- 1 - Letters to Lindbergh Four American Carols (2010) CHORAL MUSIC BY RICHARD RODNEY BENNETT y i. A Child of God [1.45] u ii. I wonder as I wander [2.31] i iii. Away in a manger [2.11] Letters to Lindbergh (1982) o iv. Rise up, shepherd, and follow [2.18] 1 i. Prelude [1.13] 2 ii. The Letter from Scott of the Antarctic [5.04] Over the Hills and Far Away (1991) 3 iii. The Letter from the Titanic [4.21] p i. Bobby Shafto [0.46] 4 iv. The Letter from Pluto [3.01] a ii. Polly Put the Kettle On [1.40]

s iii. Rockabye Baby [1.30] 5 The Ballad of Sweet William (2003) [7.42] d iv. Pop Goes the Weasel [1.00] The Aviary (1966) f v. Oh Dear, What Can the Matter be? [1.27] 6 i. The Bird’s Lament [2.04] g vi. Upon Paul’s Steeple [1.02] 7 ii. The Owl [1.08] h vii. Golden Slumbers [1.52] 8 iii. The Early Nightingale [2.17] j viii. Over the Hills and Far Away [1.10] 9 iv. The Widow Bird [1.42] 0 v. The Lark [1.09] Total timings: [60.56]

Dream-Songs (1986) q i. The Song of the Wanderer [2.11] w ii. The Song of the Shadows [2.37] NYCoS National Girls Choir e iii. Dream-Song [2.03] Christopher Bell Conductor r iv. The Song of the Mad Prince [2.12] Philip Moore & Andrew West Piano

t A Song at Evening (2009) [2.58] www.signumrecords.com Richard Rodney Bennett scene in the Fifties’. By the end of his first year widely together for over 20 years. Other regular A Penny for a Song for Sadler’s Wells, and Victory Choral works for young voices he had written his first three string quartets, performing partners have been the soprano Jane for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. (There which were enthusiastically reviewed by London Manning and the horn player . was also a highly successful children’s opera, One of the most versatile musicians of his critics for their natural and convincingly All the King’s Men.) These were followed by generation, Richard Rodney Bennett has been expressive use of the 12-note method. And On his return to London, Bennett’s unusual the full-length ballet Isadora, premiered by the at the forefront of British composers for nearly Bennett was still a RAM student when he met mixture of modernist rigour, lyrical warmth and Royal Ballet in 1981. half a century. His original compositions include the film conductor , who first-rate craftsmanship soon garnered him numerous orchestral works, chamber, choral gave him his first opportunities to write film significant commissions and laid the ground By this time Bennett had become increasingly and piano works, ballets, songs, madrigals, jazz soundtracks, starting with small-scale scores for international success. He received the acclimatised to life in the USA. He was composer- pieces and many award-winning film scores and for industrial documentaries. (One of his first Arnold Bax Society Prize in 1964 and the Ralph in-residence at the Peabody Institute, music for television, from Far from the Madding successful orchestral works, Aubade, was written Vaughan Williams Award for Composer of the in 1969-71 and regularly appeared as a soloist Crowd, Billion Dollar Brain and Murder on the in Hollingsworth’s memory.) Year in 1965. Both by generation and by his at jazz clubs in New York and elsewhere. In Orient Express to Four Weddings and a Funeral, partiality for 12-note serial techniques Bennett 1979 Bennett moved to New York, which remains Doctor Who and Titus Groan. He has appeared as At the same time he was studying informally tended to be grouped with the so-called his home. He has toured the USA as an a soloist in piano concertos, classical recitals, and with the pioneering British serial composer ‘Manchester School’ of Peter Maxwell Davies, accompanist (for example with the singer Marian as accompanist to well-known jazz and cabaret Elisabeth Lutyens, who aroused an interest in Harrison Birtwistle, Alexander Goehr, Nicholas Montgomery) and appeared there many times artists in numbers by Gershwin, Jerome Kern, more avant-garde techniques and idioms that Maw and others who came to prominence in his own works. But he has kept his British Irving Berlin and many other popular composers. led him to visit the summer schools. as Britain’s first significant post-war musical citizenship and is a frequent visitor to his In 1958 a French government grant led Bennett avant-garde in the late 1950s and early 1960s. native country. He was awarded the CBE in Bennett was born on 29th March 1936 into a to Paris, where he underwent two years’ intensive But Bennett’s interests and theirs at most 1977, and was knighted in 1998. musical family in Broadstairs, on the Kent tuition from and Olivier Messiaen. occasionally coincided: he was set upon a different coast, and began composing as a child. His They represented a radically different aesthetic creative path, as his highly successful jazz Since he has a gift for memorable, quintessentially mother, who had been a student of from his RAM teachers, and he continued ballet of 1963, Jazz Calendar, showed: the first English melody and an instinctive lyric at St Paul’s Girls’ School, began teaching him his absorption, begun with Lutyens, of the of a string of jazz-oriented works which take in responsiveness to English poetry, Bennett piano from the age of five. In 1953 a scholarship then exciting tenets of post-Webernian serialism. music written for specific performers such as has been able to produce a distinctive, highly took him to the Royal Academy of Music in London, At the same time however he was establishing and stretch at least as far as the attractive and varied and consistently imaginative where he studied with and Howard himself as a successful jazz pianist. He also Concerto for Stan Getz of 1990. But his most body of choral work over a period of almost Ferguson. He has been described as ‘the most formed a two-piano duo with his RAM classmate significant major works of the 1960s and 1970s 50 years. Moreover his extensive knowledge spectacular rising star on the British musical and friend , and they performed included three operas: The Mines of Sulphur and of English lyric poetry has enabled Bennett to

