162Booklet 6/3/09 19:08 Page 1 ALSO AVAILABLE on signumclassics Poetry Serenade Elin Manahan Thomas Juliette Pochin Jon Christos Nick Garrett SIGCD138 Bringing together four of the best british singers of the day, Poetry Serenade is an enchanting collection of songs that set the words of some of the nations most loved poets to music. Composed by Brian Knowles, the disc touches on works by Wordsworth, Byron, Yeats, Rossetti and others in an eclectic mix of different styles. The four soloists are accompanied by RSVP Voices, the Brighton Festival Youth Choir and the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. “All those who admire the more traditional end of twentieth- century English song should find things to enjoy here” Musicweb.com Available through most record stores and at www.signumrecords.com For more information call +44 (0) 20 8997 4000 162Booklet 6/3/09 19:08 Page 3 The collection of love poetry which forms the Old type of music - music born out of our time, yes, but SONG OF SONGS - PATRICK HAWES Testament’s Song of Songs has always presented a which also draws upon the timelessness of conundrum to scholars. The orthodox understanding tonality, consonance and balance. of its presence in the Canon of Scripture was the 1 - 6 Song of Songs 0 O Lord Our Governor [5.15] widespread use in the Prophets of the concept of The ‘hymn to love’ in St Paul’s first letter to Corinth God as the husband of Israel. For the Christian is one of scripture’s purple passages. It describes 1 Love’s Promise [3.08] mystical tradition, the dialogue between the lover love by the qualities it expresses in relationships. 2 q - r The Vauday Part Songs Rhapsody [3.16] and the beloved gave voice to the relationship of It is, says Paul, one of the three things that last 3 q The Oaks [3.19] Many Waters [3.00] the soul to Christ. Bernard of Clairvaux preached forever. The song Perfect Love is not a paraphrase w Second Soprano Solo: Janet Coxwell Stone [3.21] over fifty sermons on them! Jesus called himself of the text, rather it is an interpretation of it. The 4 Faint with Love [4.08] e The Carriageway [3.20] ‘the Bridegroom’ giving authority to this reading. setting was commissioned by the Chamber Choir 5 Love’s Echo [3.54] r In Memoriam [4.25] Some have seen Mary the Mother of Jesus in the of Bradford Grammar School. Soloist: Jack Liebeck, violin Soloists: Suzanne Wilson, soprano references to the ‘room where my mother conceived 6 Song of Songs [3.01] Christopher Watson, tenor me.’ The relationship of romantic and erotic love David Hill commissioned the anthem When Israel to spirituality is the subject of these songs. They Was a Child for Winchester Cathedral Choir in 7 Perfect Love [4.02] t Toccata [4.23] express desire, hope, confusion and joy; the whole 1994. With a text adapted from Hosea Chapter XI, range of emotions experienced by the lover - but it is imbued with a sense of loving compassion there is no final consummation. The metaphors of and explores a wide colouristic range, not only 8 When Israel was a Child [7.23] Total Timings [59.38] vine, wine, garden and fountain are ones that within the vocal textures but also in the expansive prefigure the language of Christian spirituality. organ accompaniment. 9 The Lord’s Prayer [3.40] They provide Christian spirituality with a language Soloist: Christopher Watson, tenor of love that is both sensual and spiritual, of earth This setting of The Lord’s Prayer alternates and of heaven. The text for these songs is faithful between Latin and English. The Latin words are to the text of the Bible but poetic licence has sung to the original plainsong, with the ensuing Elin Manahan Thomas soprano provided a narrative structure and the development choral phrases growing out of the plainsong’s Conventus The English Chamber Orchestra of some metaphors. The cry of the lover to the contours. Interaction between tenor soloist and Patrick Hawes Conductor beloved, the heightening of the senses through choir further emphasises the juxtaposition of the Roger Sayer Organist sumptuous smells and tastes, and the imagery of two languages. fire and nature provide a rich basis for a certain www.signumrecords.com - 3 - 162Booklet 6/3/09 19:08 Page 5 The anthem O Lord Our Governor had its premiere gates through the site of Vauday, past the lake TEXTS drowning fear. in St. Paul’s Cathedral in 2005. It was commissioned and up to the castle. The poem is in the form of a The rain has gone, by the