ONLY A SINGING BIRD The NYCoS National Girls Choir sings Michael that on this album the earliest song in terms of Head and other composers composition is “The Ships of Arcady”, originally Snowbirds Michael Head composed during World War I by Michael Head 1 The Bird of Morn [2.29] It is only just over a century ago that young (1900-76). 2 Under the Bower of Night [2.48] amateur choirs began to gain a repertoire that 3 Little Foo [4.40] might be performed without embarrassment. As a teenager Head had been rejected for 4 Love Offerings [1.41] Gustav Holst, who was not only composer of military service, and so had started working in a 5 Only a Singing Bird [2.38] The Planets but also a major pioneer of school munitions factory. It was during that time that 6 Spring Grass [2.58] 7 King Ra [5.11] music, once wrote in despair to a friend: “I find he composed his first collection of solo songs, the question of getting music for girls’ schools Over the Rim of the Moon settings of poems by The Food of Love – Book 2 Gary Carpenter perfectly hopeless. I get reams of twaddle sent the Irishman Francis Ledwidge (himself killed 8 Spring [2.30] me periodically, and that is all the publishers at Ypres in 1917) including ‘The Ships of 9 Under the Greenwood Tree [3.01] seem to think is suitable for girls.” Arcady”. This collection became Head’s first 0 Winter [2.24] published work (by Boosey & Hawkes) in 1919. q A Funny Fellow Michael Head [1.38] Such was the situation he faced in the decade That year he began composition studies with w The Ships of Arcady Michael Head [3.15] or so before the outbreak of World War I. To John Ireland and in September 1919 joined e The Little Road to Bethlehem Michael Head [2.35] an extent, Holst’s former teacher Charles the Royal Academy of Music as the Sir Michael r The Robin’s Carol Michael Head [2.53] Villiers Stanford was attempting to improve Costa Scholar for composition. t Star Candles Michael Head [2.23] y Ave Maria Michael Head [3.03] the standard of school music through the publication in 1906 of a New National Song Other songs followed, including the collection u Bonie Wee Thing Ken Johnston [3.31] Book a volume which was successful enough Songs of Fantasy published in 1920, from i The Wind that Shakes the Barley Ken Johnston [2.48] to go through several editions even through which “A Funny Fellow” is taken. Head himself o The Circus Stephen Deazley [2.50] World War II and the 1950s. This contained, gained some fame as a singer, giving his apart from an assortment of rounds and first public recital at the Wigmore Hall in 1929, Total timings: [55.20] “folk songs” (in fact much divorced from the singing while accompanying himself at the authentic folk song tradition then being piano! In all he composed around 124 songs, NYCoS NATIONAL GIRLS CHOIR KAREN CARGILL Mezzo-SOPRANO discovered by Cecil Sharp), many songs of the several of which gained even greater currency PHILIP MOORE PIANO sea, a reflection of Britain’s much celebrated when arranged for choir, including “The Ships CHRISTOPHER BELL CONDUCTOR naval reputation. It’s not so surprising, then, of Arcady”. By far the most often performed www.signumrecords.com - 3 - and recorded of Head’s works by choirs is “The Several of the songs are about or allude to Head “Only a Singing Bird” – is a simple yet Carpenter’s The Food of Love a projected Little Road to Bethlehem” (published in 1946, birds, and Head often reinforces the avian charming setting utterly appropriate to its series of four books of choral settings of then subsequently in 1954 in the arrangement theme either through his musical setting or by subject. “Spring Grass” is another symbolic Shakespeare, was commissioned by the for chorus, as sung here). Other Christmas changing an individual poem’s title. Yet one song, a love duet between the sun and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust for a two year songs include “Star Candles” (published 1942) should not be misled by the cantata’s overall spring grass, Head here recalling Vaughan project, celebrating the 450th anniversary and “The Robin’s Carol” (published 1950). title. Rather, the common theme is the Williams’s “Love Bade Me Welcome” from Five of the playwright’s birth (2014), and the Head also wrote several other religious appearance of birds or other natural phenomena Mystical Songs. Vaughan Williams’s influence 400th anniversary of his death (2016). Two works, including a set of Three Sacred Songs, as symbols for often quite powerful emotional can be also heard in the last and longest of Carpenter’s books will be for full choir, published in 1954, from which the Ave Maria states. The first song, setting a poem setting, “King Ra”, telling of the monarch and another for high voices and piano, and one for on this album is taken. originally titled “New Life” but retitled by his kingdom. male voices and piano. Book 2 recorded Head “The Bird of Morn”, concerns the poet’s here consists of three settings, each for two It was for The Ladybrook Ladies Choir, conducted rejection of