Posted: 10 June 2000
Performed by The Artsong Collective: Richard Black (piano), Wills Morgan (tenor), Paul Wilson (baritone),
Phillida Bannister (mezzo-soprano), Moira Harris (soprano).
Released November 2000 on the Musaeus label.
This CD features:
Voices of the Prophets - Cantata for Tenor and Piano (Opus 41) (1953).
Four Seafarers' songs for Baritone (Opus 57) (1961).
Text from the Penguin book of folk songs.
Life's Span - Song Cycle for Mezzo Soprano and Piano (Opus 79) (1958, 1961 and 1974).
Texts:
1. A Child Asleep by Nancy Bush - 1958.
2. Learning to Talk by C Day Lewis - 1961.
3. The Long Noonday by Nancy Bush - 1974.
4. Beauty's end is in sight by C Day Lewis - 1974.
Woman's Life - Song Cycle for Soprano and Piano (Opus 87) (1977).
Poems by Nancy Bush:
1. Prologue.
2. Weaving Song.
3. Factory Day.
4. Epilogue.
The Artsong Collective have been admirers of Alan Bush's music since they first performed it in 1995. Only one of the four song cycles has previously been recorded and this will be the first recording devoted exclusively to Alan Bush's vocal compositions.
For further information and to obtain copies of the Artsong Collective CD contact:
Richard Black
The Artsong Collective
142B, Friary Road
London
SE15 5UW
United Kingdon
Telephone: 020 7277 7068
Email: richard@musaeus.co.uk
Performed by Robert Crowley.
Pipework SCS655.
Issued November 2000.
This CD features:
Three English Song Preludes (Opus 40) (1952). Based on songs from the 13th, 15th and 17th centuries.
Two Occasional Pieces (Opus 56) (1960):
1. For a Solemn Occasion.
2. For a Festal Occasion. Dedicated to C.H.Trevor, Professor of Organ, Royal Academy of Music.
Prelude and Concert Piece for Organ (Opus 116) (1986).
Suite for Organ (Opus 117) (1986).
Sonata for Organ (Opus 122) (1987).
Robert Crowley has recorded the complete organ works of Alan Bush at the organ of St. Mary's Parish Church, Hitchin. Altogether Alan Bush wrote five organ pieces, including the three commissioned by Robert Crowley, who regards them as a striking contribution to the modern organ repertory.
Robert Crowley is currently Director of Music and Chapel Organist at St. George's School, Harpenden. He began his musical career as a chorister at St. Margaret's, Westminster. He studied the organ with Martindale Sidwell at the Royal Academy of Music (1974 - 1978), where he was awarded the Recital Diploma for Organ and won several prizes.
Pipework is a new label, specialising in organ music in general and 20th century organ music in particular.
To obtain the CD send a cheque/P.O. (made payable to Stephen Lewis Jones) for £10.99 including p&p to:
Stephen Lewis Jones
48 Compton Avenue
Leagrave
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU4 9AZ
United Kingdon
Telephone: 01582 503806
"The Swallow Book" also known as "The Prison Cycle" (for Mezzo Soprano and Piano) (Opus 19) (1939), composed with Alan Rawsthorne.
This recording features Alison Wells (soprano) and Martyn Hill (tenor) with Keith Swallow (piano). The songs are settings of poems by the German poet, Ernst Toller, who was imprisoned in about 1920 for his political activities.
To be released in 2001.
The Prison Cycle comprises an Introduction, written by Alan Bush, which consists of the following three lines: Sechs Schritte Her, Sechs Schritte Hin, Ohne Sinn" (translation) "Six paces forward, "Six paces back, Without any sense".
This is followed by the first song, also written by Alan Bush, about the poet's prison cell. Alan Rawsthorne then repeats the three lines in an Interlude, followed by the second song, composed by Rawsthorne, about a pair of swallows who built a nest outside Toller's cell window. The birds were subsequently destroyed by the prison authorities. The cycle ends with an Epilogue, by Alan Bush, which repeats the three lines yet again.
The recording of this work occupies 10 minutes of a CD issued by the Alan Rawsthorne Society which includes Rawsthorne's other songs and two song cycles by Gerard Shurmann.
To obtain the CD and/or further information contact:
Stephen Trowell
7 Tudor Gardens
Upminster
Essex
RM14 3DE
United Kingdon
Telephone: 01708 224795
Two recordings, "Music By Alan Bush" (1984) and "British String Quartets" (1997) are available from Redcliffe Recordings.
Click here for details.