- 4 - - 5 - choose a wide and often fascinating range of based upon an anonymous 18th-century Scottish 2009, written to mark the retirement of texts for appropriate setting. Renowned for his folk ballad, Sweet William’s Ghost, first printed Christopher Berriman as Director of Music at practicality and ability to adapt to any level or in 1740. Bennett’s vivid setting was first Northbourne Park School (Bennett has since idiom, Bennett has been able to produce many performed by the chorus at the Ethical Culture made a version of this piece for voices and works for children and young performers, as Society on 25th April 2004. small orchestra). Even more recent is the set of the works on this disc eloquently demonstrate. Four American Carols from 2010, for chorus and Though they encompass a wide range of texts The cycle of five poems about birds entitled piano or strings. In exploring these American and approaches, they are all marked by perfect The Aviary, by authors such as John Clare and texts Bennett has produced tenderly melodious, adaptation of words to music, an attractive Alfred, Lord Tennyson, is the earliest work in this rhythmically interesting and harmonically subtle melodic appeal, wit, humour, pathos and notable collection, composed in 1965. It has become one settings that refer to the traditions of both economy of means. of Bennett’s best-established lyric sequences Spiritual and Blues. through its ideally singable, melodically direct One of Bennett’s most immediately attractive idiom, which has made it (and also its companion As a foil to the vocal pieces we hear Bennett’s works in this vein is Letters to Lindbergh, cycle from the same period, Insect World) a delightful suite for piano duet, Over the Hills and composed in 1982 as a cantata for high voices favourite with amateur choirs. Far Away – a characteristically fresh and original and piano duet. The poems by Martin Hall quote take on some very well-known folk tunes and whimsically from a selection of the many letters Perhaps even better known is the short cycle nursery rhymes, served up with affection and supposed to have been received by the first solo of Dream-Songs from 1986 for unison high elegant sense of style. Atlantic aviator, Charles Lindbergh, during his voices (or solo voice) and piano. Bennett seems to non-stop solo flight from New York to Paris in have an imaginative affinity with the atmospheric © 2012 by Malcolm MacDonald 1927. His correspondents include Scott of the verses of Walter de la Mare, which he clothes Antarctic, the rusting hulk of the Titanic and the in this cycle with strikingly appropriate and Walt Disney cartoon dog, Pluto. evocative music.