the lugubrious world of night in Gary Carpenter (born 1951), though a friend soprano parts and an alto part with piano by their founder Elsie Harrop, that Michael preference for dawn and its promised comforts. of such leading British composers as Oliver accompaniment. The first and last settings are Head composed “Under the Bower of Night” In “Under the Bower of Night”, by contrast, Knussen and Simon Bainbridge, was until complementary – “Spring” (set to an uneven and “I am only a Singing Bird”, setting texts by the poet embraces the piping song (identified recently one of the least recognised of British yet lilting metre of five) and “Winter” (its the Brahmin poet Sri Ananda Acharya by Head’s piano accompaniment as a bird’s composers of his generation. Yet more people potentially “square 4/4 metre offset by the (1881-1945), for SSA voices and piano: these song) heard at dusk. “Little Foo” is a parable have seen him perform or heard his music piano’s edgy tango-like rhythms), both taken were performed by the choir to mark its silver about a motherless boy who is comforted by than any of his peers could dream of. from Love’s Labours Lost – framing a text jubilee in 1953. The following year Head a cliff’s echo, believing it to be his mother’s Carpenter’s first job after graduating from taken from As You Like It which, as Carpenter added a further five settings of Acharya’s poetry voice “from her high dwelling on the London’s Royal College of Music was as explains, “references both hot and cold weather to create a choral cantata, Snowbirds, named shadowy-ledge above the eagle’s nest”; tragedy associate musical director of the 1973 cult and so sits neatly between the other two songs”. after the 1919 publication from which Head follows when he is removed by a well-meaning film The Wicker Man – he appears on-screen had selected his texts. To the women’s voices relative from that echo. “Love Offerings” is plucking a Nordic lyre while Britt Ekland and Born in Glasgow and brought up in Aberdeen, Head originally added a baritone soloist, a short anecdote of an encounter with a woman Ingrid Pitt prepare Edward Woodward for his Ken Johnston now lives and works in East though the score published by Boosey & Hawkes bearing a basket of fruit; initially sung by fiery demise. Much more recently, his colourful Lothian. He has a long association with the in 1956 suggests that part could be sung the soloist alone, Head intensifies the sense orchestral piece Dadaville was commissioned National Youth Choir of Scotland, having been by a mezzo-soprano (as it is on this recording). of revelation created by the woman’s answer by the BBC for the opening night of the 2015 encouraged early in his career to write choral with an unexpected key-change, reinforced by Proms in the Royal Albert Hall. music by the choir’s founder and artistic director humming chorus. “Only a Bird” – retitled by Christopher Bell; Johnston became one of ten

- 4 - - 5 - composers based in Scotland commissioned impact on his composing career: “They are TEXTS To hear the song of His piping. by the choir in 2006, as part of its tenth the best audience and inspiring to watch when The winds lay asleep on the bosom anniversary celebrations, to each write three they perform. Where music is concerned they Snowbirds Of the drowsy sea, songs: one to use the pentatonic scale; one have no pretensions whatsoever – they don’t Michael Head (1900-1976) I saw the Queen of Dreams standing that was diatonic without any accidentals; call it ART – but you know when they like it. Words by Sri Ananda Acharya (1881-1945) On tip-toe at the heavens’ edge. and one diatonic with accidentals. Published Equally you know when they don’t!” The stars closed their eyes and died accordingly by NYCoS in three separate 1 The Bird of Morn In the joy of His song, collections, the project was so successful © Daniel Jaffé, 2015 And I know not myself since His melody that a second collection was commissioned I will not listen to thy chant, Entered my soul. using the same criteria. Ken Johnston was O Singer of the Night! commissioned on both occasions, and on I will not come to the river, 3 Little Foo this recording the choir sings the pentatonic O Thirster after Night! I will not wander among graves, On the sky-hid uplands of Kansu, songs he wrote for each edition: “Bonnie Wee O Traveller in the Night! Where the Sampo winds Thing” from Songbooks 1, and “The Wind that I have built my home on the strand Among pale purple asters, lit-blood poppies, Shakes the Barley” from Songbooks 2. Both songs demonstrate considerable ingenuity in In the sound of the song of the Ocean. And rosy twinkling primulas, concealing the pentatonic basis of the choir’s I have seen the sun rise There lived a little boy named Foo, music with piano accompaniments that Upon the Last Night’s passing, Motherless and unfriended. modulate, so implying several key changes And I will hasten home and welcome One evening as the sun went down he stood without disrupting the choir’s scale. At my window the Bird