I AM THE SONG q anyone lived in a pretty how town [5.34] CHORAL music BY BERNARD HUGHES Soloists: Helen Neeves (soprano) • Rebecca Lodge (mezzo-soprano), Robert Johnston (tenor) • Stephen Charlesworth (baritone), Edward Price (bass)

w Revelation Window [5.27]

Two Choral Fanfares A Medieval Bestiary e 1 Everyone sang [2.08] Prologue [3.58] r 2 I am the Song [1.10] The Beasts of the Land [1.25] t The Panther [4.20] Three Swans y First Sermon [0.51] 3 The Bereaved Swan [1.39] u The Beasts of the Water [1.23] 4 The Silver Swan [1.24] i The Whale [3.33] 5 Riddle [3.30] o Second Sermon [0.49] Soloists: Helen Neeves (soprano) • Emma Tring (soprano) p The Beasts of the Air [0.58]

a The Phoenix [4.33] 6 The winter it is past [4.02] s Third Sermon [2.38] The Death of Balder Soloists: Olivia Robinson (soprano) • Elizabeth Poole (soprano) 7 Prologue [0.32] Margaret Cameron (mezzo-soprano) • Stephen Jeffes (tenor) Simon Grant (bass) • Edward Price (bass) 8 Act One [11.55] 9 Interlude [3.08] Total timings: [75.15] 0 Act Two [10.18] Soloists: Elizabeth Poole (soprano, Frigg) • Olivia Robinson (soprano, Thokk) Rebecca Lodge (mezzo-soprano, Hel) • Cherith Milburn-Fryer (alto, Old Woman) Edward Goater (tenor, Balder) • Stephen Jeffes (tenor, Hermod) BBC SINGERS Robert Johnston (tenor, Hod) • Charles Gibbs (bass, Narrator) PAUL BROUGH CONDUCTOR Edward Price (bass, Loki)

www.signumrecords.com COMPOSER’S NOTE beats grouped mostly in sevens and fives, The oldest of the poems in the set, although the ancient tales were intended to preserve and, in contrast to the first fanfare, builds presented in a modern adaptation, is a Riddle pre-Christian forms of Scandinavian story-telling. This recording is the culmination of a to a loud finish. from the Exeter Book, for which the answer collaboration with the BBC Singers dating is ‘swan’. The Exeter Book is a tenth-century The text of The Death of Balder was adapted back to 2002, when Three Swans was performed Swans have long held a fascination for poets codex and a major source of Anglo-Saxon poetry, by the composer from a modern telling of the at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music and musicians, often taking on metaphorical which contains over 90 riddles. Its modern myths by the poet and novelist Kevin Crossley- Festival. The two large-scale pieces, The Death meanings. The poems set in Three Swans are version is the work of poet and critic Geoffrey Holland. Probably the most famous of the Norse of Balder and A Medieval Bestiary, were wide-ranging in tone and historical background, Grigson (1905-85). The poem itself does not myths, The Death of Balder has been described commissioned and premiered by the BBC but are all linked by this most elegant of birds. contain the word ‘swan’, but the choir presents by Crossley-Holland as ‘one of the world’s Singers. They were both inspired by books, in it as if in parentheses throughout the movement, great tragic stories’. It is presented as a fine Folio Society editions, bequeathed to me Stevie Smith (1902-71) was a true English announcing it decisively only at the end. miniature ‘radio opera’: spoken narration linking by my godfather, from which I adapted the eccentric, a poet and novelist whose work was solo arias and duets, against an ‘orchestral’ – but texts. The other pieces have been written illustrated with characteristic doodles and The winter it is past is a 2014 setting of a entirely sung – accompaniment. for a variety of choirs and occasions but not cartoons. The Bereaved Swan begins with the short, bleak poem by Robert Burns (1759- previously performed by the BBC Singers. striking image of the swan as a floating cake 1796). Written in 1788 it equates the passing of Act One tells how the gods are fearful for the of soap, opening out into an exploration of the seasons with the end of a love affair. The safety of the beautiful Balder. His mother gets Two Choral Fanfares, composed in 2010 and Smith’s predominant theme: death. music uses a melodic language borrowed reassurance from every object throughout the 2011, are designed as short concert openers, from folksong in a prevailing 5/4 meter. nine worlds that he will not be harmed, but she setting poems by Seigfried Sassoon (1886-1967) The Silver Swan is well known as a madrigal overlooks a small mistletoe bush. The malign and Charles Causley (1917-2003). Everyone by the English composer Orlando Gibbons, The stories of Norse mythology make up one of god Loki creates a dart from this bush, which Sang uses a poem written shortly after the published in 1612, but my setting was made the most extraordinary narrative sequences in kills Balder. Amid widespread mourning Odin’s Armistice in 1918. The text does not explicitly before I had heard this original. The words are all literature. From the creation of the world in son, Hermod, volunteers to journey to the reference that event but describes a communal unattributed, but possibly by Gibbons himself. the chasm of Ginnungagap to the destruction world of the dead to negotiate with its ruler, elation translated into spontaneous song. The text deals with the legend that the swan, of the gods at Ragnarök, the tales of Odin Hel, for Balder’s return. Charles Causley’s work centres on ballads and silent through life, sings a beautiful song and the other gods have a resonance which folksong in the tradition of his native Cornwall. before dying. In the final two lines, set to rings across the centuries. The legend of the In an Interlude, the gods and goddesses keep I am the Song is an anaphora, each line blazing cluster chords, the swan symbolises death of Balder comes from the Prose Edda vigil by Balder’s body through the endless beginning with the same words. The rhythm the wise, increasingly outnumbered, in Gibbons’s of the great Icelandic historian and poet Snorri night. In Act Two Balder is given a grand of the music is irregular and syncopated, with day as in ours. Sturluson (1179-1241), whose accounts of Norse funeral, put out to sea in his boat,

