"For four part choir and pianoforte duet. Songs of Courtship were set to music by Bevan Baker in 1992 for the Black Isle Singers. The poems, written by Mao Shih in the 7th century BC, were translated from the Ancient Chinese in 1946 by Arthur Waley. Barker loved them and maintained they had "a simple directness which could have been written yesterday." The courtship songs are richly imaginative, vary greatly in metre and in their treatment of the enigmatic oriental lyrics, some being lightfooted, some more robust, always rhythmically challenging. The "Wedding Song" is a triumphant, rejoicing finale. This disc affords the listener a unique opportunity to explore fascinating and uncharted waters of twentieth-century British music. The majority of works date from the 1980s and early 90s, and were written during the time the composer spent in Fortrose, on the Black Isle in northern Scotland." -Linn Records TRACKS: 1 Songs of Courtship: Out in the bushlands 1:53 2 Songs of Courtship: In the lowlands 1:22 3 Songs of Courtship: Plop fall the plums 0:51 4 Songs of Courtship: A very handsome gentleman 1:26 5 Songs of Courtship: Of fair girls the loveliest 1:12 6 Songs of Courtship: The cock has crowed 1:10 7 Songs of Courtship: Shu is away 1:09 8 Songs of Courtship: A moon rising 1:46 9 Songs of Courtship: Outside the Eastern Gate 1:15 10 Songs of Courtship: If along the highroad 0:50 11 Songs of Courtship: By the willows of the Eastern Gate 1:09 12 Songs of Courtship: I brought my great carriage 1:26 13 Songs of Courtship: Wedding Song: My lord is all aglow 1:04 14 Duo 8:33 15 Suite for Piano: March 1:24 16 Suite for Piano: Jig 1:32 17 Suite for Piano: Intermezzo 1:50 18 Suite for Piano: Berceuse 2:24 19 Suite for Piano: Finale 1:17 20 Spring 3:11 21 Triptych 8:18 22 A Song for Kate 2:59 23 Eclogue 8:16 24 Rorate Coeli Desuper 9:51 |
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