GARY HIGGINSON

Songs of Innocence and of Experience

Charlotte de Rothschild soprano - a, Danielle Perrett - harp - b

Ely Cathedral Girls’ Choir - c, The Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge - d

Sarah MacDonald - conductor

1-7 Seven Songs of William Blake [Set 1], Op 33 (14:45) - d

8 Motet: Et omnes eandem escam spiritualem ederunt, Op 130 (1996) (3:21) - d

9-14 Six Birds, Op 161 (2009) (4:46) - b,c

Two Studies for solo harp - b

15 Morning’s air (2:20)

16 Dance (1:51)

Songs with harp - a,b

17 Miri it is, Op 63 no 2 (1:07)

18 How beautiful is the rain, Op 53 no 4 (1:42)

19 Cere’s Song from The Tempest, Op 154 no 8 (2:22)

20 Fairies’ Song, Op 154 no 7 (2:29)

21 Over hill, over dale, Op 154 no 9 (1:31)

22 Lead kindly light (from Requiem), Op 111 (4:50) d

23 A song of joy, Op 165 no 2 (8:26)a,b,c,d(sopranos and altos only)

24 A last confession, Op 137 no 2 (2:16) d

25-31 Seven Songs of William Blake [Set 2], Op 55 (24:42) d

The first recording of music by British composer, Gary Higginson.

Born in 1952, Gary Higginson trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Edmund Rubbra, Patric Standford, Buxton Orr and

Alfred Nieman. Later, whilst a student at Birmingham University, he continued composition studies under John Joubert.

This collection features a varied selection of his beguiling vocal music, both sacred and secular, together with pieces for solo harp, and include

Higginson’s two dramatic cycles of choral songs based on texts by William Blake.

The artists on the recording are internationally-renowned soprano, Charlotte de Rothschild, harpist Danielle Perrett, and two acclaimed choirs: the Ely Cathedral Girls’ Choir and the Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge, directed by Sarah MacDonald.

Total Playing time: 76:49

Regent REGCD381