- 4 - - 5 - Ringhorn. Meanwhile, Hermod gains entry to setting for soprano, baritone and ensemble, The Folio Society facsimile Bestiary, its extraordinary the world of the dead. Hel agrees to release written as a university graduation piece in 1995. illustrations interpolated into the text, gave Balder if everything in the nine worlds shows a starting point for the piece: vivid musical his worth by weeping for him. Messengers go Revelation Window, for double choir, is based colours to match vivid textual descriptions. out, and everything weeps for Balder. But on on the 1995 stained glass window of the their return to Asgard, the messengers come same name in Manchester Cathedral, the After the introduction, in which the animals of across a giantess, Thokk, who stonily refuses work of the glass artist Antony Hollaway the world are given their names by Adam, to weep for Balder, thereby committing (1928-2000). The piece uses a wordless text sections introducing the beasts of the land, him to remain in the land of the dead. The whose syllables reference the words ‘light’, sea and air are each followed with longer other gods are convinced Thokk is really Loki ‘colour’ and ‘revelation’ in a number of passages devoted to the panther, the whale in disguise. languages. The blocks of harmonic colour reflect and the phoenix. These symbolically represent the bold outlines of the window. Revelation respectively Christ, Satan and the resurrection. The Death of Balder was first broadcast Window was commissioned by the Seattle-based on BBC Radio 3 in 2008, and subsequent choir The Esoterics in 2010. The first performance The medieval naturalists had didactic intent – performances have included the City of London was accompanied by a time-lapse film of to use the natural world to demonstrate how and Bath festivals. It was runner-up in the light passing behind the window. we can be better Christians – and so each of British Composer Awards in 2009 and is the three large panels ends with a sermon in which the choir instructs the audience on the dedicated to the composer Param Vir. A Medieval Bestiary (2011) explores medieval man’s relationship with the world of animals. lesson to be learnt. In the libretto the specific, and leaden, Christian explication of the original The text of anyone lived in a pretty how town The text intersperses colourful descriptions of is by the American poet E.E.Cummings (1894- animals – real and imaginary – from a 13th sources is removed to leave poetic but opaque 1962), and was published in 1940 in the century bestiary now in the Bodleian library, moral instructions, for example the final words collection 50 Poems. It tells the story of an with three Anglo-Saxon animal allegories. of the piece: ‘O man, make your chrysalis, anonymous man referred to as ‘anyone’, and Ranging from the comical and the inspired and clothe yourself in the new man.’ The features Cummings’s customary games with to the downright peculiar, the animal descriptions musical setting is extremely varied, from the syntax and semantics. The poem is childlike in offer a fascinating glimpse into the medieval plainchant-inspired opening, to the chorale- its simplicity, but disrupted by unusual mind. The text is based on translations of like sermons and the exhilarating chaos of the word order and opaque meaning. This choral the bestiary by Richard Barber and of the naming of the animals. arrangement, made in 2011, is based on a allegorical poetry by Kevin Crossley-Holland. © Bernard Hughes

