Evert Jan Nagtegaal and the Art of Song
John Ireland (1879 – 1962)
John Ireland was born near Manchester, studied and taught at the Royal College of Music, lived for over 50 years in Chelsea, London and died in a converted windmill in Sussex. Ireland’s main sources of inspiration were the ancient landscapes of the Channel Islands, Dorset and Sussex and the writings of the pagan mystic Arthur Machen; the composer said that he himself had experienced a ‘vision’ on the South Downs.
The Sally Gardens
“It was in this flowery garden that my love and I first met.
I took her in my arms and gave her sweet kisses.
She told me to take it easy, just as the leaves fall from the tree.
But because I was young and foolish, my darling did not agree.”
1. a. ‘Santa Chiara’ (Palm Sunday, Naples) (text: Arthur Symons) b. ‘When lights go rolling round the sky’ (text: James Vila Blake) Bass baritone Jonathan Lemalu and Malcolm Martineau piano
2. a. ‘Great Things’ (text: Thomas Hardy) b. ‘Three Songs to Poems by Thomas Hardy’ I. ’Summer Schemes’ II.’Her Song’ III. ‘Weathers’ (just as in 4) Baritone Roderick Williams and pianist Iain Burnside.
3. ‘Five Poems by Thomas Hardy’ i. Beckon to me II. In my sage moments III. It was what you bore with me IV. The tragedy of that moment V. Dear, think not.
Baritone Roderick Williams and pianist Iain Burnside
4. a. ‘Earth’s Call’ (Harold Monro) b. ‘Hope’(Christina Rossetti) c. ‘Skylark and Nightingale’ (Christina Rossetti) d. ‘the Sally Gardens’ (William Butler Yeats) e. (just as 2) ‘Three songs to poems by Thomas Hardy’ (‘Summer schemes’/’Her Song’/’Weathers’.) Soprano April Fredrick and pianist Mark Bebbington
5. a. ‘Tryst’ (in Fountain Court (text: Arthur Symons) b. ‘During Music’ ( text: Dante Gabriel Rossetti)
Baritone Roderick Williams and pianist Iain Burnside.
6. a. ‘The Vagabond’ (text: John Masefield) b. ‘Sea Fever’ (text: Masefield) baritone Bryn Terfel and pianist Malcolm Martineau c. ‘If there were Dreams to sell’ (text: Thomas Lovell Beddoes)
Bass Baritone Stephen Varcoe, City of London Sinfonia conducted by Richard Hickox
