124booklet2 1/5/08 19:25 Page 1 ALSO AVAILABLE ON signumclassics Songs of FG Scott A Purse of Gold Britten Abroad Moonstruck Irish Songs by Herbert Hughes Susan Gritton, Mark Padmore, Iain Burnside Lisa Milne, Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside Ailish Tynan, Iain Burnside SIGCD122 SIGCD096 SIGCD106 This new recording featuring masterful “The word ‘arrangement’ as Burnside suggests, Benjamin Britten’s legacy of songwriting stretches performances by Lisa Milne, Roderick Williams doesn’t do justice to the inventive piano far beyond the shores of his native England - and Iain Burnside helps to shed light on an writing and pacing of so many of these pieces these exquisite settings of a wide array of often overlooked composer, whose work stems ... Soprano Ailish Tynan’s feeling for the European poem are amongst the most distinctive from both the spirit of his national identity musical idiom and, above all, the poetry of her and finest examples of his art, each written and the tradition of the great European countrymen, matched by Burnside’s delightfully specifically for a much-loved and favoured artist. song composers. poetic pianism, prove irresistible. Highly recommended”. Classic FM Available through most record stores and at www.signumrecords.com For more information call +44 (0) 20 8997 4000 124booklet2 1/5/08 19:25 Page 3 Songs in Time of War Songs in Time of War In 765 Du Fu began a long journey down the Alec Roth Vikram Seth for tenor, violin, harp and guitar Yangtze (the “Great River”) towards his birthplace, Words by Vikram Seth after the Chinese poet Du which had recently been recaptured by Government Songs in Time of War Fu, music by Alec Roth forces. Progress was slow and he died before 1. Thoughts while Travelling at Night [1.33] reaching his final destination. 2. Grieving for the Young Prince [4.06] Du Fu (712-770) was born into a noble family 3. The Visitor [2.08] which had fallen into relative poverty. His great Songs in Time of War is the first in a series of four 4. A Fine Lady [5.21] ambition to serve his country was frustrated by major works commissioned jointly by the 5. Dreaming of Li Bai [1.53] repeated failure in the civil service examinations. Salisbury, Chelsea and Lichfield Festivals, 2006- 6. Moonlit Night [3.05] He finally attained a minor administrative post 2009. The first performances were given by Mark 7. An Autumn Meditation [1.23] but almost immediately the country was plunged Padmore (tenor), Philippe Honoré (violin), Alison 8. The Old Cypress Tree at the Temple of Zhu-ge Liang [6.34] into civil war. The Emperor (“The Dragon”, “Son of Nicholls (harp) and Morgan Szymanski (guitar) at 9. Spring Scene in Time of War [1.28] Heaven”) was forced to flee the capital (Chang’an) Wilton Church, 8 June 2006; St Luke’s Church, 10. To Wei Ba, who has Lived Away from the Court [4.03] and abdicate. Du Fu managed to get his family to Chelsea, 19 June 2006; and the Lady Chapel, 11. Ballad of the Army Carts [5.33] safety but was himself captured by the rebels. He Lichfield Cathedral, 6 July, 2006. 12. Thoughts while Travelling at Night [1.47] later escaped and joined the court in exile. The war dragged on for years and ruined the country - Canción de la Luna / Danza de la Luna 13. Canción de la Luna [5.53] millions were killed or displaced. for solo guitar 14. Danza de la Luna [5.30] Du Fu’s precarious itinerant existence throughout These two pieces for solo guitar are part of an Chinese Gardens the turmoil of these years provided the inspiration ongoing series of works by Alec Roth inspired by, 15. The Tarrying Garden [3.03] for some of his finest poetry. He wrote about what written for and dedicated to the Mexican guitarist 16. The Master-of-Nets Garden [3.00] he saw and heard around him - the lives of his Morgan Szymanski, which includes Cat Dances 17. The Gentle Waves Pavilion [2.29] family, friends, neighbours and strangers - with (2002), The Unicorn in the Garden (2003) and a 18. The Humble Administrator’s Garden [3.12] great honesty and deep compassion. He is now Quintet for Guitar and String Quartet (2006). Total Timings [62.03] regarded as one of China’s finest poets, but received no recognition in his own lifetime. Canción de la Luna (Song of the Moon) was first MARK PADMORE tenor • PHILIPPE HONORÉ violin performed at a Wigmore Hall recital on 8 February ALISON NICHOLLS harp • MORGAN SZYMANSKI guitar 2005; its companion piece, Danza de la Luna www.signumrecords.com - 3 - 124booklet2 1/5/08 19:25 Page 5 (Dance of the Moon) was completed