Songs for Sir John – A tribute to Sir John Manduell
Sir John Manduell was a pivotal figure in British music – as composer, teacher, BBC producer, first principal of the Northern Royal College of Music and founder of the European Opera Centre. Beloved and revered by musicians, yet someone whose name is shamefully little known outside the music profession.
This album in tribute presents works by 16 composers from more than one generation, centred around settings of W.B. Yeats and principally songs with oboe, recorder, violin and cello. The music is varied, rich and wonderfully set to the texts, and yet the textures are always transparent and clear; there is nothing inherently ‘difficult’ for the listener. The performers are among the cream of the Music world of Northern England, and also, in the Robin Walker Nursery Rhymes (the only work not specially recorded for the album), feature the iconic veteran BBC presenter Richard Baker. Many of these artists have starred in several other Divine Art and Metier albums – click their names above for details.
Even without the Manduell connection this is a wonderfully constructed program of new chamber music. In the track list below, the non-vocal works are marked *.
Track Listing
- Robin Stevens (b.1958):
- Men improve with the years (2:32) Elis Pehkonen (b.1942):
- Sonnet (5:46) Martin Bussey (b.1958):
- The Cold Heaven (4:00) Geoffrey Poole (b. 1949):
- Reflection (5:41) Sally Beamish (b.1956):
- Yeats Interlude (7:26) * Michael Ball (b.1946):
- Be Still (3:49) David Horne (b.1970):
- Those Images (6:09) David Matthews (b.1943):
- Two Yeats Songs, Op. 23b - I. Lullaby (3:28)
- Two Yeats Songs, Op. 23b - II. Sweet Dancer (1:35) Kevin Malone (b.1958):
- Zuzu's Petals (5:21) * Gary Carpenter (b.1951):
- This Great Purple Butterfly (4:36) Peter Dickinson (b.1934):
- Strings in the Earth and Air (1:40) Lennox Berkeley (1903-1989):
- Three Duets for Two Recorders - I. Moderato (1:37)
- Three Duets for Two Recorders - II. Minuet (1:52)
- Three Duets for Two Recorders - III. Allegro (1:36) Robin Walker (b.1953):
- Four Nursery Rhymes to texts by Thomas Pitfield - 1. The Shipwrecked Sailor (1:03)
- Four Nursery Rhymes to texts by Thomas Pitfield - 2. Lilly Pickle (0:41)
- Four Nursery Rhymes to texts by Thomas Pitfield - 3. Staring Moon (1:09)
- Four Nursery Rhymes to texts by Thomas Pitfield - 4. Cat and Mouse (0:58) Jeremy Pike (b.1955):
- The Cat and the Moon (4:28) Nicholas Marshall (b.1942):
- Into the Twilight (3:15) Naji Hakim (b.1955):
- The Cloths of Heaven (3:48)
Reviews
“We have the pleasure of hearing British recorder virtuoso John Turner on all 22 tracks of this CD. On the majority of works we hear soprano Lesley-Jane Rogers’s beautiful singing, in which the texts are clearly audible. Once again, Turner and colleagues provide a wonderful collection of music.
” —Tom Bickley
“Lovely … clearly articulated and contrasting … melodic and thoughtful… concise and charming. One of my ‘favourite CDs of 2020’
” —Robert Beale
“The instrumental ensembles add much colour or atmosphere. They vary amazingly too. The song arrangements [are] sung with sparkling clarity by Lesley-Jane Rogers.
” —Alan Cooper
“Assembled in exemplary fashion.. The comparatively limited instrumental complement is employed skillfully by all the composers, and both the singing and the playing are very fine. A considerable number of well-thought-through settings that provide listeners who have a taste for modern British chamber music with the chance to hear quite a few interesting examples of it.
” —Mark Estren
“Imaginative and inspiring in its concept, ethos, and stunning performance. This is an album to savour. Much that is beautiful, with each piece demanding our full attention. The liner notes are exceptional.
” —John France
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