Worshipful Company of Butchers and uses lyrical ballad and reflects the romantic ideal of 1 - 6 Song of Songs new flowers appear; words from Psalm VIII. The organ plays a prominent beauty at work in the design of the park. In Text by Andrew Hawes The sound of turtle doves is heard. role with its extensive introduction and postlude. Memoriam is the result of many hours of worship In my garden, At times, the choir divides into two, providing and prayer in the chapel, its free form echoing the 1 Love’s Promise taste the fragrance antiphonal effects and an increasing sense of mystical qualities of The Oaks. It touches the deep of the sweetest myrrh. climax towards the end of the piece. The final humanity at the heart of this place and community. Come my beloved C major cadential phrases in the organ prefigure The Vauday Part Songs were commissioned by the where the vine has budded: 3 Many Waters the Toccata. St Peter’s Singers who also performed the premiere there will I give my love; at Grimsthorpe Castle in the summer of 2005. let us stir up, As a seal The castle and park of Grimsthorpe in Lincolnshire let us rouse up on your heart; which inspired The Vauday Part Songs are the The Toccata was written in 2008 for the organist love set me there product of a millennium of English History. The Roger Sayer. It is dedicated to ‘the joyful ‘til it please. upon your heart: park itself contains the pre-history of England in remembrance of my father Jack’ and is inspired by Feed me raisins, Passion cruel as the grave, the remnant of Kesteven Forest. The four poems the exuberance, humour and unflinching hope, feed me apples; as fierce as any flame. explore the themes of time and eternity, divine faith and love of a great man. O my heart - purpose in human history and the nature and Come feast on love. Love is strong, meaning of memory. The Oaks opens up the scale Notes by Andrew and Patrick Hawes, 2009. strong as death. of time taken in the creation of the Grimsthorpe 2 Rhapsody Many waters landscape, describing one of the ancient ‘Kesteven’ quench not Oaks; its free form allows for open-ended See him coming Love. reflection. Stone, in the form of an Elizabethan my beloved; Sonnet, tells the story of the key period in see him coming 4 Faint with Love Grimsthorpe’s history, the dissolution of the drawing near. Cistercian Abbey of Vauday, and the destruction of Snows are melting, Faint with love, the Abbey by Charles Brandon to make a royal winter’s dying, My heart, faint with love - lodging. The Carriageway takes the listener on a spring is dawning so faint. journey through the park from the Little Bytham - 4 - - 5 - 162Booklet 6/3/09 19:08 Page 7 I am falling, He is my desire, Waken O south wind, Who is this yearning, pure as fiercest fire; stir up his garden, Who comes like the dawn? for your His strong arms like cedar boughs rouse up the scent Who scatters the darkness and heralds the morn? touch. will shield me and will never leave me; of lilies that grow. Maria Regina! O my love Darling, embrace me, Christus Est! Faint with love, taste my wine; call me your fair one, My heart, faint with love - Drink your fill - make me pillows 7 When Israel was a Child so faint. Lie soft and still. soft with pine. In your shadow When Israel was a child I loved him, resting, 5 Love’s Echo 6 Song of Songs but the more I cried the more he turned away. feed me It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, sweetest fruit. Greeting my fair one, Gleaming, shining I who lifted them as a little child to my cheek. waiting and listening, golden starlight. But they did not know that I led them My love is so fair, As the door opened Rising, burning with leading strands of love. Raven black his hair; no one was there. silver moonlight. How can I give you up Ephraim? eyes like doves beside a deep pool I sought him, called him, Warming glowing How can I surrender you Israel? shining with a deep desire. But could not find him, streaming sunlight. My heart changes, my compassion grows warm Kiss me love, Searching, seeking, Sing my heart within me, taste my wine; lost in fear. The song of songs! For I am God and not a man, the holy one in Drinking deep - your midst. Let us sleep. He has a garden Dance heavens! Words adapted from Hosea, ch. XI by Andrew Hawes sweet with rich blossom, Dance starlight! Faint with love, keeping his flocks Dance sunlight! 8 Perfect Love My heart, faint with love - where wild lilies grow. Dance moonlight! so faint.