An altogether grimmer piece is The Ballad of The remaining choral works on the programme Sweet William which, like the Lindbergh songs, are comparatively recent creations. A Song at has a demanding accompaniment for piano four Evening, a setting of texts gathered by Walter hands. Dating from 2003, this work was composed de la Mare into a poem titled ‘Before Sleeping’, for the Young People’s Chorus Of New York, and is is a beautifully shaped occasional piece from © Drew Farrell

- 6 - - 7 - TEXTS Each night we walked a milky mile, And while I watched, with tearful eye, You surely don’t think that you’ll ever see France? And Penguin taught the moon to smile. He flew away across the sky. I’ve just thought of something – I almost forgot. 1 - 4 Letters to Lindbergh We lived the life of gentlemen; You’ll have to come back the same way, Words: Martin Hall But things were changing, even then. Good Pilot, if you see my cat, will you not? Be careful not to tell him that So, if you should happen to land in Paree, 2 The Letter from Scott of the Antarctic For gradually Penguin came He cannot really fly at all; Perhaps you could pick up a few things for me. To wonder how he got his name. For if you do, he’ll surely fall. Dear Sir, I write to you this day Why not some other name instead? Just catch his eye, and call his name; A crate of perfume would be ever so nice, To ask a favour, if I may. It bothered him. One night he said: And tell him that a message came. If only it weren’t such a scandalous price. I pray that you might help me find ‘I think I’ll look me up in the The final words of Captain Scott: Just get me a bottle of Eau de Cologne. A very dear old friend of mine. Encyclopaedia, under P.’ Forget me not Who cares how you smell He’s black and furry, short and fat. He took the book down off the shelf, Forget me not. when you’re always alone? His name is Penguin. He’s a cat. And opened it, and found himself. A hot-water bottle, that’s one thing I need; A cat named Penguin? Yes I know 3 The Letter from the Titanic At bed-time it gets very chilly indeed. It’s rather odd, but there you go. ‘By Jove!’ said Penguin. ‘’Pon my word! And while you’re about it, my dear Mr L, It says here I’m some kind of bird!’ My dear Mr Lindbergh, I just had to write Please pick up a few dozen blankets as well. I met him off the Spanish coast. ‘Pay that no mind,’ was my reply. The moment I heard of your foolhardy flight. I thought at first I’d seen a ghost: ‘Encyclopaedias can lie.’ Of all the ridiculous journeys to make! Some cheap cigarettes and a bottle of gin, A cat who sailed a small canoe, He looked relieved, and closed the book; What folly! What foolishness! In case that old bore from Loch Ness wanders in. And said ‘I’m Penguin. How d’you do.’ But then he sneaked another look. What a mistake! I’d stand on my head for a bottle of port, I helped him climb aboard my yacht, And later, when he thought I slept, No doubt you’ll be thought of as devil-may-care, Unless it’s that awful American sort. And said ‘Hello – I’m Captain Scott. Outside into the snow he crept. Defying the elements up in the air, Oh yes, and some brandy – the finest they’ve got. I’m heading south, toward the snow.’ But ask yourself how it must feel to be me: I do so enjoy the occasional tot! He yawned and stretched and said ‘Let’s go.’ And there, beneath a mournful moon, Unloved and unwanted and under the sea! It’s purely medicinal, need I explain? He sang a melancholy tune; I’d hate you to think I have drink on the brain. Antarctica became our home. As if to say ‘Goodbye, old friend. Just what are you playing at? A basket of fruit, and some French magazines The two of us were quite alone. My time with you is at an end.’ Is it a hoax, (The modish variety, not the obscene). We built ourselves a house of snow, I cried out ‘Penguin! Come indoors!’ Or one of those tedious practical jokes? A new fountain-pen is an absolute must; And listened to the radio. He shook his head and flapped his paws. I fear you are taking a terrible chance. My letters of late have borne traces of rust.