- 6 - - 7 - Two Choral Fanfares I am the word that speaks the man. 4 The Silver Swan 6 The winter it is past

1 Everyone sang I Am The Song by Charles Causley (1917-2003) from Collected Poems (1951-2000), published by Macmillan. Reproduced The silver swan, who living had no note, The winter it is past, and the summer comes with permission. Everyone suddenly burst out singing; When death approached unlocked her at last silent throat; And the small birds, they sing on ev’ry tree; And I was filled with such delight Three Swans As prisoned birds must find in freedom, Leaning her breast against the reedy shore, Now ev’ry thing is glad, while I am very sad, Winging wildly across the white 3 The Bereaved Swan Thus sung her first and last, and sung no more: Since my true love is parted from me. Orchards and dark-green fields; Farewell, all joys; O death, come close mine eyes; Wan on – on – and out of sight. More geese than swans now live, more fools The rose upon the breer, by the waters Swan than wise. running clear, Everyone’s voice was suddenly lifted; On the lake May have charms for the linnet or the bee; And beauty came like the setting sun: Like a cake Anonymous Their little loves are blest, and their little hearts My heart was shaken with tears; and horror Of soap at rest, 5 Drifted away… O, but Everyone Why is the swan Riddle But my true love is parted from me. Was a bird; and the song was wordless; Wan the singing will never be done. On the lake? Clothes make no sound when I tread ground Robert Burns (1759-1796) He has abandoned hope. Or dwell in dwellings or disturb the flow. Everyone Sang by Siegfried Sassoon (1886-1967), © the Estate And lofty air and gear at times The Death of Balder of George Sassoon. Reproduced with permission. Wan Swan Above men’s towns will lift me: 2 I am the Song On the lake afloat Brisk breezes bear me far, and then 7 Prologue Bows his head: My frettings loudly rush and ring I am the song that sings the bird. O would that I were dead Above the people and most clearly sing Narrator I am the leaf that grows the land. For her sake that lies When I forth-fare on air Hail to the speaker and to him who listens! May I am the tide that moves the moon. Wrapped from my eyes And feel and know whoever learns these words prosper because of I am the stream that halts the sand. In a mantle of death, No fold, no flow. them! Hail to those who listen! I am the cloud that drives the storm. The swan saith. Riddle by Geoffrey Grigson (1905-1985) from Collected Poems I am the earth that lights the sun. Choir The Bereaved Swan by Stevie Smith (1902-1971), from COLLECTED (1963-1980), published by Allison & Busby. Reproduced with I am the fire that strikes the stone. POEMS OF STEVIE SMITH, copyright ©1972 by Stevie Smith. permission. Hail to those who listen! Ah! I am the clay that shapes the hand. Reprinted by permission of New Directions Publishing Corp (US & Canada) and Faber and Faber Ltd.

- 8 - - 9 - 8 Act One Balder Frigg Frigg I can feel nothing. Greetings, old woman. I’ve taken an oath. From everything. Narrator The gods and goddesses gathered in the Narrator Old Woman Old Woman shadow of Balder’s terrible dreams, dreams that Another tried, and another. The gods could not Where am I? Everything that is? threatened to pitch him into the darkness forever. resist the sport. They tossed pebbles and sticks Frigg Not one of them doubted his life was in danger which struck Balder on the head and chest, but Frigg This is Asgard. and for a long time they discussed how to he remained unharmed. Everything. protect him. Balder Old Woman I’m a long way from home. Old Woman The gods and goddesses thought of all the ways I feel nothing. Nothing at all. Alive or dead? in which one can die; then Balder’s mother, Frigg, Narrator Frigg began to travel through the nine worlds and get The gods enjoyed the game hugely – all except You are welcome in Asgard. Frigg each and every substance to swear an oath that it Loki, the Sly One. Yes. would not harm Balder. Old Woman Loki Over there! What a noise! Old Woman Choir I am Loki They are stoning a man. Everything? Fire swore an oath. Sly, subtle sorcerer Water swore an oath. Skilful shape-changer Frigg Frigg Iron and every metal swore an oath. Troublemaker. Trickster. Tormentor. Don’t worry, old woman. Yes. The stones swore oaths. I celebrate suffering. Earth swore an oath. Old Woman Balder’s blitheness makes my blood boil Old Woman The trees swore oaths. Poor man! His face was white, so white… I play no part in these pastimes Even a pinch of salt? Every kind of illness swore an oath and so did And yet I cannot quite keep away. Frigg every sidling snake: ‘Balder is safe.’ Frigg (irritated) He’s my son, but nothing can hurt him. Narrator Yes. Everything. Except… Narrator Slipping away, Loki the Shape Changer assumed Except the little bush, When the gods and goddesses heard what Frigg Old Woman the form of an old woman. He found Balder’s So small, so young, had done they decided to put it to the test. One Poor man. Poor man. mother, Frigg, alone. That grows to the west of Valhalla: the mistletoe. threw a pebble which struck Balder’s head.

