote to this niche.

However, here is one more.

Britten Canticles plus some other Britten songs.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Britten-The-Canticles/dp/B00005UV9G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1215957974&sr=1-1

The Canticles are not songs as such, more like short cantatas. Normally when Abraham and Issac is performed, the son is sung by a mezzo. On this disc the counter tenor David Daniels does the honours and he is terrific. The filler songs are really beautifully performed. So the disc provides some meat and some bonbons.

An exceptional disc, despite the presence of Ian Bostridge who for once does not make my ears bleed.

Mike

[Pierre]

Elsewhere on these boards I've plugged Roderick Williams's superb new recording of Ireland songs on Naxos - definitely one that all those who love British song should check out!

[Xenophanes]

MacDowell wrote a whack of songs.  Long ago I learned "The Sea," which is a very dramatic song about loss and death.  Steven Tharp, tenor, has recorded them all for Naxos.  I must say I think I do a much better interpretation of "The Sea" than he does. I've often thought I should learn more of his songs but never got around to it.

http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.559032#