Naxos have made good on their commitment to reissue
the Collins English song series. Collectors of recordings of English
song are doing well out of this. The virtues of the Collins series
stood high when first issued. This made it all the more regrettable
when the firm collapsed back in 2000. Gradually however their
recordings have been licensed out to Regis, NMC and Naxos. This
is the fifth song volume to appear from Naxos. How many more to
come? I seem to remember a Gurney volume as well? The recordings
are still excellent as are the performances. The documentation
is good and all the words are printed; on top of which the selection
is generous with 33 songs in all including every one of the Quilter
'classics' as well as lesser known gems such as It was a lover
and Ca’ the yowes.
Rolfe Johnson, Lisa Milne (whose singing of Loch
Lomond at the Scottish Proms in September 2003 made such an
enchanting impression by its lilt, steadiness and subtle strength)
and Johnson manage to transcend the magnetic pull of gentility
that afflicts some of these songs. It was a lover and his lass
avoids this by more than a hair's breadth. Take O take
and O mistress mine are the equal of Gurney in the
Five Elizas cycle though Orpheus is not as sprightly
as the Gurney. Hark hark the Lark has a quicker life to
it but is still genteel. I arise from dreams of thee is
disappointingly pallid and the problem rests with the song not
these sympathetic interpreters. The vigorous and floodingly liquid
writing in Love's Philosophy is well put across but the
years have not treated this song kindly. On the other hand Passing
Dreams, to the famous words "They are not long", is
superb. I sing of a maiden is a text much set during the
extended English musical renaissance but here, under the title
of An old carol, is rather done in by the suffocating gentility
of it all. Go Lovely Rose, I dare not ask and A last
year's rose are too submissive to convention.
Milne in How should I is attractively
plaintive and Delian. She is matchlessly tender in Ca’ the
yowes, Music when soft voices die and in Ye banks
and braes. There is sprightliness in Charlie is my darling.
How freshly wonderful are the Three Pastoral Songs (setting
Celtic-ecstatic poems by Joseph Campbell (1879-1944)) for voice
with piano trio. These include I will go with my father a ploughing
which is every bit as good as the slightly more famous Gurney
setting though Gurney would never be as comfortable as some of
these songs suggest Quilter was. Cherry Valley, the second
song, is an ecstatic little watercolour. The final I wish,
I wish is sweetly irresistible; Quilter skilfully avoiding
the dangers of twee and kitsch. These songs have real life bursting
the bounds set by crinoline and Victorian sensibility. Amaryllis
falls victim to salon charm even allowing for the operatic expostulations
bursting the bonds. Now sleeps is done to perfection and
this does travel well.
To Julia is a cycle setting various delectable
Herrick love poems for voice with piano quintet. Rolfe Johnson
has just the right lilting quality. The accompaniment is as imaginative
as that for Gurney's two Housman cycles. Highlights here include
the tender To Daisies with masterful honeyed sepia touches
in the string quartet parts, the whole full of vitality. The Night
Pieces are rather Stanfordian. The artists conjure up a wonderful
slowness in Dew sat on Julia's hair. There is also the
Delian artistry of Cherry Ripe. This is a superb sequence
of songs. We should hear the complete cycle more often perhaps
as a contrast to RVW's identically specified On Wenlock Edge.
Love calls through the summer night is
to words by Rodney Bennett (1890-1948), the father of the composer
Richard Rodney Bennett. There is a touch of Ivor Novello and pleasant
kitsch in this duet extracted from Quilter's 1936 opera Julia
... also known as Rosmé. Perhaps someone will give
us the whole opera. We could do with a series of such works including
Dunhill's Tantivy Towers as well as Holbrooke's Pierrot
and Pierrette. By the way, Novello was a contemporary of Gurney's
at the RCM.
This disc is a very considerable bargain for
anyone who would like a substantial Quilter anthology superbly
presented and performed ... and all at entry level price.
Rob Barnett
see also review
by Michael Cookson
Lisa Milne (sop)