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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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CD
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By Grady Harp
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.... Read more ›
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.... Read more ›
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Becky
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.
4 of 4 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.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By agiagu
Format:Audio CD
The soundtrack to my day has been the beautiful disc 'Songs of War'... performed by Simon Keenlyside (baritone) & Malcolm Martineau (pianist). It has brought me to tears a few times already, and I feel it only right to thank them... an incredible duo, for their wonderful contribution. A musical slice of history, effortlessly reinterpreted and conveyed with an astounding depth of emotional understanding. Truly amazing.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Having known Simon since I taught him at school, I realise that I am rather biased ... Nevertheless, being as impartial as I possibly can be, I have to say that on this CD he once again demonstrates an amazing grasp of a wide range of musical genre, this apart from his wonderful performances in the fields of Opera and Oratorio. With his beautifully rich and silky voice, he more than captures the essence of these 'Songs of War'; his interpretation, both intimate and expressive, is superb, as is the accompaniment of Malcolm Martineau. My favourites are the poems from 'A Shropshire Lad' by A.E. Housman set to music by George Butterworth, particularly when you consider that he himself was so tragically killed during the First World War. A++ Simon & Malcolm ... Keep up the good work; I shall look forward to your next collaboration.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By L. Trodd
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
He sing all the songs on this album as if he is singing a dramatic opera. I am a fan of Keenlyside but his heavy vibrato and dramatic power with very little tenderness seems wrong for this subject. He has a great style for opera but this demands alot my tendernes. It almost exhausting listening to the whole album becasue he is going all out.
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