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Track Listings
| 1. Lyrics from the Chinese, op. 16 |
| 2. Lachrymae - in memoriam John Dowland, op. 23 |
| 3. Dirge for St Patrick's night, op. 110 |
| 4. Lyrics from the east, op. 109 |
| 5. Two pensive songs, op. 10 |
| 6. The poetry of dress, op. 25 |
| 7. The flea, op. 100 1/2 |
| 8. Indigo blues (A colonial song), op. 103 1/2 |
Product Description
Product Description
Mention the name Blyton, and the inevitable response is Enid and Noddy. But not everyone knows that Enid had a composer nephew he died earlier this year who, aside from originating some charming educational material, wrote a modest corpus of fine songs. Carey Blyton's Lyrics From the Chinese for Voice and String Orchestra (1953-8) set English translations of various ancient texts, starting with Aubade and peach blossoms after rain, anticipated in musical terms by the falling cadences of a brief but lovely Prelude. Anyone with an ear for Vaughan Williams, Delius or Britten can't fail to respond, especially as the tenor Ian Partridge offers Blyton such gentle and vocally honeyed reportage. The structure allows for a Prelude, seven varied songs and two interludes, a seamless lyrical thread ably woven by the Britten Sinfonia under Nicholas Cleobury. The Britten Sinfonia conducted by Nicholas Cleobury, Ian Partridge, tenor, Jennifer Partridge. Superbly orchestrated and beautifully played and sung. Recorded in 1999 and 2000 at The Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Aldeburgh.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Surreybloke
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having recently listened to Eisler's songs from during his period in exile and also Berg's Altenberg Lieder, I was unsure how I would respond to an album of English song. I was expecting something light and bland but this album has a craftmanship, freshness and variety that is surprising.
Carey Blyton was genial and modest as a person and unpretentious in his music. He is master of his musical idiom. There is often a dark intensity that is well expressed. There is nothing bland here. Vaughan Williams, Holst and Britten in particular come to mind.
His Lyrics from the Chinese for high voice and string orchestra shows ravishingly beautiful typically English string writing with wonderfully crafted vocal lines. It opens with an ambient sheen.
Lachrymae - in Memoriam John Dowland also for high voice and string orchestra shows some affinity with Warlock and a stylistic movement in the direction of Britten.
For the rest of the disc piano replaces the string orchestra. Dirge for St Patrick's Night for voice and piano takes matters in an even more serious and intense direction. In its four or so minutes it makes searing impact. The text is by Elsa Corbluth and tells of her daughter's death in a fire at a Mother Teresa hostel. The text is of raw anguish. The music uses a ground bass. The melodic line keeps the same melody. The mood and melody slightly resemble the opening of Tchaikovsky's Pathetique Symphony and is melodially close to the opening few notes of Panufnik's Winter Music. It is interesting to compare Blytons use of melody with that of Gavin Bryars Jesus's Blood Never Failed Me Yet.
Lyrics from the East shows a striking variety of mood and tone colour. The stylistic range is quite different to that of Lyrics from The Chinese and much closer and Britten and Messaien. Blyton was Britten's editor in the 1960s and it is easy to imaging Peter Pears singing many of the songs presented here.
With Two Pensive Songs and The Poetry of Dress we are back in the style of early twentieth century song such as Vaughan Williiam's Songs of Travel. It is not at all unwelcome and is very well done and effective.
Both The Flea and Indigo Blues are brief occasional works more in a light music vein. The shortness of text in the Flea is proceeded by a grand introduction for the piano. Indigo Blues is a Gilbert and Sullivan pastiche.
The performances are outstandingly good and deeply sympathetic throughout and shows very deep affinity with the music. Ian Partridge is the tenor and is accompanied by the Britten Sinfonia conducted by Nicholas Cleobury or by Jennifer Partridge on piano. The recordings were made at Snape Maltings. Something of the prescence of Britten and Pears seems to be there in the background during these performances.
Carey Blyton was genial and modest as a person and unpretentious in his music. He is master of his musical idiom. There is often a dark intensity that is well expressed. There is nothing bland here. Vaughan Williams, Holst and Britten in particular come to mind.
His Lyrics from the Chinese for high voice and string orchestra shows ravishingly beautiful typically English string writing with wonderfully crafted vocal lines. It opens with an ambient sheen.
Lachrymae - in Memoriam John Dowland also for high voice and string orchestra shows some affinity with Warlock and a stylistic movement in the direction of Britten.
For the rest of the disc piano replaces the string orchestra. Dirge for St Patrick's Night for voice and piano takes matters in an even more serious and intense direction. In its four or so minutes it makes searing impact. The text is by Elsa Corbluth and tells of her daughter's death in a fire at a Mother Teresa hostel. The text is of raw anguish. The music uses a ground bass. The melodic line keeps the same melody. The mood and melody slightly resemble the opening of Tchaikovsky's Pathetique Symphony and is melodially close to the opening few notes of Panufnik's Winter Music. It is interesting to compare Blytons use of melody with that of Gavin Bryars Jesus's Blood Never Failed Me Yet.
Lyrics from the East shows a striking variety of mood and tone colour. The stylistic range is quite different to that of Lyrics from The Chinese and much closer and Britten and Messaien. Blyton was Britten's editor in the 1960s and it is easy to imaging Peter Pears singing many of the songs presented here.
With Two Pensive Songs and The Poetry of Dress we are back in the style of early twentieth century song such as Vaughan Williiam's Songs of Travel. It is not at all unwelcome and is very well done and effective.
