Vaughan Williams - Songs

Product Details

Binding : Audio CD
EAN : 0034571171685
Label : Hyperion
Number of Discs : 1
Product Group : Music
Release Date : 1999-10-01
Running Time : 69minutes
UPC : 034571171685

ASIN : B00004WMWQ

Track Listings for

Disc-1
1. Merciless Beauty: Your Eyen Two
2. Merciless Beauty: So Hath Your Beauty
3. Merciless Beauty: Since I From Love
4. Two English Folksongs: Searching For Lambs
5. Two English Folksongs: The Lawyer
6. Ten Blake Songs: Infant Joy
7. Ten Blake Songs: A Poison Tree
8. Ten Blake Songs: The Piper
9. Ten Blake Songs: London
10. Ten Blake Songs: The Lamb
11. Ten Blake Songs: The Shepherd
12. Ten Blake Songs: Ah, Sun-Flower
13. Ten Blake Songs: Cruelty Has A Human Heart
14. Ten Blake Songs: The Divine Image
15. Ten Blake Songs: Eternity
16. Along The Field: We'll To The Woods No More
17. Along The Field
18. Along The Field: The Half-Moon Westers Low
19. Along The Field: In The Morning
20. Along The Field: The Sigh That Heaves The Grasses
21. Along The Field: Good-Bye
22. Along The Field: Fancy's Knell
23. Along The Field: With Rue My Heart Is Laden
24. On Wenlock Edge: On Wenlock Edge The Wood's In Trouble
25. On Wenlock Edge: From Far, From Eve And Morning
26. On Wenlock Edge: Is My Team Ploughing?
27. On Wenlock Edge: Oh, When I Was In Love With You
28. On Wenlock Edge: Bredon Hill
29. On Wenlock Edge: Clun

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

We do not hear much about Vaughan Williams' songs. For many people, anything lyrical and English is dismissed as "cowpat" music, and while Vaughan Williams is generally celebrated for his symphonies, his song settings have never gained wide acceptance, with the exception of the Songs of Travel and a handful of individual songs. In its 20-year history, the Hyperion label has done great work in directing us towards unjustly neglected areas of repertoire, and the label could have no better champion here than John Mark Ainsley. With beautifully sensitive playing from the members of the Nash Ensemble, his clean, mellifluous tenor draws us in to the hidden riches of this marvellous music. The CD would be worth it just for the Ten Blake Songs. They have perhaps been overshadowed by the Britten settings but their haunting beauty--seven with oboe, three unaccompanied--stays with you long after the disc is back on the shelf. But then you could probably say the same about Along the Field and On Wenlock Edge. Any song-lovers with an ear for Vaughan Williams are unlikely to be disappointed by any one of the 29 songs that make up this collection. --Keith Clarke

Customer Reviews

Some rare Vaughan Williams (2000-10-18)

The most interesting thing on this CD is the song-cycle, 'Along the Field'. Like his great friend Gustav Holst, Vaughan Williams has accompanied the voice with a violin. He does so with great resource to give us a very fine cycle indeed. I have always wondered why it is so neglected. John Mark Ainsley brings to mind that great lyric tenor, Ian Partridge, but with greater weight. There was an American recording many years ago which was more earthy, more passionate. This performance can sound a bit prissy but do not let that put you off. 'On Wenlock Edge' is a masterpiece of the highest order. Again, this is a fine performance but perhaps lacks that last degree of passion that this music requires. It seems a bit sedate at times. Nevertheless, this is essential RVW. The way the composer uses the violin in 'Along the Field' is wonderful. As my colleague above says, this is no cow pat music (Constant Lambert should be ashamed of himself). RVW was a great symphonist but he was also a great song writer.

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