- 8 - - 9 - I’d like a new gramophone record to play – 4 The Letter from Pluto Down by Daffy Duck’s house From Scotland new come home? Selections from ‘HMS Pinafore’, say. there’s a huckleberry tree. ‘Tis not thy father Philip, And try to remember, whatever you do, Well, old pal, it looks like you’re in heaven! You could find it easy, Charlie – easy as can be. Nor yet thy brother John; I really could use an umbrella or two. I sure do envy you. I wish I could fly too. I could sit and wait there for you, But ‘tis thy true love Willie But Mickey said to be back home by seven. quiet as a mouse. From Scotland new come home. I might as well tell you the truth. You could fly down easy – Why pretend? I seen you flying over, Charlie, but be sure to miss the house! O sweet Margret, O dear Margret, The thing I have need of the most is a friend. Way up in the blue. I pray thee speak to me: There used to be friendships, Mickey said it was a bird, Hey, Charlie – maybe we could go to Oregon, Give me my faith and troth, Margret, but now there are none. But I know it was you. Or Idaho, or someplace – maybe… As I gave it to thee. The ships that I knew in my youth are all gone. Did you see me waving? I dunno… The young ones do nothing but pass in the night. Did you hear me yell? Thy faith and troth thou’ll never get, If they were to founder, I’d say I ain’t been misbehaving, Charlie, I wish I was an aviator. Of me shall never win, ‘Serves you right!’ Been as good as hell! Maybe I might be one later. Till that thou come within my bower They seem to forget that I even exist. Pluto got no fear of falling. And kiss my cheek and chin. You’ll not find my name on their And Mickey said if I was good Christmas card list. He’d take me walking in the wood, Well, must go now: Mickey’s calling. If I should come within thy bower, And let me chase a rabbit. ‘Here boy!’ ‘Here boy!’ ‘Here boy!’ I am no earthly man; Oh dear! I’m afraid I’m becoming a bore. Guess I got the rabbit habit… If I should kiss thy rosy lips I’d better not take up your time any more. 5 The Ballad of Sweet William Thy days will not be long. Do give my regards to your brave aeroplane, It must be pretty scary, Charlie, And ask her to think of me now and again. Sitting on the sky There came a ghost to Margret’s door O sweet Margret, O dear Margret, Good luck, Mr Lindbergh. Did you wish upon a star? With many a grievous moan, I pray thee speak to me: Goodbye and God bless. You sure look awful high. And ay he rattled at the lock, Give me my faith and troth, Margret, I do hope you make it – but nevertheless, You must know all the famous folks, But answer made she none. As I give it to thee. Whenever your weather is very severe Like my old Uncle Walt. Do drop in and see me. I’ll always be here. He never comes around no more. Is this my father Philip? Thy faith and troth thou’ll never get, I hope it ain’t my fault… Or is’t my brother John? Of me shall never win, Or is’t my true love Willie Till thou take me to yon kirkyard

- 10 - - 11 - And wed me with a ring. O stay my only true love stay, 7 The Owl Until impatience cannot see My bones are buried in a kirkyard, The constant Margret cried. or hear the hidden music; Afar beyond the sea, Wan grew her cheeks, she clos’d her eyes, When cats run home and light is come, And it is but my sprite Margret, Stretch’d her soft limbs and died. And dew is cold upon the ground, Gets but little way upon the path That’s speaking now to thee. And the far off stream is dumb, when up the songs begin, Words: 18th century Scottish Ballad (Anonymous) And the whirring sail goes round; Full loud a moment She stretchèd out her lilywhite hand, 6 - 0 The Aviary And then low again. As for to do her best, Alone and warming his five wits, Now take your faith and troth, Willie, 6 The Birds Lament The white owl in the belfry sits. But when a day or two confirms her stay, God send your soul good rest. Boldly she sings and loudly half the day: Oh, says the linnet, if I sing, When merry milkmaids click the latch, and soon the village brings the woodman’s tale Now she has kilted her robes of green, My love forsook me in the spring, And rarely smells the new-mown hay, of having heard the new come A piece below her knee: And nevermore will I be seen And the cock hath sung beneath the thatch nightingale! And all the livelong winter night without my satin gown of green Twice or thrice his roundelay; The dead corpse followed she. Words: John Clare Oh, says the pretty feathered jay, Alone and warming his five wits, Is there any room at your head, Willie? Now my love is gone away 9 The Widow Bird The white owl in the belfry sits. Or any room at your feet? And for the memory of my dear Or any room at your side, Willie, A feather of each sort I’ll wear. Words: Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) A widow bird sate mourning for her love Wherein that I may creep? Upon a wintry bough; Oh, says the rook and eke the crow, 8 The Early Nightingale The frozen wind crept on above, There’s no room at my head, Margret, The reason why in black we go The freezing stream below. There’s no room at my feet Because our love has us forsook, When first we hear the shy come nightingales, There’s no room at my side, Margret, So pity us poor crow and rook! They seem to mutter o’er their songs in fear, There was no leaf upon the forest bare, My coffin is made so meet. And climb we e’er so soft the spinney rails, No flow’r upon the ground. Oh says the pretty speckled thrush All stops as if no bird were anywhere. And little motion in the air No more the ghost to Margret said, that changes its note from bush to bush, Except the millwheel’s sound. But with a grievous groan, My love has left me here alone, The kindled bushes with the young leaves thin He vanished in a cloud of mist Words: Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) I fear she never will return. Let curious eyes to search a long way in, And left her all alone. Words: John Clare (1793-1864)

