These concert songs would now be regarded by many as
belonging to another era. They set a poet almost as desperately unfashionable
as Robert W Service. Kipling, of course, is much more than the Barrack
Room Ballads but he will long be seen as the poet of the British
Empire. What makes the words of the ballads memorable is that they are
written from the perspective of the foot-soldier rather than the sun-blessed
officer class.
Michael Halliwell is South African and was brought
up on 78s by Peter Dawson. This accounts surely for his vivid and full-blooded
characterisation of the songs. This he couples with a voice of outstanding
quality comparable with Stephen Savidge's glorious tone. He strikes
a neat balance between lyrical rounding and the gruff qualities of a
stentor. David Miller partners with both sensitivity and flair and the
recording balance between the two is pleasant and equitable. I rather
wish the two of them would record a generous selection of the neglected
baritone repertoire of British song including C.W. Orr's eccentrically
neglected Housman settings with a sprinkling of Warlock, Foulds and
Gurney.
The settings here are by nine composers with the largest
number of songs given over to Gerard Cobb. Most of these belong to the
1890s and 1900s with a few from later; the McCalls are from 1930. While
a song like Cobb's imaginative To T.A. has a quiet intimacy many
of these call for and are given the sturdy, stentorian treatment as
in the case of Boots. Cobb's songs are very much in this vein
with Gunga Din rough-hewn and convincingly acted while Ford
o' Kabul River is more mournful; hymn-like with a touch of Schumann.
Some songs such as Ward-Higgs' Troopin' and McCall's Route
Marchin' have a jaunty Ruritanian music hall character. Others are
chancily ironic such as the almost disrespectful The Widow at Windsor
in which the Queen is referred to as 'Vicky'. The Maurice Bell song
is much more serious - wistful and subtle.
The words are printed in full although the font may
be a little small for some eyes. Andrew McKeich's Australian company,
Artworks, offer the full texts at their website (url below). The appearance
of the disc and booklet is of very high standard. The admirable notes
are by Michael Halliwell. My only gripe is that they say hardly anything
about the composers nor are birth and death years given.
Rob Barnett
Michael Halliwell (bar)