THE NMC SONGBOOK

 

COMPOSERS to name a few … James Dillon, Jonathan Harvey, Tansy Davies, Harrison Birtwistle, James MacMillan, Huw Watkins, Peter Maxwell Davies, Alexander Goehr, Gordon Crosse, Michael Berkeley, Judith Weir, Julian Anderson, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Howard Skempton, Robin Holloway, Roxanna Panufnik, Tarik O’Regan, Thea Musgrave, Michael Finnissy, Gerald Barry, Stuart MacRae, John McCabe, Luke Bedford, Colin Matthews

 

‘This extraordinary project confirms the robust health and endlessly varied landscape of Britain’s new music. There is no other document anywhere that has given such a snapshot of an artistic community that, while comprised of a hundred different ways of expressing itself, is of one voice when it comes to creative energy.’ JOHN ADAMS

 

To mark its 20th Anniversary in 2009 NMC Recordings has commissioned the NMC Songbook. Nearly 100 composers, ranging from the country’s most highly regarded figures to the younger generation of emerging talents, have each written a song, loosely themed on ‘Britain’ and scored for single voice or duet and a range of accompanying instruments. Songs are interspersed with instrumental interludes from an arrangement of a Galliard by Thomas Morley, specially made for the Songbook by NMC’s Executive Producer, composer Colin Matthews.

 

The songs have been set to text chosen by the composers and cover a vast array of subjects, from traditional poems by Blake and Byron through to a list of the Kings and Queens of England, extracts from a National Trust brochure, chants from the Leyton Orient terraces, a whisky recipe, and a colourful rant about our consumerist society. The first recording to be made at the new state-of-the-art concert hall at Kings Place, London

 

Artists:

Sopranos - Claire Booth, Ailish Tynan, Elizabeth Atherton  

Mezzo-sopranos -  Susan Bickley, Loré Lixenberg, Jean Rigby

Countertenors -  James Bowman, Michael Chance, Andrew Watts

Tenors -  Andrew Kennedy, Daniel Norman, Benjamin Hulett

Baritones -  Stefan Loges, Roderick Williams, George Mosley, Richard Jackson, David Stout

Trebles - Andrew Swait, Sam Harris

 

Pianists - Iain Burnside, Andrew Ball, Andrew Plant, Andrew West, Michael Finnissy, Huw Watkins, Jonathan Powell

Lucy Wakeford - harp; Jane Chapman - harpsichord; Owen Gunnell - percussion; Antonis Hatzinikolaou - guitar

 

Limited Box Set includes 60-page booklet

 

Tracklisting:

 

CD1

1 David Sawer - The Source

Claire Booth, soprano; Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano; Owen Gunnell, tubular bells

2 Luke Bedford - Upon St George's Hill

Benjamin Hulett, tenor; Antonis Hatzinikolaou, guitar

3 Anthony Powers - Shining Plain

Andrew Kennedy, tenor ; Iain Burnside, piano

4 Gary Carpenter - Interlude

Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano ; Jane Chapman, harpsichord

5 Jonathan Cole - tss-k-haa

Roderick Williams, baritone

6 Thomas Morley, arr. Colin Matthews - Galliard: Version 1

Iain Burnside, piano; Andrew Ball, piano

7 Anthony Gilbert - Those Fenny Bells

Loré Lixenberg, mezzo-soprano ; Michael Chance, counter-tenor ; Owen Gunnell, percussion