of Morn. Before the gaunt, bare cliff, Jing Ko, And called aloud and said: 2 Another composer commissioned by NYCoS Under the Bower of Night “Mother, where art thou?” for the second edition of this project was And out of the dusky shadows I heard Him playing on His flute Belfast-born Stephen Deazley, who qualified Came a threefold echo, And the stars sat listening in the sky. for inclusion as he now lives in Scotland. Wave upon wave, ringing The notes came pouring down the hills His contributions included The Circus, a With tender throbs of memory, And mingled with the murmur of streams. lively fulfillment of the project’s non-chromatic And Foo believed it was his mother’s voice, I stood beneath the bower of night diatonic category. Deazley has described Answering his call from her high dwelling And fixed my ears in the sky, working with children as having the greatest On the shadowy ledge above the eagle’s nest. And gave my heart and my mind

- 6 - - 7 - And when the evening cow-bells tinkled Bearing these fruits, little mother?” I asked. 6 Spring Grass And no man left this life, In the valley and the tired day-god went to rest, And smiling she answered, Until the blossoms of a hundred summers Foo would stand before Jing Ko and call aloud “I carry the love-offerings of the living “Dost thou not love me?” Had smiled before his eyes. And listen to his mother’s answer: To their beloved who dwell in the moon.” Said the spring grass to the smiling sun, Their gardens were full of fruit, “Thou… thou… thou.” And I saw her enter the moon like a star “Under the snow I sat, waiting for thee, Their fields were full of corn, One day came Hilpi, the sister of his mother, Smiling itself away into the glory While storms were raging in the misty skies. And full of honey were their hives. And kissed him and took him to her home, Of the morning sun. Did I see thee come in the wintry night Thus, in the happy land of Va, Down in the smoke-roofed village of Lil-Cho. Or hear the beetle chirr?” King Ra ruled righteously for eighty summers. And Foo ran out at evening to the village green 5 Only a Singing Bird “I came and I came again And there came an angel from God’s heaven And called aloud as was his wont: And peeped at thee through the snow, And said, “Mother, where art thou?” I am not God nor His messenger, I danced on the yellow moss each morn “Hail, King! God is merciful, and by His grace, No answer came, and little Foo shouted again I am only a singing bird. Outside thy door, Even with this thy body of clay, And yet again, I am not Poet nor his Muse, And under thine ice-latticed window each eve Shall thou ascend to Heav’n.” And still he called, until the chamber I am only a singing bird. I sang thee a new serenade” said the sun. And the King spoke and said: Of his speech was shattered – and he died. I am not Prophet, I am not sage. “I lay asleep in my lightless home and in dreams “Glory to God in the Height, Even today the pilgrim lays a tear – I am only a singing bird. I heard thy song, for He hath shown mercy unto His servant Ra. Offering on the mute grave of little Foo, I fly in the heav’ns across the seas, And I knew that thy heart was true and again But shall I be happy in Heaven, Nestled among pale purple asters, And come to sing at thy door, I should see thee in Spring.” O kindly messenger, Lit-blood poppies, and rosy twinkling primulas, Each dawn when the morning god So spake the fair spring grass Without my minister Hu On the sky-hid uplands of Kansu. Smiles on the ocean. And trembled in the breeze, And all my good people of Va?” Each eve when the twilight god And the gentle sun touched her brow And the angel said: 4 Love Offerings Sings at earth’s ends. With his ruby lips of rays. “By the mercy of God Thou, and thy servant Hu Each night when the god of thy heart And all the good people of Va, 7 I saw her in the morning climbing the steeps Sits in silence, alone with the god of my heart. King Ra Shall ascend to Heav’n and live for ever.” With a basket of fruits in her hand; I am only a singing bird. So did it come to pass, There was once a great King Ra, She smiled as she climbed, high and high, And men of faithful heart even in these our days. Who ruled the land of Va wisely and well. Up to the peak where the moon was sinking See in the firmament, His subjects were true and noble At day-dawn. The heavenly city of the virtuous Ra. And lived in the love of God. “Whither goest thou? And to whom art thou The great king of the ancient land, the land of Va. They knew not poverty, disease or war,