- 12 - - 13 - 0 The Lark A tree that’s called the Tree of Life, Sweep softly thy strings, Musician Elf light, bat light, I know where there grows The minutes mount to hours, Touchwood light and toad light, Do you ask what the birds say? The River of All Forgottenness, Frost on the windless casement weaves And the sea a shimmering gloom of grey, The sparrow, the dove, And where the lotus blows, A labyrinth of flowers, The linnet and thrush say, And a small face smiling “I love and I love!” And I I’ve trodden the forest where Ghosts linger in the darkening air, In a dream’s beguiling In flames of gold and rose, Hearken at the open door; In a world of wonders far away. In the winter they’re silent, the wind is so strong; To burn and then arise again, Music hath called them, dreaming, what it says I don’t know, but it sings a loud song. The Phoenix goes. Home once more. r The Song of the Mad Prince But green leaves, and blossoms, Nobody, nobody told me and sunny warm weather, e Dream-Song Who said, ‘Peacock Pie’? What nobody, nobody knows; And singing and loving all come back together. The old King to the sparrow: Hide thy face in a veil of light, Sunlight, moonlight, Put on thy silver shoes, But the lark is so brimful of gladness and love, Twilight, starlight Who said, ‘Crops are ripe’? Thou art the stranger I know best, The green fields below him, the blue sky above, Gloaming at the close of the day. Rust to the harrow: Thou art the sweet heart who That he sings and he sings and forever sings he, Came from the land between “I love my Love and my Love loves me!” And an owl calling, Who said, ‘Where sleeps she now? Wake and Dream, Cool dews falling Where rests she now her head, Words: Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) Cold with the morning dew. In a wood of oak and may. Bathed in eve’s loveliness’? That’s what I said. q - r Dream-Songs w The Song of Shadows Lantern light, taper light, Words: Walter De La Mere (1873-1956) Sweep thy faint strings, Musician Torchlight, no light, Who said, ‘Ay, mum’s the word’; Darkness at the shut of day. sexton to willow: q The Song of the Wanderer With thy long lean hand; Downward the starry tapers burn, And lions roaring, Who said, ‘Green dusk for dreams, Nobody, nobody told me Sinks soft the waning sand; Their wrath pouring Moss for a pillow’? What nobody, nobody knows: The old hound whimpers couched in sleep, In wild waste places far away. But I know where the Rainbow ends, The embers smoulder low; Who said, ‘All Time’s delight I know where there grows Across the walls the shadows come and go. hath she for narrow bed;