- 10 - - 11 - Narrator Loki Choir Narrator Frigg looked round but the old woman was gone. Helpless Hod, …pierced… So Hermod mounted Sleipnir, Odin’s own horse, Loki had already re-assumed his own form and Why don’t you dare throw darts and galloped out under the moon and down was hurrying towards Valhalla and then west. In a At your beautiful brother, Balder, Narrator towards the always-dark. small grove he found, growing out of the trunk of Blind Hod, The god fell on his face. an oak, the spray of mistletoe. Hopeless, helpless Hod? And all through that endless night the gods and Choir goddesses kept silent vigil by Balder’s body. Choir Hod …fell… Berries gleam like clusters of pale eyes, I can’t see where he is. 9 Interlude Unmoving and strange in the half-light. Another thing. I have no weapon. Narrator Dead. Choir Narrator Loki Choir Breathe no more. Loki chose the straightest branch and formed an Take this twig. Sleep no more. arrow from it. I’ll stand behind you, [WORDLESS CHORUS. THE GODDESSES ARE SEIZED BY WILD GRIEF.] Balder breathes no more. Steady your hand, Gladsheim sleeps no more. Choir Steer it to strike. Leaves green and yellow-green Frigg Gladsheim: breathe again. Stem green. Choir (chanting) Does anyone here…? Eyes on fire. Body on fire. Will anyone…? Narrator Narrator Evil was in him. Who here will win all my love and favour? All night the gods and goddesses kept silent vigil He sharpened one end to a point. Who will here ride the long road to Hel, by Balder’s body and in the morning they began to Narrator Offer Hel a ransom, prepare for his funeral. A cortege laid his corpse Choir Guided by Loki, Hod aimed the dart at Balder. The A ransom for my son Balder, on a pyre in Ringhorn, Balder’s own great boat Otherworldly and strange in the half-light. mistletoe flew… If she will met Balder home to Asgard again? with its curved prow.

