American Record Guide

The small Dunelm Records released many albums of English song in limited circulation, several of which are now again available on Diversions (Divine Art). This recording was made in 2003 for the English North West Composers’ Association and includes songs by several UK song composers, all of them little known if not unknown in the US: Thomas Pitfield, Stuart Scott, Geoffrey Kimpton, Joanna Treasure, John Ramsden Williamson, Stephen Wilkinson, Philip Wood, Sasha Johnson Manning, Kevin George Brown, David Golightly, and David Forshaw. The texts are from British poets and the Bible. According to dates given in the liner notes, all composers but Pitfield are still alive.

This is a chance for you to explore songs that will probably be as new to you as they were to me. They are very much in the tradition of 20th Century English song; they are well crafted, but don’t hold as much appeal as songs of better known composers.

Rowlinson has had an international singing career for over 50 years. His voice is rich but rather thick. His diction is very clear, so even without texts (there are none) it isn’t hard to follow. His soft singing is especially nice. The recording quality is good, but not up to the highest current standards. Skimpy notes.

—Robert A. Moore