- 14 - - 15 - Life’s troubled bubble broken’? y - o Four American Carols If anybody asks me who I am, i Away in a manger That’s what I said. Tell him I’m a child of God. y A child of God Away in a manger, t A Song at Evening Glory, glory, No crib for a bed, If anybody asks me who I am, The Christ child born in glory, The little Lord Jesus, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Who I am, who I am, Glory, glory, Lay down His sweet head. Bless the bed that I lie on. If anybody asks me who I am, And tell him I’m a child of God. The stars in the bright sky, Tell him I’m a child of God. Look down where He lay, Before I lay me down to sleep, Words: Traditional Spiritual The little Lord Jesus, I give my soul to Christ to keep. Glory, glory, u I wonder as I wander Asleep in the hay. The Christ child born in glory. Four corners to my bed, I wonder as I wander out under the sky, The cattle are lowing, Four angels round my head, The little cradle rocks tonight in glory, How Jesus the Saviour did come for to die, The Baby awakes, One to watch and one to pray Rocks tonight, rocks tonight, For poor lonely people like you and like I. But little Lord Jesus, And two to bare my soul away. The little cradle rocks tonight in glory, I wonder as I wander out under the sky, The Christ child born in glory. No crying He makes, I go by sea, When Mary birthèd Jesus, ‘twas in a cows stall. I love Thee, Lord Jesus. I go by land, Peace on earth, Mary rock the cradle, With wise men and farmers Look down from the sky, The Lord made me with his right hand. Rock the cradle, rock the cradle, and shepherds and all, And stay by my side, Peace on earth, Mary rock the cradle, But high from the heavens a stars light did fall, Until morning is nigh. If any danger come to me, The Christ child born in glory. And promise of ages it did then recall. Sweet Jesus Christ deliver me. Be near me, Lord Jesus, The Christ child passing, singing softly, If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing, I ask Thee to stay, He is the branch and I’m the flow’r, Or all of God’s angels in heaven to sing, Close by me forever, Pray God send me a happy hour, Singing softly, singing softly, The Christ child passing, singing softly, He surely would have had it, And love me, I pray. And if I die before I wake, Bless all the dear children, The Christ child born in glory. ‘cause He was the King. I pray that God my soul will take. He surely would have had it , In Thy tender care, If anybody asks me who I am, ‘cause He was the King. And fit us for Heaven, Words: Anonymous - pieced together by To live with Thee there. Walter De La Mare as ‘Before Sleeping’. Who I am, who I am, Words: Collected by John Jacob Niles (1892-1980) Words: Anonymous

- 16 - - 17 - o Rise up, shepherd, and follow Follow, follow, NYCOS NATIONAL GIRLS CHOIR Alongside regular performances throughout Rise up, shepherd, and follow. Scotland, NYCoS National Girls Choir has been There’s a star in the East on Christmas morn, Follow the star of Bethlehem, The acclaimed NYCoS National Girls Choir was invited to perform at world-class music festivals Rise up, shepherd, and follow. Rise up, shepherd, and follow. formed in 2007 for young singers aged 12 – 16 including BBC Proms in the Park, Edinburgh It will lead to the place where the Saviour’s born, and is conducted by Christopher Bell. Membership International Festival and Lammermuir Festival. Words: Traditional Spiritual Rise up, shepherd, and follow. is granted by audition on a yearly basis and is open to girls who are born, resident or studying In 2012, NYCoS National Girls Choir gave Follow, follow, in Scotland. concerts in Glasgow’s City Halls, at Aberdeen Rise up, shepherd, and follow. International Youth Festival, Edinburgh Follow the star of Bethlehem, Each year, the young singers come from all over International Culture Summit and at Edinburgh Rise up, shepherd, and follow. Scotland to spend an intensive six days together International Festival with the Scottish Chamber where they learn and perfect the wide ranging Orchestra. This CD is the second commercial You can leave your flocks and leave your lambs, repertoire for the year ahead. In 2010, NYCoS release for NYCoS National Girls Choir. The first Rise up, shepherd, and follow. Girls Training Choir was formed to work was a recording of two complementary works; Leave your ewes and leave your rams, alongside the main choir, allowing a greater Britten A Ceremony of Carols and the rarely Rise up, shepherd, and follow. number of young female singers to enjoy and performed Poston An English Day-Book, also on benefit from the NYCoS experience. the Signum label. Follow, follow, Rise up, shepherd, and follow. Follow the star of Bethlehem, Rise up, shepherd, and follow.