Narrator Choir Hermod Gods came. Valkyries came. Elves, dwarves and Loki returned to Gladsheim. The gods meanwhile …flew… I will… giants came to pay their tribute of grief. [sings] were so absorbed in their game that none had I am Hermod, son of Odin. The fire was lit, and the watchers wept as the missed Loki, or noticed his return. Loki sidled up Narrator Bold. Fearless. Admired. boat began to drift out, rocking, across the water. to Balder’s blind brother, Hod, standing apart It pierced Balder’s body… I am ready to go! from the others. - 12 - - 13 - Choir Narrator that had happened. And messengers were sent Thokk Farewell Balder, most beautiful, most gentle, Hel, mistress of Eljudnir, approached Hermod. out to every corner of the nine worlds. I will weep no tears for Balder. most wise of them all. Farewell. I care nothing for Balder. Hel Messengers Alive or dead, I have no use for him. 0 Act Two Who…? What… do you… want… here? Weep for Balder. Weep for dead Balder. Let Hel hold what she has. Let everything that is weep for Balder. Narrator Hermod Messengers Meanwhile, for nine nights Hermod rode through I am Hermod! Choir Weep. Weep. Weep. a valley so deep and dark he was unable to see I must tell you of the grief of the gods. Fire wept. Water wept. anything. The ground fell away from him and the Asgard is caught in a storm of sorrow. Iron and every metal wept. Narrator cold fingers of the underworld began to reach up I ask you with love for most beautiful, most gentle The stones wept. Earth wept. But Thokk refused to say another word. She would towards him. Balder: The trees wept. Every kind of illness wept and so not recant, she would not weep. Will you allow Odin’s son to ride home with me? did every sidling snake. ‘Weep for dead Balder’. The messengers left her and mournfully returned At last he reached the massive gates and to Asgard. And what they had to say was clear towering walls that Hel had set up in front of Narrator Narrator from the manner of their coming. her hall, Eljudnir. With a great thrust of his back Hel, guardian of the underworld, considered. The messengers were making their way back to legs, Sleipnir leaped clear of the iron gates, and Asgard, feeling they had overlooked nothing, when Choir Hermod entered the hall. Hel on the way they came across a giantess sitting The gods and goddesses ached; Is Balder… truly… as loved… as you say?… in a cave. They felt old, confused, weary; Choir Let me… test. Their hearts were heavy with sorrow. Ah! Help me! Save me! Pity me! If… everything in the… nine… worlds… dead Messengers and alive,… weeps for Balder, What is your name? Narrator [THE NEWLY DEAD ARE IN AGONY, OR RESIGNED, Let him return… to Asgard. And not one of them doubted that Thokk, the SOME LEERING OR MURDEROUS, SPITTING OR But if… anything… even one single thing… will Thokk giantess in the cave, was also Loki. MOANING. THROUGH THIS WE HEAR BALDER’S not weep… I am Thokk. WORDS FROM EARLIER:] Balder… remains… here… with me! Choir Messengers Disturbed, dismayed, heartsick, Balder Narrator Weep for Balder. Weep for dead Balder. The gods awaited I can feel nothing. Hermod returned to Asgard and told the gods all Let everything that is weep for Balder. The time at the end of time: Ragnarok.

- 14 - - 15 - Narrator Later, after Babel, the heathens named each Thus Adam named the animals, A sick bear will eat ants. May whoever learns these words prosper because and every beast, each and every one, in their all the creatures of the world. of them! own languages: Greek and Latin and Arabic, Adam, the first man, named them all! A parander can change its shape when it is Hail to those who listen! the tongues of the Celts and Saxons and frightened. Germans, the Northmen, Tuscans and all the To the brink of the water encircling Choir barbarian peoples. the bright earth, The weasel is very cunning. Some say it conceives Hail to those who listen! Ah! The swing of the waves in the roaring sea, through its ear and gives birth through its mouth. And so the names multiplied: Both birds and beasts are scattered, Text by Kevin Crossley-Holland (b.1941), adapted by Bernard Hughes Multitudes moving all over the earth. If a unicorn sees a virgin girl it leaps into her lap Reproduced by permission of The Agency (London) Ltd © Kevin Crossley-Holland, 1980 Yana, Daga, Achbar, Livyatan, Dvora, Kelev, Aryeh, and goes to sleep. First published by Andre Deustch Ltd Hirra, Dubb, Booma, Charfaferet, Y’ela, Zikit, r The Beasts of the Land All rights reserved and enquiries to The Agency (London) Ltd Ez, Nami, Thaalab, Barboor, Bichra, Antholops, The amphisbaena has two heads, one in the right 24 Pottery Lane, London W11 4LZ fax: 0207 727 9037 Lupus, Delphinus, Apa, Barvaz, Canis, Camellus, Of the animals named by Adam most numerous place, the other on its tail. Aquila, Bulbul, Basiliskos, Hafoc, Pelikan, Gos, are those of the land. q anyone lived in a pretty how town Khamaileon, Hwael, Beo, Camel, Monokoros, The gryphon has a face like an eagle, with the