- 8 - - 9 - The Food of Love – Book 2 9 Under the Greenwood Tree When all aloud the wind doth blow, He sings to me, and makes me Gary Carpenter (b.1951) And coughing drowns the parson’s saw, A sleepy child at night; Words by William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Under the greenwood tree, And birds sit brooding in the snow, He sings again, and wakes me, Who loves to lie with me, And Marian’s nose looks red and raw; At early morning bright. 8 Spring And turn his merry note When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl Unto the sweet bird’s throat, Then nightly sings the staring owl: w The Ships of Arcady When daisies pied and violets blue Come hither, come hither, come hither: “Tu-who! Michael Head And lady-smocks all silver-white, Here shall he see no enemy Tu-whit! Tu-who!”: A merry note! Words by Francis Edward Ledwidge (1887-1917) And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue, But winter and rough weather. While greasy Joan doth keel the pot. Do paint the meadows with delight, Thro’ the faintest filigree, The cuckoo then, on ev’ry tree, Who doth ambition shun, q A Funny Fellow Over the dim waters go, Mocks married men; for thus sings he, And loves to live i’ the sun, Michael Head (1900-1976) Little ships of Arcady, “Cuckoo; Seeking the food he eats, Words by Frank Dempster Sherman (1860-1916) When the morning moon is low. Cuckoo, cuckoo”: o word of fear, And pleased with what he gets, Unpleasing to a married ear. Come hither, come hither, come hither: There is a funny fellow I can hear the sailors’ song Here shall he see no enemy Who goes by every day: From the blue edge of the sea, When shepherds pipe on oaten straws, But winter and rough weather. When sad, his voice is mellow, Passing like the lights along And merry larks are ploughmen’s clocks, But shrill when he is gay. Thro’ the dusky filigree. When turtles tread, and rooks, and daws, 0 Winter And maidens bleach their summer smocks, I know he pulls the thistles Then where moon and waters meet The cuckoo then, on ev’ry tree, When icicles hang by the wall That grow along the lane, Sail by sail they pass away, Mocks married men; for thus sings he, And Dick the shepherd blows his nail, And pricks himself, and whistles With little friendly winds replete “Cuckoo; And Tom bears logs into the hall, To drive away the pain. Blowing from the breaking day. Cuckoo, cuckoo”: o word of fear, And milk comes frozen home in pail; Unpleasing to a married ear. When blood is nipt, and ways be foul, And when the snow is falling And when the little ships have flown, Then nightly sings the staring owl: So fast I may not see, Dreaming still of Arcady “Tu-who! I often hear him calling I look across the waves, alone Tu-whit! Tu-who!”: A merry note! Across the fields to me. In the misty filigree. While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.

- 10 - - 11 - e The Little Road to Bethlehem That tiny crimson throat. And mirth’s golden music, (Hail Mary, full of grace Michael Head Never did I hear him give The riches of Kings. The Lord is with thee: Words by Margaret Rose (d.1958) So clear and glad a note. Go, sleep little Jesus! Blessed art thou amongst women The wind’s riding by And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. As I walked down the road at set of sun, Sing on, little chorister, To set all the candles The lambs were coming homeward one by one. Upon this happy morn, Alight in the sky Holy Mary, Mother of God I heard a sheepbell softly calling them, Tell your silent brothers that Pray for us sinners Along the little road to Bethlehem The Prince of Peace is born. But oh! in the skytop Now and at the hour of our death. Bid the blackbirds and the thrushes Up there I can see Amen.) Beside an open door as I drew nigh, Make sweet melody, A cross, it is shining, I heard sweet Mary sing a lullaby. For it is the season of It’s shining on thee, u Bonie Wee Thing She sang about the lambs at close of day, The Lord’s Nativity, Go, sleep little Jesus! Ken Johnston (b.1962) And rocked her tiny King among the hay. Alleluia. The wind’s riding by Words by Robert Burns (1759-1796) To set all the candles Across the air the silver sheepbells rang. t Star Candles Alight in the sky. Bonie wee thing, cannie wee thing, “The lambs are coming home,” sweet Mary sang. Michael Head Lovely wee thing, wert thou mine, “Your star of gold, your star of gold is shining in Words by Margaret Rose (d.1958) y Ave Maria I wad wear thee in my bosom, the sky. Michael Head Lest my jewel it should tine. So sleep, my little King, go lullaby.” The sun’s in his cradle, Traditional prayer The bird’s in her nest, Wishfully I look and languish r The Robin’s Carol The Shepherds are calling Ave Maria gratia plena In that bonie face o’ thine, Michael Head The lambs home to rest. Dominus tecum: And my heart it stounds wi’ anguish, Words by Patience Strong (1907-1990) Go, sleep little Jesus! Benedicta tu in mulieribus Lest my wee thing be na mine. The wind’s riding by Et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesu. The Robin on the frosted twig To set all the candles Wit, and Grace, and Love, and Beauty, Pours forth a song of praise, Alight in the sky. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei In ae constellation shine; Just as if he knew that these Ora pro nobis peccatoribus To adore thee is my duty, Were high and holy days. A candle for Kingship, Nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Goddess o’ this soul o’ mine! Trills of music ripple from Sweet laughter it brings Amen.