8 Philip Cashian - the sun’s great eye

David Stout, baritone; Iain Burnside, piano

9 Nicola LeFanu - The Bourne

Elizabeth Atherton, soprano; Lucy Wakeford, harp

10 Nicholas Sackman - Maiden in the moor

Benjamin Hulett, tenor; Owen Gunnell, percussion

11 John White - Houses and Gardens in the Heart of England

Ailish Tynan, soprano; Iain Burnside, piano

12 Thomas Morley, arr. Colin Matthews - Galliard: Version 2

Iain Burnside, piano; Andrew Ball, piano

13 Harrison Birtwistle arr. Matthews - This Silence before Light

Claire Booth, soprano; Huw Watkins, piano

14 Julian Philips - Blist's Hill

Stephan Loges, baritone; Iain Burnside, piano

15 Anna Meredith - Fin like a Flower

Michael Chance, counter-tenor ; Lucy Wakeford, harp

16 Joe Duddell - Cease Sorrows Now

George Mosley, baritone; Iain Burnside, piano

17 Alison Bauld - Titania's Song

Elizabeth Atherton, soprano; Andrew Ball, piano

18 Donnacha Dennehy - Swift's Epitaph

Andrew Watts, counter-tenor ; Owen Gunnell, percussion

19 Helen Grime - Nobody Comes

Jean Rigby, mezzo-soprano; Huw Watkins, piano

20 John McCabe - A Cat

Loré Lixenberg, mezzo-soprano; Antonis Hatzinikolaou, guitar

21 Thomas Morley, arr. Colin Matthews - Galliard: Version 3

Iain Burnside, piano; Andrew Ball, piano

22 Michael Finnissy - Outside Fort Tregantle

Richard Jackson, baritone ; Michael Finnissy, piano

23 Phillip Neil Martin - Blaze of Noon

Claire Booth, soprano ; Andrew Ball, piano

24 Joe Cutler - Bands

Daniel Norman, tenor; Andrew Ball, piano

25 James MacMillan - Mouth of the Dumb

Andrew Swait, treble; Sam Harris, treble; Lucy Wakeford, harp

26 Jonathan Powell - Stanzas 1814

Loré Lixenberg, mezzo-soprano; Jonathan Powell, piano

27 Thomas Morley, arr. Colin Matthews - Galliard: Version 4

Lucy Wakeford, harp; Antonis Hatzinikolaou, guitar; Jane Chapman, harpsichord; Owen Gunnell, marimba

28 Hugh Wood - Easter

Andrew Kennedy, tenor; Iain Burnside, piano

 

CD2

1 Gordon Crosse - Dirge from Cymbeline

David Stout, baritone; Lucy Wakeford, harp

2 David Horne - A curious thirsty fly

Daniel Norman, tenor; Andrew Ball, piano

3 Rachel Leach - Out of Town

Ailish Tynan, soprano; Iain Burnside, piano

4. Richard Causton - English Encouragement of Art

Claire Booth, soprano; Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano; Owen Gunnell, percussion

5 David Blake - A Swallow

Jean Rigby, mezzo-soprano; Huw Watkins, piano

6 Thomas Morley, arr. Colin Matthews - Galliard: Version 5

Lucy Wakeford, harp; Antonis Hatzinikolaou, guitar; Jane Chapman, harpsichord; Owen Gunnell, marimba

