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Track Listings
| 1. Six Songs from A Shropshire Lad |
| 2. Folk Songs from Sussex |
| 3. Bredon Hill and Other Songs from A Shropshire Lad |
| 4. Folk Songs from Sussex |
Product Description
Review
George Butterworth(1885-1916), killed in the battle of the Somme, had scant opportunity to develop his musical gifts, honed at the feet of Parry and Vaughan Williams. These 22 settings of A E Housman, Stevenson, Wilde and traditional folk songs appear deceptively bright in mood, but prove prophetic: lads in their hundreds die in war, lasses mourn them. Lovelist of Trees, Seventeen Come Sunday and especially Brendon Hill with its radiant chiming bells which darken to knell, display Butterworth's exceptional lyric talent. In a vivid musical partnership with pianist Iain Burnside, Roderick Williams captures the mix of jauntiness and melancholy, adding tender flashes of wit. --The Observer, July 2010
It is an ever-tantalising question whether, if George Butterworth had not been killed in1916, he would have fulfilled his early promise and become one of our great composers. he left a handful of orchestral works and a large body of songs which rank as national treasures. His setting of Housman's Shropshire Lad poems are among the best of a large number by various composers and are sung by Roderick Williams with his customary warmth of tone and expression. The pianist Iain Burnside is in equal sympathy with the music. Two groups of folk songs from Sussex strengthen the bond with Vaughan Williams. **** --Michael Kennedy,Daily Telegraph
Butterworth's memorable settings of Housman's A Shropshire Lad poignantly anticipate the First World War in which Butterworth would die in 1915.Their Qualities of melancholic reverie and suppressed yearning are quite beautifully rendered. ***** -- --Daily Telegraph, 17/07/10
It is an ever-tantalising question whether, if George Butterworth had not been killed in1916, he would have fulfilled his early promise and become one of our great composers. he left a handful of orchestral works and a large body of songs which rank as national treasures. His setting of Housman's Shropshire Lad poems are among the best of a large number by various composers and are sung by Roderick Williams with his customary warmth of tone and expression. The pianist Iain Burnside is in equal sympathy with the music. Two groups of folk songs from Sussex strengthen the bond with Vaughan Williams. **** --Michael Kennedy,Daily Telegraph
Butterworth's memorable settings of Housman's A Shropshire Lad poignantly anticipate the First World War in which Butterworth would die in 1915.Their Qualities of melancholic reverie and suppressed yearning are quite beautifully rendered. ***** -- --Daily Telegraph, 17/07/10
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download|Amazon Verified Purchase
Butterworth's songs have a totemic quality because of his tragic and untimely death in the First World War. He is one of the great "might-have-beens" of English culture. You seem to hear the authentic voice of the Edwardian summer here. The settings of Houseman's eerie poems are well-known, and I have never heard a better recorded performance than this. "On The Idle Hill Of Summer" raises the hairs on the back of my neck! The only comparable recording for me (and I do have half-a-dozen others) is John Shirley-Quirk's from the 1960s, no longer available I believe. Technically this is pretty near spot-on, with the balance between voice and piano almost always just right. There seems to be a very slight hint of a phasing problem when listening on some headphones, but this is to be hyper-critical.
The other songs are settings of poems or English folk songs and, although not in the same league as the Shropshire Lad songs, are interesting, occasionally arresting, and very good fillers indeed. I would prefer the track order to place both the Houseman suites together - as published it doesn't quite make sense - but this is easy to achieve if you buy the mp3 version, or if you programme your CD player to do this for you. Very strongly recommended.
The other songs are settings of poems or English folk songs and, although not in the same league as the Shropshire Lad songs, are interesting, occasionally arresting, and very good fillers indeed. I would prefer the track order to place both the Houseman suites together - as published it doesn't quite make sense - but this is easy to achieve if you buy the mp3 version, or if you programme your CD player to do this for you. Very strongly recommended.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Once again Roderick Williams delivers some wonder songs, by Butterworth in this case, in his most beautiful voice and ever incredible clear diction. Surely one of our great singers of today.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Some of Butterworth's best work.His settings of Houseman's poems from "A Shropshire Lad" are just about perfect. Outstanding quality and expressiveness of the singing and accompaniment on this recording makes it a must for anyone who loves and enjoys classic British song.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Brilliant songs and poetry - Butterworth at his best
Wonderful settings of 14 of the poems from Housman's A Shropshire Lad. They are all delightful, capturing the nostalgic wistfulness of much of the poetry with the three choicest... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Christine M. Pluck
As close to perfect as you'll get...!
George Butterworth is one of those `what might he have done had he lived longer?' composers of which, alas, there are so many. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mr. S. J. Bonsor
The Loveliest of Songs
Like another reviewer, I own several copies of Songs from A Shropshire Lad and I can say without doubt that this one brings me the greatest pleasure of them all, these songs are... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Ms. E. Arkady
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