- 12 - - 13 - i The Wind that Shakes the Barley o The Circus Ken Johnston Stephen Deazley (b.1969) Words by Katharine Tynan (1861-1931) Words by C J Dennis (1876-1938)

There’s music in my heart all day, Hey, there! Hoop-la! I hear it late and early, Have you seen the dappled horse It comes from fields are far away, Gallop round the ring? The wind that shakes the barley. Have you seen the acrobats on the dizzy swing? Have you seen the elephant? Above the uplands drenched with dew Have you seen the clown? The sky hangs soft and pearly, Hey, there! Hoop-la! The circus is in town! An emerald world is listening to The wind that shakes the barley. Have you seen the tumbling men Tumble up and down? Above the bluest mountain crest Hoop-la! Hoop-la! The circus is in town! The lark is singing rarely, Here’s the educated dog It rocks the singer into rest, Jumping through the hoop! The wind that shakes the barley. Hoop-la! Hoop-la! Here’s the circus troupe!

Oh, still through summers and through springs See the lady Blondin with the parasol and fan, It calls me late and early. The lad upon the ladder Come home, come home, come home, it sings, And the India rubber man. The wind that shakes the barley. See the joyful juggler And the boy who loops the loop! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! The circus is in town!

- 14 - - 15 - NYCOS NATIONAL GIRLS CHOIR NYCoS National Girls Choir, chosen from The Choir released two commercial CDs, prior Scotland’s best young female singing talent, to Only a Singing Bird, both of which were Soprano 1 Soprano 2 Alto demonstrates a freshness of voice and critically acclaimed. The first is a recording Juliet Barclay Áine Beattie Lara Anderson unrivalled diction that receives consistent of two complementary works; Britten A Ceremony Rebecca Black Jenna Boyd Maggie Ashmole praise. Performing regularly throughout of Carols and the rarely-performed Poston An Lucy Blair Iona Bremner Tabitha Benton-Evans Scotland, the Girls Choir is invited to sing English Day-Book (2010). The second, also Christina Callion Emily Capell Rachel Bolton at world-class music festivals and events on the Signum label, is Bennett Letters to Emilia Darwent Cecilia Carlsson Eleanor Brownlie including BBC Proms in the Park, Edinburgh Lindbergh (2012). Becky Deveney Madeleine Faughey Laura Conneely International Festival, Aberdeen International Georgia Dunn Leonie Findlay Sophie Craig Youth Festival and Lammermuir Festival. The Membership of NYCoS National Girls Choir Claire Gilchrist Lorna Fraser Kim Erskine Choir has also made several TV and radio is granted by audition on a yearly basis and Amy-Felicity Horsey Catriona Glen Tabitha Gibb appearances, including BBC One Scotland’s is open to girls who are born, resident or Charlotte Jennings Phoebe Hayman Kirsty Glen Christmas Celebration watchnight service in 2014. studying in Scotland. The Choir has two sections, Lauren MacDonald Emily Henderson Tinglan Liu Caitlin MacKenzie Holly Jarvis Anna Mackenzie Elizabeth MacKenzie Natalie Klaes Kirsty Mackenzie Sophie Macnair Eilidh Lawrie Megan McCormick Kathryn McLaren Ailsa Macdonald Clare McKain Rachel McLean Isla MacKenzie Eli McKeown Laura Murphy Rowan MacKillop Ailsa Millar Suzanne Poole Gabrielle McCann Catriona Murphy Bella Robb Abby McKinlay Alice Murray Rebecca Roberton Eleanor McMahon Leonie Page Mhairi Sharkey Sarah Mulholland Rebecca Pennykid Kirsty Stirling Bronwyn Stevens Grace Sutherland Anna Swan Rebecca Tait Kirsty Waters Jana Tobin Beth Taylor Erin Wallace Eleanor Wilson Kirstie Wilson