E. E. Cummings (1894-1962). Text not reproduced here due Mus, Beofor, Rhomus, Aes, Ass, Korax, Fisc, In India there is a beast called the manticore. body of a lion; it hates the horse bitterly. to copyright restrictions. Frogga, Asino, Bonnacon, Mul, Sirena, Api, Hors, It has a triple row of teeth, the face of a man, a Uxi, Hraefn, Catt, Gatto, Leon, Viper, Barnacle, lion’s body and a pointed tail with a sting like a The monoceros is a monster with a horrible bray; Hedgehog, Leucrota, Igel, Wulf, Amphisbaena, scorpion, and a hissing voice. It delights in eating it has the body of a horse, the feet of an elephant A Medieval Bestiary Coccodrillo, Ugla, Night-owl, Gos, Snaca, human flesh. and a tail like that of a stag. e Prologue Blaka, Serpent, Bee, Dufa, Coot, Tiger, Quail, Salamander, Charadrius, Mule, Hoopoe, Crow, The lion fears the noise of wheels. A dragon is larger than all other animals. It has Beasts of the Land! Elephant, Fox, Horned Serpent, Eagle, Panther, a crest, a small mouth and narrow nostrils. Its Beasts of the Water! Svala, Peacock, Sparrowhawk, Antelope, Laculus, The lynx’s urine hardens into a valuable jewel. homes are Ethiopia and India. Beasts of the Air! Phoenix, Hyena, Cinnomolgus, Scorpion, Heron, Hawk, Bat, Partridge, Perindens, Pard, Serra, A fox has supple feet and never runs in a There is an animal called the hyena, which Adam, being the first man, gave to all living Beaver, Lizard, Water-ouzel, Gryphon, Magpie. straight line. lives in the graves of dead men and feeds on beings a name, a name in the tongue of all Weasel, Seps, Sheep, Vulture, Wyrm, Crow, their bodies. peoples before the Flood: Hebrew. Tragelaphus, Kite, Hawk, Manticore, Dragon

- 16 - - 17 - In Ethiopia there are ants in the shape of dogs From royal lodges and fortresses and towns, i The Whale p The Beasts of the Air which root out grains of gold with their feet and Men hurry along earth’s paths in company guard them. Towards the music, drawn by the song. I will sing about a fish, Of all the beasts, the flying creatures known to us That is a fair music. His name is Fastitocalon, as birds, known to us as beasts of the air, are the The panther is a mottled beast and very swift. Fierce and savage to seafarers. most noble. y First Sermon Proud whale, water-traveller, t The Panther Ocean monster, master of evil. Airborne, nearer to God, Blush, wretched man, blush! Look at the example Their movement free of constraint; There are marvellous things said of nature, which daily creates and brings forth Hungry, the warden of the ocean Gliding through the nothingness above the earth About the nature of a certain beast: new creatures. The first generation came from Opens his mouth, The beasts of the air see further, His name is Panther. clay, the latest from wood. Nature imitates itself Parts his vast lips. And feel deeper, and repeats the process. A sweet scent streams out. And know more. Fairest of creatures, Fish of all sorts are seduced: Glossy and bright. u The Beasts of the Water They swim to the source of the scent Vultures conceive without mating. They can Modest and meek, And crowd in, a thoughtless throng, predict the death of a man. Peaceful, kind, In the submerged world of the sea Until that huge maw is full; Cranes submit to a kind of military discipline. Panther will not hurt anything – Is a darkness unknown on the land. Suddenly the grim jaws snap around their prey. The ostrich has feathers but does not fly; Except the venomous dragon, At once Fastitocalon dives, its feet are like a camel’s. His oldest foe. Dolphins gather in shoals when music is played. Dives to the depths of that bottomless swell, The jackdaw is the most talkative of birds, The crocodile is so called from the colour Into the misty gloom. with a grating voice. After eating, of crocuses. For those who enter, there is no return, no escape. The pelican loves its young excessively. He retires to his mountain cave. There is a monster in the sea called the serra, The partridge is a cunning and unclean bird. The mighty warrior slumbers, heavy with or flying fish. o Second Sermon No other creature can scent man so keenly weariness; as the goose. Rising on the third day, So you, O man, the eyes of whose heart are I have seen them myself, with my own eyes, A sweet sound streams forth, darkened, should lift the eyes of your mind and many times. Stronger, more pleasing seek out the fount of justice; then you will Than any forest blossom, renew your youth, like an eagle that is restored The most lovely of songs. to full strength.