7 Robert Saxton - The beach in winter: Scratby (For Tess)

Stephan Loges, baritone; Iain Burnside, piano

8 Julian Anderson - Lucretius

Claire Booth, soprano; Owen Gunnell, percussion

9 James Dillon - Upon the cloudy night

Andrew Watts, counter-tenor; Andrew Ball, piano

10 Sadie Harrison - Easter Zunday

Benjamin Hulett, tenor; Andrew Ball, piano

11 Peter Maxwell Davies - Labyrinth to Light

Andrew Swait, treble; Andrew Plant, piano

12 Edward Rushton - With my Whip

George Mosley, baritone; Iain Burnside, piano

13. Simon Holt - Raju Raghuvanshi is a Ghost

Omar Ebrahim, baritone

14 Thea Musgrave - A Winter's Morning

Ailish Tynan, soprano; Iain Burnside, piano

15 Thomas Morley, arr. Colin Matthews - Galliard: Version 6

Lucy Wakeford, harp; Antonis Hatzinikolaou, guitar; Jane Chapman, harpsichord

16 Tarik O'Regan - Darkness Visible

Andrew Watts, counter-tenor ; Benjamin Hulett, tenor ; Lucy Wakeford, harp

17 Emily Hall - A Simple Neo-Georgian Summer

Stephan Loges, baritone; Iain Burnside, piano

18 Peter Wiegold - A Cause for Wonder

Andrew Watts, counter-tenor; Iain Burnside, piano

19 Emily Howard - Wild Clematis in Winter

Jean Rigby, mezzo-soprano; Huw Watkins, piano

20 Bayan Northcott - Poet and Star

Claire Booth, soprano; Daniel Norman, tenor ; Andrew Ball, piano

21 Thomas Morley, arr. Colin Matthews - Galliard: Version 7

Lucy Wakeford, harp; Antonis Hatzinikolaou, guitar; Jane Chapman, harpsichord

22 Rupert Bawden Vocalise - Loch Lurgainn in the Sunshine

Jean Rigby, mezzo-soprano ; Huw Watkins, piano

23 Roderick Williams - A Coat

Roderick Williams, baritone; Iain Burnside, piano

24 Julian Grant - Know Thy Kings and Queens

Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano ; Iain Burnside, piano

25 Robert Keeley - Because I breathe not love to everyone

Daniel Norman, tenor ; Jane Chapman, harpsichord

26 Tansy Davies - Destroying Beauty

Claire Booth, soprano ; Andrew Ball, piano

27 Philip Grange - First Known When Lost

George Mosley, baritone; Iain Burnside, piano

28 Thomas Morley, arr. Colin Matthews - Galliard: Version 8

Lucy Wakeford, harp; Antonis Hatzinikolaou, guitar; Jane Chapman, harpsichord

29 Bláar Kindsdottir - Haiku

James Bowman, counter-tenor ; Andrew Plant, piano

 

CD3

1 Brian Elias - Meet Me in the Green Glen

Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano;

2 Lloyd Moore - Music, thou Queen of Souls

Ailish Tynan, soprano; Iain Burnside, piano

3 David Matthews - Plover's Peak

Benjamin Hulett, tenor; Andrew Ball, piano

4 Jeremy Dale Roberts - Spoken to a Bronze Head

Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano; Iain Burnside, piano

5 Jonathan Lloyd - The Greenwoods’ Lament

Loré Lixenberg, mezzo-soprano; David Stout, baritone; Antonis Hatzinikolaou, guitar

