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American Record Guide

The English Poetry and Song Society was founded in 1983 and is dedicated to the pro¬motion of English Art Song through performances, recordings, and competitions for composers. English Art Song has always been a poor relation compared to its German, French, and Italian counterparts. In the words of Sir Hubert Parry, “the English prefer foreign music.” This is the fifth disc the society has sponsored; it has songs by 12 composers, 8 of whom have been prize-winners in past EPSS competitions. Included are the three cycles of the album title: 7 of William Bliss Carmen’s Sappho Songs by Ivor Gurney; 6 poems from AE Housman’s Shropshire Lad by William Carnell; and Dennis Wickens’s setting of 7 poems by the “Super-Tramp” poet WH Davies.

The singing and accompaniment are top-notch. These performers obviously under¬stand the important role of the poetry in Art Song, so their accounts of these 52 songs display emotional depth and literary understanding. While the musical interest is uneven, I particularly enjoyed the Gurney and Wickens cycles. Listeners are sure to find others of interest—there is something for everyone here.

Notes on the society, composers, performers, and texts. A lovely production.

—Robert Delcamp

@divineartrecordingsgroup

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On 10 October, Métier is thrilled to present Michael Finnissy: Organ Works from acclaimed American organist Forrest Eimold! Don't miss Paul Hindmarsh's marvelous new piece in Classical Music Magazine on the importance of Britain's Brass Bands. A great primer for our new release, Discovering Wilfred Heaton! 3️⃣ Tracks from the 3 October release, Discovering Wilfred Heaton, are #nowplaying on Apple Music Classical and more! Don't miss both of our new Métier new releases on Deezer's New Classical Picks Playlist! ▶️ Listen now in our bio link. Today, Métier presents a “monumental” (The Wire) 4-disc box set from pianist Ian Pace in commanding performances of music by composer Michael Finnissy (b. 1946). On all platforms today at listn.fm/finnissypiano Métier Records is thrilled to release “Because They Have Songs” from composer Edward Cowie and featuring Gerard McChrystal and Richard Shaw! Out now on all platforms ▶️ listn.fm/becausetheyhavesongs “This monumental piano release features Michael Finnissy’s Verdi Transcriptions plus English Country-Tunes, and other compositions inspired by 19th century music. Soloist Ian Pace is a leading interpreter of Finnissy’s work, and has played his complete output for piano. Finnissy’s output is prolific, political and complex – he’s a leading late modernist.… luxuriant but challenging textures of the school often called new complexity.” —Andy Hamilton, The Wire Marvelous new MusicWeb International review for Edward Cowie: Because They Have Songs, before its release this Friday! “Buller is a composer who knows how to imbue feelings with ample warmth, colour and tension that keep the ear immersed in his sonic worlds. The musical language is largely tonal, with some roots in sacred choral traditions, yet with sufficient harmonic pungency to provide underpinnings of meaning to Leah Lax’s empathetic, urgent texts in the two extended works.… Conspirare, led by founding Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson, respond to all of Buller’s emotional gestures with utmost cohesion and flexibility, and the soloists – basses Michael Hawes and Simon Barrad and soprano Emily Yocum Black – are first-rate.” —Donald Rosenberg, @gramophonemagazine “This performance will stay with me for a long time; it is both exquisitely beautiful and inherently melancholic.” —Edward Breen, Gramophone on Haitham Haidar's #Zaytoun