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Product Description
CD Description
Songs of War is a very personal selection of songs about war, carefully chosen by Simon Keenlyside. The songs contemplate the innermost thoughts of soliders on the front lines, concentrating on themes of homesickness, longing, fear and love. Simon Keenlyside has provided the sleeve notes himself for this album, displaying his own personal thoughts on the compositions, poetry and subject matter. The album’s cover image, provided by the Imperial War Museum, is a photograph of a soldier from WW1 writing a letter home, reflecting the album’s themes of longing and homesickness. Full song texts are included in the booklet.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Simon Keenlyside and Malcolm Martineau are in fine form for this very sensitively programmed selection of songs about war. Rather than electing to present patriotic songs or songs praising the valor of conquerors, Keenlyside instead has very personally committed his attitudes toward war by choosing songs that address the innermost thoughts of soldiers on the front lines - longing, fear, homesickness, love, and yearning. The poems on which these songs are based on Keenlyside's own empathy for the safety and well-being of young men and women involved in theatres of war and for those left worrying at home; for those who have lost their loved ones or received them home, damaged or injured and for those far away, yearning for home and family. More about life than death, these songs are primarily written by English composers (with the exception of Kurt Weil and Ned Rorem) and that flavor of British stoicism and in many cases Pacifist ideas are evident.
This release is made more special in that Keenlyside has provided the liner notes, writings of great tenderness and concern, and has selected the cover of the album to be a photograph of a soldier form WW I writing a letter home - a soulful glimpse at the soldier's plight in a piece that is part of the Imperial War Museum based in London but with branches throughout England. It sets the tone for what is to follow inside. The songs performed by Keenlyside and Martineau are as follows:
John Ireland 'Sea Fever', 'The Vagabond'
Arthur Somervell 'Into my heart an air that kills', 'There pass careless people', 'White in the Moon', 'The street sounds to the soldiers' tread'
Ralph Vaughan Williams 'Songs of Travel: 'Youth and Love', 'The Infinite shining heavens', 'The Vagabond'
George Butterworth 'A Shropshire Lad: 'Loveliest of Trees', 'When I was one-and-Twenty'', Look not in my Eyes'', 'Think no more, Lad'', 'The Lads in their hundreds', 'Is my team ploughing?' and from 'Brendon Hill and other songs: 'On Brendon Hill'', O fair enough are sky and plain'', 'When the lad for longing sighs'', 'On the idle hill of summer', 'With rue my heart is laden'
Peter Warlock 'The night'
Anonymous/Ireland 'The Three Ravens'
Finzi 'Fear no more the heat o' the sun'
Frank Bridge 'Thy Hand in mine'
Ned Rorem 'An Incident'
Ivor Gurney ''When death to either shall come'', 'In Flanders'
Kurt Weill 'Beat! Beat! Drums!', 'Dirge for two veterans'
Though Simon Keenlyside is highly respected for his work both in opera and on the recital sage, few of his recordings come close to the honesty and pure beauty of singing of these songs. Hi s diction is perfectly clear at all times and the sings a though he had experience in the trenches or at least in the relationships with those who have. As always, Malcolm Martineau provides the finest in collaboration. This is a very special recording and one that would make a profound effect on audiences were Keenlyside and Martineau decide to tour with this recital. There performance of the Butterworth 'A Shropshire Lad' in Los Angeles recently proves that this music could not be in better hands. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, November 11
This release is made more special in that Keenlyside has provided the liner notes, writings of great tenderness and concern, and has selected the cover of the album to be a photograph of a soldier form WW I writing a letter home - a soulful glimpse at the soldier's plight in a piece that is part of the Imperial War Museum based in London but with branches throughout England. It sets the tone for what is to follow inside. The songs performed by Keenlyside and Martineau are as follows:
John Ireland 'Sea Fever', 'The Vagabond'
Arthur Somervell 'Into my heart an air that kills', 'There pass careless people', 'White in the Moon', 'The street sounds to the soldiers' tread'