- 18 - - 19 - a The Phoenix An eagle come to maturity: BERNARD HUGHES Adorned with brilliant plumage, Far from here, As it was in the beginning. Bernard Hughes (b.1974) grew up in London Away to the east, and studied music at St Catherine’s College, is a place without equal; s Third Sermon Oxford; in 2009 he was awarded a PhD in Endowed with earth’s sweetest scents, composition by the University of London. His Spacious under the sky. O man, make your chrysalis, and putting off the old Adam, and all his deeds, clothe yourself in teachers have included Hugh Rice, Param Vir When the wind is asleep and the weather set fair, the new man. Your chrysalis will protect you and and Philip Cashian. Bernard Hughes’s music When the clouds have dispersed shelter you in the evil hour. Your chrysalis is faith; has been performed by ensembles including and the mighty deeps lie calm, fill it with the sweetness of your virtues, and enter the BBC Singers, Trinity Boys’ Choir and Juice Then the phoenix fashions its nest. its depths, strengthened by your knowledge of Vocal Ensemble at major venues including When the scorching sun your good deeds. The end of your life should find Symphony Hall, Birmingham and St Paul’s Looks across the world, you clothed in this faith, your bones as full of sap Cathedral. He has won awards including the The house of the phoenix as a luxuriant garden. Know therefore the day of Polyphonos International Prize, the William Swelters under the glowing sky. your death. Mathias Composition Prize and the Simon The funeral pyre is kindled. Carrington Singers Composition Prize. Recent Furious the flames flicker, O man, make your chrysalis, and clothe yourself in premieres have included choral works for The nest of the phoenix the new man. the Seattle Pro Musica, the Three Choirs Held in the fire’s fierce embrace. The text, adapted by the composer, uses two medieval sources. Festival and for Crouch End Festival Chorus’s The age-old bird is burnt. It is based partly on the Bestiary (Bodley 764), translated into 30th anniversary season. The orchestral work English by Richard Barber (The Folio Society, 1992). The texts of ANAPHORA has recently been recorded by the ‘The Panther’, ‘The Whale’ and ‘The Phoenix’ are based on Kevin In time its corpse grows cold, Crossley-Holland’s translations in The Anglo-Saxon World. The Brno Philharmonic Orchestra and Bernard Its body breaks apart; translations of the animals names in the Prologue were provided wrote songs and incidental music for the The flames die away. by Kevin Crossley-Holland, Richard Barber, Raissa Kasolowsky and Michal Lyons. British film comedy Bill, released in 2015. Bernard Hughes is Composer-in-Residence at In the ashes of the pyre, Reproduced by permission of The Agency (London) Ltd St Paul’s Girls’ School in London. For more © Sarah-Jane Field Is found an apple © Kevin Crossley-Holland, 1981 First published by The Boydell Press information visit From which grows a wondrous worm. www.bernardhughes.co.uk. In the shadow it grows All rights reserved and enquiries to The Agency (London) Ltd 24 Pottery Lane, London W11 4LZ fax: 0207 727 9037 In great joy, until it is like

- 20 - - 21 - BBC SINGERS Chief Conductor David Hill atmospheric surroundings St Giles’ Cripplegate Principal Guest Conductors Paul Brough and continues with American Songs and music Sopranos Tenors Altos Basses Bob Chilcott by Elgar, Judith Bingham and James MacMillan. Micaela Haslam Edward Goater Lynette Alcántara Michael Bundy Conductor Laureate Stephen Cleobury Helen Neeves Stephen Jeffes Margaret Cameron Stephen Charlesworth Associate Composer Judith Weir Based at the BBC’s Maida Vale Studios, the Elizabeth Poole Robert Johnston Ruth Kiang * Simon Grant * BBC Singers also give free concerts at St Olivia Robinson Neil MacKenzie * Rebecca Lodge Jamie W Hall The BBC Singers hold a unique position in Paul’s Knightsbridge, as well as appearing at Emma Tring Andrew Murgatroyd Cherith Millburn-Fryer Dominic Kraemer British musical life. Performing everything from major festivals across the UK and beyond. Louise Wayman * Tom Raskin * Kim Porter * Edward Price Byrd to Birtwistle, Tallis to Takemitsu, their versatility is second to none. The choir’s unrivalled This world-class ensemble is committed to expertise in performing the best of contemporary sharing its enthusiasm and creative expertise * The Death of Balder and A Medieval Bestiary only music has brought about creative relationships through its nationwide outreach programme. with some of the most important composers This includes frequent collaborations with and conductors of the 20th and 21st centuries, schoolchildren, youth choirs and the amateur including Poulenc, Britten, Judith Bingham and choral community, as well as with the Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. professional composers, singers and conductors of tomorrow. Following a successful 90th anniversary season, the BBC Singers’ 2015-16 season is as bbc.co.uk/bbcsingers thrilling and diverse as ever. A third season facebook.com/bbcsingers of concerts in London’s newest concert venue, @bbcsingers Milton Court Concert Hall, includes Monteverdi’s Vespers with I Fagiolini, Handel’s Saul with a host of first-rate soloists, a magical presentation of Dylan Thomas’s A Child’s Christmas in Wales led by Chief Conductor David Hill and a poignant concert remembering the battle of the Somme. The Singers at Six series of early-evening concerts in the © Mark Allan