6 Diana Burrell - Love Song (for yoga)

Elizabeth Atherton, soprano; Andrew Ball, piano

7 John Casken - Night & Morning

Daniel Norman, tenor ; Andrew Ball, piano

8 Daniel Basford - Hour-glass

Michael Chance, counter-tenor; Lucy Wakeford, harp

9 Thomas Morley, arr. Colin Matthews - Galliard: Version 9

Lucy Wakeford, harp; Antonis Hatzinikolaou, guitar; Jane Chapman, harpsichord

10 Huw Watkins - Proud Maisie

Claire Booth, soprano; Huw Watkins, piano

11 Lyell Cresswell - A Recipe for Whisky

Stephan Loges, baritone; Owen Gunnell, temple blocks

12 Michael Berkeley - Echo: hommage à Francis Poulenc

Ailish Tynan, soprano; Iain Burnside, piano

13 Roger Marsh - Lullaby

Claire Booth, soprano; Owen Gunnell, marimba

14 Dai Fujikura - Lake Side

Loré Lixenberg, mezzo-soprano

15 Richard Baker - English Lullaby

Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano; Iain Burnside, piano

16 Stephen Montague - A Poison Tree

Stephan Loges, baritone; Iain Burnside, piano

17 Judith Bingham - She walks in beauty like the night

Andrew Kennedy, tenor ; Lucy Wakeford, harp

18 Thomas Morley, arr. Colin Matthews - Galliard: Version 10

Lucy Wakeford, harp; Antonis Hatzinikolaou, guitar; Jane Chapman, harpsichord

19 Christopher Fox - The True Standard Advanced

Daniel Norman, tenor; Owen Gunnell, drum

20 Roxanna Panufnik - That Mighty Heart

Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano; Iain Burnside, piano

21 Christopher Mayo - The Fitful Alternations of the Rain

Andrew Kennedy, tenor; Lucy Wakeford, harp

22 Errollyn Wallen - Tree

Errollyn Wallen, voice and piano

23 Chris Dench - An Hypallage

Loré Lixenberg, mezzo-soprano; Omar Ebrahim, baritone; Jonathan Powell, piano

24 Edwin Roxburgh - A Dangerous Crossing

Ailish Tynan, soprano; Iain Burnside, piano

25 David Bedford - The Roman Centurion's Song

George Mosley, baritone; Iain Burnside, piano

26 Luke Stoneham - 25

Luke Stoneham, electronics

27 Thomas Morley, arr. Colin Matthews - Galliard: Version 11

Lucy Wakeford, harp; Antonis Hatzinikolaou, guitar; Jane Chapman, harpsichord

28 Mark-Anthony Turnage - Bellamy

Andrew Watts, counter-tenor; Benjamin Hulett, tenor; Lucy Wakeford, harp

 

CD4

1 Jonathan Harvey - Ah! Sun-flower

Claire Booth, soprano ; Huw Watkins, piano

2 Judith Weir - Blackbirds and Thrushes

George Mosley, baritone; Iain Burnside, piano

3 Stuart MacRae - The Lif of this World

Michael Chance, counter-tenor; Antonis Hatzinikolaou, guitar

4 Gerald Barry - The Importance of Being Earnest

Gerald Barry, voice and piano

5 Martin Butler - London

Roderick Williams, baritone; Iain Burnside, piano

6 Colin Matthews - Out in the Dark

Claire Booth, soprano; Huw Watkins, piano

7 Thomas Morley, arr. Colin Matthews - Galliard: Version 12

Iain Burnside, piano; Andrew Ball, piano; Lucy Wakeford, harp; Antonis Hatzinikolaou, guitar; Jane Chapman, harpsichord;

Owen Gunnell, marimba

8 Gavin Bryars - Old Man and Sea

Andrew Kennedy, tenor; Lucy Wakeford, harp

9 Alexander Goehr - Ulysses' Admonition

Roderick Williams, baritone; Andrew West, piano

10 Claudia Molitor - My favourite sound

Michael Chance, counter-tenor; George Mosley, baritone

11 John Woolrich - Stendhal's Observation

Claire Booth, soprano; Huw Watkins, piano

12 Howard Skempton - Silence on Ullswater

Benjamin Hulett, tenor; Lucy Wakeford, harp

13 Geoffrey Poole - Heynonnynonny Smallprint

David Stout, baritone

14 Joseph Phibbs - The Moon's Funeral

James Bowman, counter-tenor ; Andrew Plant, piano

15 Thomas Morley, arr. Colin Matthews - Galliard: Version 13

Iain Burnside, piano; Andrew Ball, piano; Lucy Wakeford, harp; Antonis Hatzinikolaou, guitar; Jane Chapman,

harpsichord; Owen Gunnell, marimba

16 Julia Simpson - Bees a-zwarmen

Loré Lixenberg, mezzo-soprano; Jonathan Powell, piano

17 Simon Bainbridge - Sonnet XVIII

Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano; Andrew Watts, counter-tenor

18 Robin Holloway - Go, lovely Rose

Jean Rigby, mezzo-soprano; Huw Watkins, piano

19 Jordan Hunt - An Aesthetic of Lines

Claire Booth, soprano; Andrew Ball, piano

20 Giles Swayne - I look into my glass

Benjamin Hulett, tenor; Antonis Hatzinikolaou, guitar

21 Anthony Payne - Ghost Train

Roderick Williams, baritone; Iain Burnside, piano

22 Morgan Hayes - Dictionary of London

Loré Lixenberg, mezzo-soprano; Jonathan Powell, piano

23 Ben Foskett - Driving

Daniel Norman, tenor ; Andrew Ball, piano

24 Thomas Morley, arr. Colin Matthews - Galliard: Complete version

Iain Burnside, piano; Andrew Ball, piano; Lucy Wakeford, harp; Antonis Hatzinikolaou, guitar; Jane Chapman,

harpsichord; Owen Gunnell, marimba

25 Bryn Harrison - An Oblique

Loré Lixenberg, mezzo-soprano; Jonathan Powell, piano

 

NMC Recordings 4cds NMCD150