When is a double CD not a double CD? Here is the answer: two
discs in the jewel case, but one is a 'companion data
disc' containing pdf files of scores, texts and some
original manuscripts. All well and good, but as Delos kindly
allow the 'companion data' to be downloaded free
from their website here,
and as there are but 48 minutes' worth of Margaret Ruthven
Lang's music itself, this is effectively a full-price
CD that is half empty.
A second issue that a prospective buyer may wish to consider
is the fact that Delos and the performers have broken up Lang's
opuses and regrouped them under whimsical headings such as 'Songs
for Lovers of Children' or 'Parting Words and
Songs' - quite acceptable in a live recital, but surely
less so in a recording; Lang presumably had good artistic reasons
for grouping the songs as she did. More confusing is the fact
that 'Songs for Lovers of Children' was the title
of Lang's op.39, a cycle of eight songs, yet only three
of which are included in George and Mauro's six!
The listing above is not, therefore, that which appears in the
booklet, for which, see this earlier review,
which also has its own bonus material - an interesting interview
with performers Donald George and Lucy Mauro. Instead, this
alternative listing is an attempt to give a more musicological
overview of the material in George and Mauro's spare
but enjoyable recital. Neither the booklet nor New Grove shed
light on the songs; the booklet further omits some opus numbers
and all dates. However, an enterprising website
devoted to Lang does provide an annotated list of works, and
that is the source of much of the additional information given
above.
By all accounts Margaret Ruthven Lang was a remarkable figure,
not merely for her extreme longevity. This is not the first
recording of her music, but it is by far the most substantial
and significant to date - certainly the first monograph. And
already there is another: Delos's volume 2 has quickly
followed (see review).
New Grove indicates that all Lang's orchestral music
has been lost - she was later very critical of her own scores
and destroyed many herself - but apart from her many songs,
there seems to be a fair amount of choral music and piano pieces
still extant, as well as some significant chamber works.
Lang apparently ceased composing after the First World War,
however, which means her music is idiomatically conservative.
The songs are highly attractive nonetheless: tuneful, harmonically
delicate, nearly all gently contemplative, and indeed sounding
more British than American, an impression deepened by Donald
George's surprisingly British English-sounding accent
and style. Many of Lang's songs have Scottish or Irish
elements, and the lovely Irish Love Song op.22 was in fact one
of her most successful works, reportedly running to over 120,000
copies when published.
Twenty-five songs in 48 minutes indicates an inclination towards
considerable brevity, and indeed there are only two songs over
three minutes. Objections might be raised regarding the artistic
value of setting Edward Lear's doggerel to music, but
Lang carries out that thankless task with panache and wit, including
an amusing new 'flight of the bumble-bee' in 'There
was an old man in a tree'. Elsewhere the generally American
poetry is more deserving, but Lang in any case unfailingly injects
her chosen texts with fresh blood.
Donald George has a good voice and even better diction. He sings
with great expression, resisting any temptation to turn melodramatic.
Lucy Mauro's accompaniment is thoughtfully understated,
complementing always rather than bossing. Mauro and George have
been performing together as DuoDrama
for five years, and this is their debut CD.
Sound quality is impressive. The English-only booklet is slim-line,
and as stated above is sometimes short on detail, but there
are brief biographies of Lang, George and Mauro and there is
more handy data on that companion disc.
Byzantion
Collected reviews and contact at reviews.gramma.co.uk
See also review by Margarida
Mota-Bull
Full track listing
Ojalá (1889) [1:47]
My Lady Jacqueminot (1889) [1:34]
Ghosts (1889) [1:00]
Deserted (1890) [1:49]
'The Jade Flute' (no.1 from: Three Songs, op.6
(1891)) [1:42]
'A Poet Gazes on the Moon' (no.3 from: Three Songs
of the East, op.8) [2:53]
'The Sky Ship' (no.3 from: Four Songs, op.9 (1892))
[1:23]
'Betrayed' (no.4 from: Four Songs, op.9 (1892))
[2:32]
Irish Love Song, op.22 (1895) [2:24]
Summer Noon (no.4 from: Six Songs, op.37 (1902)) [1:36]
'Morning' (no.4 from: [8] Songs for Lovers of
Children, op.39) [0:50]
'Evening' (no.5 from: [8] Songs for Lovers of
Children, op.39) [1:26]
'The Sandman' (no.6 from: [8] Songs for Lovers
of Children, op.39) [2:44]
'Love is Everywhere' (no.4 from: Four Songs, op.40
(?1903)) [2:59]
[7 Songs] (from: Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures, op.42 (1905)
and More Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures, op.43 (1907)) [10:11]
'A Song of the Spanish Gypsies' (no.2 from: Four
Songs, op.50) [1:20]
'Snowflakes' (no.3 from: Four Songs, op.50) [3:16]
'Chimes' (no.2 from: Two Songs, op.54 (1914))
[2:17]
Donald George (tenor)