in 2006 and is The first song, The Tarrying Garden, introduces us Hall, Chester, 13 July 1998. The revised version for Then on officials’ roofs they pecked and cawed heard for the first time on this recording. to some of the main features of a classical tenor and guitar was made for Mark Padmore and To warn them to escape the barbarian horde. Chinese garden: the covered walks, courtyards, Morgan Szymanski who perform it for the first time The gold whips broke, so hard were they applied. Chinese Gardens rocks and pools, the poetic inscriptions on on this recording. The exhausted horses galloped till they died. for voice and guitar whitewashed walls and the characteristic zig-zag The court fled, panicked - those they could not find Words by Vikram Seth, music by Alec Roth paths offering no long vistas, but constantly © Alec Roth Of the imperial line were left behind. changing views and impressions. We are also TEXTS Chinese Gardens is a setting of poems by Vikram Seth instructed in how to enjoy our visit to the garden: Below his waist, blue coral, glints of jade - which were inspired by visits to four of the famous “Meander, tarry, amble, pause, admire”. I see a young prince, weeping and afraid 1 - w Songs in time of War Ming Dynasty gardens in the Chinese city of Suzhou. By the cross-roads. Although he won’t confess The second song is a nocturne evoking the Words by Vikram Seth after the Chinese poet Du Fu His name to me he begs in his distress Unlike Vikram, I have never been to mainland atmosphere of the exquisite Master-of-Nets To be my slave. Thorn scrub he’s hidden in 1 Thoughts while Travelling at Night China, but during a visit to Vancouver in 1991 I Garden on a moonlit night. For months has left no untorn shred of skin - was introduced to that city’s remarkable Chinese But the imperial nose betrays his birth: Light breeze on the fine grass. garden. Completed in 1986, it was constructed by The third song records the somewhat whimsical The Dragon’s seed is not the seed of earth. I stand alone at the mast. a team of over 50 artisans from China in authentic observations of a visitor to the Garden of the Ming Dynasty style, taking four of the original Gentle Waves Pavilion. Wolves, jackals roam the city. In the wild Stars lean on the vast wild plain. Souzhou gardens as models. By an astonishing The Dragon and his court remain exiled. Moon bobs in the Great River’s spate. coincidence, the four gardens chosen were The final song remembers Mr Wang, the self- Take care, dear Prince. I daren’t speak long with you, exactly the same four that appear in the poems. I styled Humble Administrator, who (somewhat But for your sake will pause a breath or two. Letters have brought no fame. immediately fell in love with this magical place mysteriously, considering his official income) Office? Too old to obtain. and spent several hours in the garden sketching managed to create one of Suzhou’s most famous Last night the east wind’s blood-stench stained musical ideas, but mostly just absorbing its treasures. The cycle ends with a gentle walk the air Drifting, what am I like? exquisite calm and refined beauty. It was some around this, “the loveliest of all gardens”. And camels filled the former capital’s square. A gull between earth and sky. years before I got around to completing the The Shuofang veterans, bright in their array, songs, but the memory of that afternoon remained The original version of Chinese Gardens was How bold they seemed once, how inane today. 2 Grieving for the Young Prince fresh and inspiring, thus explaining my dedication commissioned by the Chester Music Festival and I hear the Son of Heaven has abdicated, of this work “to the Dr Sun Yat Sen Classical first performed by Claire Bradshaw (mezzo- And in the North the Khan, it is related, From Changan walls white-headed crows took flight Garden, Vancouver”. soprano) and Craig Ogden (guitar) at the Town And each of his brave warriors slashed his face And cawed upon the Western Gate at night - - 4 - - 5 - 124booklet2 1/5/08 19:25 Page 7 - So moved were they by the imperial grace - The busy world, as fickle as a lamp-flame, Proving how much you’re in my thoughts, 7 An Autumn Meditation And swore to wipe this great dishonour out. Hates what has had its day or is decayed. Old friend, you’ve come into my dreams. But we must mind our words, with spies about. The faithless man to whom she once was married I thought you still were in the law’s I’ve heard it said Changan is like a chessboard, where Alas, poor Prince, be careful.