Both The Flea and Indigo Blues are brief occasional works more in a light music vein. The shortness of text in the Flea is proceeded by a grand introduction for the piano. Indigo Blues is a Gilbert and Sullivan pastiche.
The performances are outstandingly good and deeply sympathetic throughout and shows very deep affinity with the music. Ian Partridge is the tenor and is accompanied by the Britten Sinfonia conducted by Nicholas Cleobury or by Jennifer Partridge on piano. The recordings were made at Snape Maltings. Something of the prescence of Britten and Pears seems to be there in the background during these performances.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars
1 review
4.0 out of 5 stars
The hidden intensities of a modest man.
9 Jun 2012
By Surreybloke
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
Apologies if you've already seen this review on Amazon UK.
Having recently listened to Eisler's songs from during his period in exile and also Berg's Altenberg Lieder, I was unsure how I would respond to an album of English song. I was expecting something light and bland but this album has a craftmanship, freshness and variety that is surprising.
Carey Blyton was genial and modest as a person and unpretentious in his music. He is master of his musical idiom. There is often a dark intensity that is well expressed. There is nothing bland here. Vaughan Williams, Holst and Britten in particular come to mind.
His Lyrics from the Chinese for high voice and string orchestra shows ravishingly beautiful typically English string writing with wonderfully crafted vocal lines. It opens with an ambient sheen.
Lachrymae - in Memoriam John Dowland also for high voice and string orchestra shows some affinity with Warlock and a stylistic movement in the direction of Britten.
For the rest of the disc piano replaces the string orchestra. Dirge for St Patrick's Night for voice and piano takes matters in an even more serious and intense direction. In its four or so minutes it makes searing impact. The text is by Elsa Corbluth and tells of her daughter's death in a fire at a Mother Teresa hostel. The text is of raw anguish. The music uses a ground bass. The melodic line keeps the same melody. The mood and melody slightly resemble the opening of Tchaikovsky's Pathetique Symphony and is melodially close to the opening few notes of Panufnik's Winter Music. It is interesting to compare Blytons use of melody with that of Gavin Bryars Jesus's Blood Never Failed Me Yet.
Lyrics from the East shows a striking variety of mood and tone colour. The stylistic range is quite different to that of Lyrics from The Chinese and much closer and Britten and Messaien. Blyton was Britten's editor in the 1960s and it is easy to imaging Peter Pears singing many of the songs presented here.
With Two Pensive Songs and The Poetry of Dress we are back in the style of early twentieth century song such as Vaughan Williiam's Songs of Travel. It is not at all unwelcome and is very well done and effective.
Both The Flea and Indigo Blues are brief occasional works more in a light music vein. The shortness of text in the Flea is proceeded by a grand introduction for the piano. Indigo Blues is a Gilbert and Sullivan pastiche.
The performances are outstandingly good and deeply sympathetic throughout and shows very deep affinity with the music. Ian Partridge is the tenor and is accompanied by the Britten Sinfonia conducted by Nicholas Cleobury or by Jennifer Partridge on piano. The recordings were made at Snape Maltings. Something of the prescence of Britten and Pears seems to be there in the background during these performances.
Having recently listened to Eisler's songs from during his period in exile and also Berg's Altenberg Lieder, I was unsure how I would respond to an album of English song. I was expecting something light and bland but this album has a craftmanship, freshness and variety that is surprising.
Carey Blyton was genial and modest as a person and unpretentious in his music. He is master of his musical idiom. There is often a dark intensity that is well expressed. There is nothing bland here. Vaughan Williams, Holst and Britten in particular come to mind.
His Lyrics from the Chinese for high voice and string orchestra shows ravishingly beautiful typically English string writing with wonderfully crafted vocal lines. It opens with an ambient sheen.
Lachrymae - in Memoriam John Dowland also for high voice and string orchestra shows some affinity with Warlock and a stylistic movement in the direction of Britten.
For the rest of the disc piano replaces the string orchestra. Dirge for St Patrick's Night for voice and piano takes matters in an even more serious and intense direction. In its four or so minutes it makes searing impact. The text is by Elsa Corbluth and tells of her daughter's death in a fire at a Mother Teresa hostel. The text is of raw anguish. The music uses a ground bass. The melodic line keeps the same melody. The mood and melody slightly resemble the opening of Tchaikovsky's Pathetique Symphony and is melodially close to the opening few notes of Panufnik's Winter Music. It is interesting to compare Blytons use of melody with that of Gavin Bryars Jesus's Blood Never Failed Me Yet.
Lyrics from the East shows a striking variety of mood and tone colour. The stylistic range is quite different to that of Lyrics from The Chinese and much closer and Britten and Messaien. Blyton was Britten's editor in the 1960s and it is easy to imaging Peter Pears singing many of the songs presented here.
With Two Pensive Songs and The Poetry of Dress we are back in the style of early twentieth century song such as Vaughan Williiam's Songs of Travel. It is not at all unwelcome and is very well done and effective.
Both The Flea and Indigo Blues are brief occasional works more in a light music vein. The shortness of text in the Flea is proceeded by a grand introduction for the piano. Indigo Blues is a Gilbert and Sullivan pastiche.
The performances are outstandingly good and deeply sympathetic throughout and shows very deep affinity with the music. Ian Partridge is the tenor and is accompanied by the Britten Sinfonia conducted by Nicholas Cleobury or by Jennifer Partridge on piano. The recordings were made at Snape Maltings. Something of the prescence of Britten and Pears seems to be there in the background during these performances.
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