- 16 - - 17 - suitable for all ages and stages: National Girls partner Simon Lepper include appearances Runnicles, Valery Gergiev, Nézet-Séquin, Myung Choir (NGC) is for experienced singers who can at Wigmore Hall London, the Concertgebouw Whun Chung, Bernard Haitink, Sir Simon Rattle cope with the advanced musical and vocal Amsterdam, Kennedy Centre Washington and and Robin Ticciati. Opera highlights have demands of a national choir; National Girls in 2015, her New York recital debut at included roles with the Royal Opera, Covent Training Choir is for girls who audition Carnegie Hall, as well as regular recitals for Garden, Metropolitan Opera, New York and successfully but whose voices are not quite BBC Radio 3. With Simon, she recently recorded Deutsche Opera, Berlin. ready for NGC, or who need a bit more a critically acclaimed recital of lieder by Alma choral experience. and Gustav Mahler for Linn Records. In 2013, Karen was appointed Associate Artist of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Performances The girls, aged 12–16, travel from all over Engagements in the 2015/16 season and beyond together have included Berlioz La mort de Scotland to take part in an intensive six- include Waltraute Götterdämmerung in her Cléopâtre, L’enfance du Christ and Les nuits day residential course at Loretto School in debut with the Canadian Opera Company, d’été, Mahler Das Lied von der Erde, Symphony Musselburgh, East Lothian, where time is Brangäne Tristan and Isolde for English National No 4 and Kindertotenlieder, Wagner Wesendonck split between high-quality vocal coaching, Opera as well as her debut for Glyndebourne Lieder and Béatrice in Berlioz Béatrice et musicianship training and full choir rehearsals Festival Opera and return invitations to Bénedict. Their recent Linn Records recording of with highly-qualified staff who are experts in both the Royal Opera, Covent Garden and Berlioz Les nuits d’été and La mort de Cléopâtre their fields. the Metropolitan Opera, New York. Future with Robin Ticciati was chosen as Gramophone concert highlights include her debuts at the magazine recording of the month in June 2013. “This youth choir is so on it - the vitality, Salzburg Festival singing Bruckner Mass the diction, everything that you want from a No 3 with Yannick Nézet-Séquin and with the An early highlight was singing Mendelssohn young choir is there. It’s beautiful; it’s very Royal Concertgebouw and Chicago Symphony Elijah with Kurt Masur and the London grown up but youthful too.” - Jeremy Summerly Orchestras (both with Mahler Symphony No 2); Philharmonic Orchestra at the BBC Proms, and on BBC Radio 3. Bruckner Te Deum with Bernard Haitink and since then, her regular relationships with the the Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic; Karen regularly sings with the Boston, BBC Symphony and Scottish Symphony KAREN CARGILL a first visit to the Dresden Staatskapelle with Cleveland, Philadelphia, Rotterdam, Seoul and Orchestras have taken her back to the Proms to Elgar Sea Pictures; Mahler Symphony No 3 with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras, the Chamber sing Mahler Symphony No 3 and Das Lied von Scottish mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill was the Sakai Oramo and the BBC Symphony Orchestra Orchestra of Europe, London Symphony der Erde and Waltraute as well as Constant winner of the 2002 Kathleen Ferrier Award. Past and a return invitation to the LSO to sing Berlioz and Philharmonic Orchestras working with Lambert The Rio Grande at a ‘Last Night’ and and future highlights with her regular recital La Damnation de Faust with Sir Simon Rattle. conductors including James Levine, Donald most recently Verdi Requiem.