- 22 - - 23 - PAUL BROUGH Saints’ Margaret Street, Sheffield Cathedral and Tewkesbury Abbey. He now directs the Paul Brough has taught conducting and music at St Mary’s Bourne Street in succession academic studies at the Royal Academy of and tribute to the late David Trendell. He lectured Music since 2004. His own conducting has for sixteen years in the music department of taken him to the BBC Symphony Orchestra, King’s College, London and was made an BBC Philharmonic, BBC Concert Orchestra, Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in Ulster Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Manchester 2007 in recognition of “a significant contribution to Camerata and St James’s Baroque. the music profession”.

2016 sees him completing five years as Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Singers and conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for the first time, as Guest Principal Conductor of the Oxford Bach Choir.

He attended the Royal College of Music and held organ sholarships at St Michael’s College, Tenbury and Magdalen College, Oxford. He studied conducting with George Hurst and Colin Metters as a postgraduate and post-student Fellow at the Royal Academy of Music, also taking regular masterclasses with both Sir Colin Davis and Ilya Musin. He assisted Jeffrey Tate with the Venice Ring (2007-9) and conducted period orchestra The Hanover Band for seven seasons (Principal Conductor 2007-10). In his parallel activities as a church musician he has developed the musical traditions at All Bernard Hughes (L) and Paul Brough (R). © Marvin Ware

- 24 - - 25 - BBC is a trademark of the British Broadcasting Corporation and is used under license. BBC ©BBC 1996.

Produced in association with BBC Radio 3

All tracks published by Wild Woods Music, an imprint of Black Swan Press Ltd

Recorded in BBC Studios, Maida Vale, London on 30 and 31 July 2015 Producer – Michael Emery Sound Engineer – Marvin Ware Digital Editing – Marvin Ware Mastering – Robert Winter

Cover Image – Shutterstock Session photography – © Beau Images & Photography Design and Artwork – Woven Design www.wovendesign.co.uk

P 2016 The copyright in the recording and programme are owned by the BBC © 2016 The copyright in this CD booklet, notes and design is owned by Signum Records Ltd

Any unauthorised broadcasting, public performance, copying or re-recording of Signum Compact Discs constitutes an infringement of copyright and will render the infringer liable to an action by law. Licences for public performances or broadcasting may be obtained from Phonographic Performance Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this booklet may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Signum Records Ltd.

SignumClassics, Signum Records Ltd., Suite 14, 21 Wadsworth Road, Perivale, Middx UB6 7JD, UK. +44 (0) 20 8997 4000 E-mail: [email protected] www.signumrecords.com

The BBC Singers recording at BBC Maida Vale, London. © Marvin Ware

- 26 - - 27 - ALSO AVAILABLE on signumclassics

Gabriel Jackson: Airplane Cantata Bob Chilcott: The Angry Planet BBC Singers BBC Singers The Bach Choir, London Youth Choir Rex Lawson Finchley Children’s Music Group David Hill, James Morgan conductors The Young Singers SIGCD422 David Hill conductor SIGCD381

“This recording...is directed by David Hill and expertly weaves “Anyone wanting to test the state of contemporary choral music the professionalism of the BBC Singers and Bach Choir with the and its performance need look no further than this CD - it’s a touching innocence of a mix of young choirs” hugely enjoyable and rewarding experience.” The Observer Choir and Organ

Available through most record stores and at www.signumrecords.com For more information call +44 (0) 20 8997 4000 - 20 -