If you take good heed to the angels word, Rise up, shepherd, and follow. You’ll forget your flock, you’ll forget your herd, Rise up shepherd, and follow. © Drew Farrell

- 18 - - 19 - Soprano 1 Soprano 2 Alto PHILIP MOORE Philip’s piano duo with Simon Crawford-Phillips has won international prizes and awards, Stephanie Baker Alice Burnett Katie Albiston Philip Moore was born in 1976 and is originally including a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship in Lucy Bishop Rhea Connor Aileen Baker from the Vale of Evesham. He studied at 2004. The Duo has performed and broadcast Louise Cameron Ava Dinwoodie Gloria Black London’s Royal Academy of Music with Hamish internationally, and made frequent appearances Sally Carr Jennifer Downie Emma Blake Milne, during which time he won many prizes. Upon as concerto artists and recitalists at the South Rosslyn Cole Ailsa Durden Eilidh Bremner leaving he was awarded the Meaker Fellowship, Bank and Wigmore Hall. They have given world Yolanda Cowen Mhairi Gibson Fiona Faint and was appointed an Associate of the RAM in premieres of Detlev Glanert’s Two Piano Concerto Julie Cullen Evie Kerr Alice Hargest 2003. In 2004 he became a Steinway Artist. and, at the 2009 BBC Proms, Anna Meredith’s Two Ruth Hutchinson Annie Lennox Karyn Joss Piano Concerto. In 2014 they will premiere a new Cait Lennox Katie Marshall Helen Lee He has performed in the United States, Canada, work for two pianos and percussion by Steve Reich, Katie Mackenzie Gabriella McGrath Ailie MacDougall Korea, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, with Colin Currie. Honor Nicholson Kayla McGregor Bethany Mackay Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Switzerland, Ireland, Sophie Penman Lauren McKinney Victoria McEleny Tunisia, and at all of the major UK venues. He Philip lives in North London with his wife and Sophie Price Olivia McNee Caitlin Morgan has recorded for radio and television throughout two sons. Emma Rainey Rachel Mulholland Emily Page Europe and appeared as a concerto artist with, Alison Ross Hannah Murray Sophie Robertson among others, the Hallé, Academy of St. Martin ANDREW WEST Abigail Stirling Georgina Niven Rebecca Shaw in the Fields, , Britten Alexandra Tait Amelia Perry Samantha Sodden Sinfonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC Andrew West is known internationally as a Cassy Tang Eilidh Ross Julia Stevens Scottish Symphony Orchestra. He has worked with song-accompanist and chamber musician. He Lizzie Thomson Diana Rowland Sophie Stuart-Menteth many international artists, giving duo and chamber is one of the Artistic Directors of the Nuremberg Madeleine Todd Lily Waterton Iona Warren music performances and broadcasts with groups such Chamber Music Festival. The festival promotes Isla van der Heiden Katharine Watson Rebekah Wilson-Pearce as the Hebrides Ensemble, ECO Ensemble, English music new to local audiences along Heather Watson Rebecca-Louise Wolfenden Conchord and Britten Sinfonia. In 2006 he and with more familiar repertoire, and celebrated its Serena Whitmarsh fellow-pianist Andrew West began a two-year eleventh anniversary this year. His longstanding Alice Yeoman collaboration with Michael Clark Dance Company, partnership with flautist Emily Beynon has led to playing Stravinsky’s two-piano version of The Rite CD and radio recordings, and performances at the of Spring at the Barbican Theatre and worldwide BBC Proms, Edinburgh International Festival, and on tour. He has recorded for Linn, Naxos, Signum Amsterdam Concertgebouw. and Deux-Elles. - 20 - - 21 - He has appeared at the City of London and CHRISTOPHER BELL Royal Philharmonic, Royal Scottish National, BBC Scotland, but as a provider of educational training Cheltenham Festivals with pianist Cedric Scottish Symphony, Ulster, Scottish Chamber, City and resources for teachers and choir directors. Tiberghien, and was closely involved with the of London Sinfonia, London Concert, RTE National Michael Clark Dance Company’s Stravinsky Symphony, RTE Concert and the Bournemouth Christopher Bell has received the following Project, performing the two-piano version of The Symphony Orchestras. awards: a Scotsman of the Year 2001 for Creative Rite of Spring with Philip Moore in its original Talent, the Charles Groves Prize in 2003 for Barbican production, and then on tour in Paris, He was largely responsible for the formation of his contribution to cultural life in Scotland and Seoul and Lincoln Center, New York. Andrew the National Youth Choir of Scotland in 1996 the rest of the UK, and an Honorary Masters regularly accompanies singers including Emma and has been its Artistic Director since then. The Degree from the Open University for Services to Bell, Florian Boesch, Lesley Garrett, Robert Murray, organisation has grown, not only as a choral group the Arts in 2009. Mark Padmore, Christopher Purves and Roderick with four national choirs and area choirs across Williams at festivals around the country. He has given recitals with Mark Padmore in many major venues including Wigmore Hall, the Vienna Konzerthaus and Brussels Theatre de la Monnaie; Recorded at Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow, from 27 – 29 April 2012. they have also collaborated in staged performances Producer - Alexander Van Ingen Recording Engineer - Mike Hatch of a new translation of Winterreise in London and Recording Assistant - Richard Bland New York. As a soloist Andrew won second prize Editor - Dave Rowell in the Geneva International Piano Competition, Cover Image - Reproduced with permission of The Bridgeman Art Library Ltd. and has played as concerto soloist and recitalist Belfast born Christopher Bell is the Artistic Design and Artwork - Woven Design www.wovendesign.co.uk in South Africa, Venezuela and the USA. He also Director of NYCoS. Alongside that he currently P 2012 The copyright in this recording is owned by Signum Records Ltd. toured Scotland with the Scottish Ensemble, in holds posts as Chorus Director of the Grant Park © 2012 The copyright in this CD booklet, notes and design is owned by Signum Records Ltd. performances of the Chausson Concerto for piano Chorus, Chicago, USA, Chorusmaster of the Royal Any unauthorised broadcasting, public performance, copying or re-recording of Signum Compact Discs constitutes an infringement of copyright and will render the infringer and violin, with Ensemble director Jonathan Morton. Scottish National Orchestra Junior Chorus and 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 the Edinburgh Festival Chorus. In 2009 he permission from Signum Records Ltd.