- 18 - - 19 - PHILIP MOORE Philip’s piano duo with Simon Crawford-Phillips has won international prizes and awards, Philip Moore was born in 1976 and is originally including a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship from the Vale of Evesham. He studied at in 2004. The Duo has performed and London’s Royal Academy of Music with Hamish broadcast internationally, and made frequent Milne, during which time he won many prizes. appearances as concerto artists and recitalists Upon leaving, he was awarded the Meaker at the Southbank and Wigmore Hall. They have Fellowship, and was appointed an Associate given world premieres of Detlev Glanert’s Two of the RAM in 2003. In 2004, he became a Piano Concerto; Anna Meredith’s Two Piano Steinway Artist. Concerto (at the 2009 BBC Proms); and, more recently, Steve Reichís Quartet for two pianos He has performed in the United States, and two vibraphones, with Colin Currie and Canada, Korea, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sam Walton, at the Southbank, Carnegie the Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Hall NY (listed as one of ‘The Ten Best Luxembourg, Sweden, Switzerland, Ireland, Classical Performances of 2014’ by New Tunisia, and at all of the major UK venues. York Magazine), Kölner Philharmonie and Cité He has recorded for radio and television de la musique Paris. throughout Europe and appeared as a concerto artist with, among others, the Hallé, Academy CHRISTOPHER BELL of St. Martin in the Fields, Philharmonia Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Royal Philharmonic Belfast born Christopher Bell is the Artistic Orchestra and BBC Scottish Symphony Director of NYCoS. Alongside that he currently Orchestra. He is the pianist of the Hebrides fellow-pianist Andrew West began a two-year holds posts as Chorus Director of the Grant Christopher was educated at Edinburgh Ensemble, a member of the Colin Currie collaboration with Michael Clark Dance Company, Park Chorus, Chicago, Chorusmaster of the University and held his first post as Associate Group and the Olivier Ensemble, and has playing Stravinsky’s two-piano version of Rite Royal Scottish National Orchestra Junior Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony worked with many international artists, giving of Spring at the Barbican Theatre and Chorus and the Edinburgh Festival Chorus. Orchestra between 1989 and 1991. Since duo and chamber music performances and worldwide on tour. He has recorded for Linn, In 2009 he became Associate Conductor of then he has worked with many of the major broadcasts with ECO Ensemble, Conchord Naxos, Signum and Deux-Elles. Ulster Orchestra. orchestras in the UK and Eire, including the and Britten Sinfonia. In 2006, he and Royal Philharmonic, Royal Scottish National,

- 20 - - 21 - BBC Scottish Symphony, Ulster, Scottish For his work with singers, and particularly his Chamber, City of London Sinfonia, London encouragement of young singers in Scotland, Concert, RTE National Symphony, RTE Concert Christopher Bell was awarded a Scotsman and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestras. of the Year 2001 award for Creative Talent. In 2003, he was awarded the Charles Groves Christopher Bell enjoys working with young Prize for his contribution to cultural life in people. Before his current posts with the Scotland and the rest of the UK. In 2009 he RSNO and NYCoS, for six years he directed the was awarded an Honorary Masters Degree from Recorded with support from the Stevenston Trust TOTAL Aberdeen Youth Choir, undertaking the Open University for Services to the Arts. touring and recordings with it as well as In 2012 he was awarded an Honorary Recorded in the RSNO Centre, Glasgow, from 8th to 10th May 2015 many concerts in the North East of Scotland. Doctor of Music from the Royal Conservatoire Producer – Alexander van Ingen He was the first Artistic Director of the Ulster of Scotland in recognition for his contribution Recording Engineer – Mike Hatch Recording Assistant & Editor – Hugh Walker Youth Choir between 1999 and 2004, a group to the performing arts in Scotland. In 2013, which he developed and moulded into a Chorus America awarded Christopher the Cover Image – iStock critically acclaimed ensemble. Between 2001 Michael Korn Founders Award for Development Design and Artwork – Woven Design www.wovendesign.co.uk and 2008 he was Artistic Director of the highly of the Professional Choral Art. P 2015 The copyright in this CD booklet, notes and design is owned by Signum Records Ltd successful Children’s Classic Concerts series. © 2015 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. It was his work as Chorusmaster of the Additional Soloists 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. RSNO Chorus between 1989 and 2001 Christina Callion, Little Foo alongside the time with the Aberdeen Youth Rebecca Pennykid, Little Foo SignumClassics, Signum Records Ltd., Suite 14, 21 Wadsworth Road, Perivale, Middx UB6 7JD, UK. +44 (0) 20 8997 4000 E-mail: [email protected] Choir, which led Christopher to form the Catriona Hewitson, King Ra www.signumrecords.com National Youth Choir of Scotland in 1996 to Alan Rowland, King Ra encourage young singers to develop their Alice Yeoman, Ave Maria skills. Since then the organisation has grown, not only as a choral group with four national choirs and area choirs across Scotland, but as a provider of educational training and resources for teachers and choir directors.

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