Ralph Vaughan Williams 'Songs of Travel: 'Youth and Love', 'The Infinite shining heavens', 'The Vagabond'
George Butterworth 'A Shropshire Lad: 'Loveliest of Trees', 'When I was one-and-Twenty'', Look not in my Eyes'', 'Think no more, Lad'', 'The Lads in their hundreds', 'Is my team ploughing?' and from 'Brendon Hill and other songs: 'On Brendon Hill'', O fair enough are sky and plain'', 'When the lad for longing sighs'', 'On the idle hill of summer', 'With rue my heart is laden'
Peter Warlock 'The night'
Anonymous/Ireland 'The Three Ravens'
Finzi 'Fear no more the heat o' the sun'
Frank Bridge 'Thy Hand in mine'
Ned Rorem 'An Incident'
Ivor Gurney ''When death to either shall come'', 'In Flanders'
Kurt Weill 'Beat! Beat! Drums!', 'Dirge for two veterans'
Though Simon Keenlyside is highly respected for his work both in opera and on the recital sage, few of his recordings come close to the honesty and pure beauty of singing of these songs. Hi s diction is perfectly clear at all times and the sings a though he had experience in the trenches or at least in the relationships with those who have. As always, Malcolm Martineau provides the finest in collaboration. This is a very special recording and one that would make a profound effect on audiences were Keenlyside and Martineau decide to tour with this recital. There performance of the Butterworth 'A Shropshire Lad' in Los Angeles recently proves that this music could not be in better hands. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, November 11
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Beautifully sung songs in the English language, by a wonderful singer. Sung not only beautifully & with refined sensibility, but with the intense feeling for which Keenlyside is famous. Less about war and battle per se than about wistful longings about home, youth cut short, lost beauty, the drives and forces that send men far from home, and the irony and sadness surrounding war.
While there are songs directly about war (for example, the vivid scene of the Rebel soldier dying in "The Incident"), and some songs that are almost angry in their irony ("Think No More Lad"), most songs are reflective and personal, stirring you at a deep level. "Is My Team Ploughing?" will give you goose bumps; "The Lads in Their Hundreds" will bring tears to your eyes (especially those of you with sons or nephews).
The songs will make you wonder, in a way that transcends politics, "Why do men go to war, and keep doing so, despite the misery it causes?" Who knows, perhaps this recording could even change a mind or two. A gift. Thank you, Mr. Keenlyside.
I must add that the piano accompniment by Malcolm Martineau is (chracteristically) superb. I had the great pleasure of seeing Keenlyside and Martineau perform some of these pieces in San Francisco recently - a highly affecting evening.
My favorite tracks: "Into My Heart an Air That Kills" (gorgeous!), "Youth and Love," "Fear No More the Heat 'o the Sun," "White in the Moon," and the track 19 version of "The Vagabond"
P.S. This has officially become my favorite CD! Just wonderful.
While there are songs directly about war (for example, the vivid scene of the Rebel soldier dying in "The Incident"), and some songs that are almost angry in their irony ("Think No More Lad"), most songs are reflective and personal, stirring you at a deep level. "Is My Team Ploughing?" will give you goose bumps; "The Lads in Their Hundreds" will bring tears to your eyes (especially those of you with sons or nephews).
The songs will make you wonder, in a way that transcends politics, "Why do men go to war, and keep doing so, despite the misery it causes?" Who knows, perhaps this recording could even change a mind or two. A gift. Thank you, Mr. Keenlyside.
I must add that the piano accompniment by Malcolm Martineau is (chracteristically) superb. I had the great pleasure of seeing Keenlyside and Martineau perform some of these pieces in San Francisco recently - a highly affecting evening.
My favorite tracks: "Into My Heart an Air That Kills" (gorgeous!), "Youth and Love," "Fear No More the Heat 'o the Sun," "White in the Moon," and the track 19 version of "The Vagabond"
P.S. This has officially become my favorite CD! Just wonderful.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I recommend this CD for anyone even vaguely interested in English Song. Keenlyside's voice is simply sublime here, deep, dark and rich, and patently full of love for the works he is performing. Martineau's accompaniment is, as always, perfect. An added bonus is the accompanying text in the booklet, written by Keenlyside himself.
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