Andrew West read English at Clare College, became Associate Conductor of Ulster Orchestra. SignumClassics, Signum Records Ltd., Suite 14, 21 Wadsworth Road, Perivale, Middx UB6 7JD, UK. Cambridge before going on to study with +44 (0) 20 8997 4000 E-mail: [email protected]

Christopher Elton and John Streets at the Royal Christopher has worked with many of the major www.signumrecords.com Academy of Music, where he is now a Professor. orchestras in the UK and Eire, including the

- 22 - - 23 - ALSO AVAILABLE on signumclassics

Britten: A Ceremony of Carols Poston: An English Day-Book NYCoS National Girls Choir Claire Jones harp Christopher Bell conductor SIGCD228

“This debut recording by Christopher Bell’s NYCoS National Girls Choir could so easily have been just another recording of Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols, but for two things: the wholesome confidence of the choir itself … and the successful partnering of Britten’s masterpiece with Elizabeth Poston’s edgy and colourful An English Day-Book.” ★★★★★ The Scotsman

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

- 2420 - CTP Template: CD_INL1 COLOURS Compact Disc Back Inlay CYAN MAGENTA Customer SignumClassics YELLOW Catalogue No.SIGCD325 BLACK Job Title: Lindbergh

SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD325

Letters to Lindbergh Lindbergh TO LETTERS BENNETT: CHORAL MUSIC BY RICHARD RODNEY BENNETT

1 - 4 Letters to Lindbergh (1982) [13.39] S NGC / BELL O 5 The Ballad of Sweet William (2003) [7.42]

NYC 6 - 0 The Aviary (1966) [8.20]

q - r Dream-Songs (1986) [9.03] t A Song at Evening (2009) [2.58] y - o Four American Carols (2010) [8.45] p - j Over the Hills and Far Away (1991) [10.27]

Total timings: [60.56]

NYC

NYCoS National Girls Choir O Christopher Bell Conductor BELL / NGC S Philip Moore & Andrew West Piano BENNETT: LETTERS TO Lindbergh

LC15723

Signum Records Ltd, Suite 14, 21 Wadsworth Road, SIGCD325 CLASSICS Perivale, Middx UB6 7JD, United Kingdom. P 2012 Signum Records DDD SIGCD325 © 2012 Signum Records www.signumrecords.com 24 bit digital recording 6 35212 03252 7 SIGNUM