Move Records Australian classical & art music, est. 1968

Burns and Beyond

This recording, Burns and Beyond, gathers art songs for voice and modern piano drawn from Robert Burns, and includes Percy Grainger’s Three Scotch Folksongs, built on ancient Scottish tunes.

Vivien Hamilton soprano
Len Vorster piano
Roger Quilter composer
Esther Kahn composer
H H Beach composer
Ignaz Brüll composer
Claire Liddell composer
Percy Grainger composer
Benjamin Britten composer
Maurice Ravel composer
Robert Schumann composer
André Gedalge composer
John Maxwell Geddes composer
Liza Lehmann composer

There is a certain something in the old Scotch songs, a wild happiness of thought and expression, which peculiarly marks them, not only from English songs, but also from the modern efforts of song-wrights, in our native manner and language – Robert Burns

Each of these art songs, whether in Scots, English or in translation, rests on a melody or a poem linked with the eighteenth-century Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759–1796). The programme is an imperfect and incomplete journey through that lyric song world, yet it shows the range of talent among composers working in nineteenth- and twentieth-century America, Australia, France, Germany, England and Scotland.

Every song was chosen for its individuality of style and musical language, and for its sensitivity to the meaning of Burns’ text.

Whether in modern arrangement, foreign interpretation or in their traditional form, interpretations of these songs deserve a respectable place in the repertory of the modern recital programme.

— Vivien Hamilton

Reviews

Any Scot worth his or her salt would cherish this CD

— Margaret McNamara, 4MBS Program Guide

Artists

Photograph of Len Vorster

Len Vorster

Len Vorster is one of Australia's finest accompanists, and artistic director of Classical Palette (a Naxos series devoted to contemporary music), of the Schirmer Ensemble, and of the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival.

Photograph of Vivien Hamilton

Vivien Hamilton

Vivien is currently Lecturer in Voice at Monash University, and conducts the Monash University Women's Choir, also teaching at the University of Melbourne. Her recent work covers many styles and contexts, from the role of Mrs Anderson in the Melbourne Theatre Company's production of Sondheim's A Little Night Music, to her performance as soprano soloist in J.S. Bach's St. John Passion at the Festival of Perth.

Tracks

  1. Ye Banks and Braes Roger Quilter 2:45
  2. A red, red rose Esther Kahn 1:49
  3. Dearie H H Beach 2:22
  4. Polly Steward Ignaz Brüll 2:39
  5. Flow Gently Sweet Afton (Traditional) 3:32
  6. The Deil’s awa’ wi’ the Exciseman (Traditional) 1:39
  7. Wee Willie Gray Claire Liddell :54
  8. Will ye gang to the Hielands, Leezie Lindsay? (Piano solo) Percy Grainger 1:24
  9. The Highland Balou Benjamin Britten 2:17
  10. Chanson Ecossaise Maurice Ravel 3:33
  11. Hochländisches Wiegenlied Robert Schumann 3:46
  12. Mo Nighean Dubh (Piano solo) Percy Grainger 1:32
  13. The Bonny Earl o’ Murray Benjamin Britten 2:50
  14. Si mon amour André Gedalge 2:38
  15. Aye waukin, O! John Maxwell Geddes 4:03
  16. My Heart’s in the Highlands (Traditional) 2:22
  17. O were my love yon lilac fair! H H Beach 2:20
  18. Je dois partir André Gedalge 2:35
  19. Willie’s rare and Willie’s fair John Maxwell Geddes 3:49
  20. Ca’ the Yowes Benjamin Britten 4:21
  21. O gin I were where Gadie rins (Piano solo) Percy Grainger 1:35
  22. Rien que soucis André Gedalge 1:47
  23. Ae Fond Kiss (Vocal solo) (Traditional) 4:09
  24. Far Awa’! H H Beach 1:57
  25. Comin’ thro’ the Rye Claire Liddell 2:33
  26. Bonnie Wee Thing Liza Lehmann 3:20

Performers

Composers

Photograph of Benjamin Britten

Benjamin Britten

Edward Benjamin Britten (1913–1976) was an English composer, conductor and pianist. His operas are firmly established in the international repertoire, and more of them are played worldwide than those of any other composer born in the twentieth century.

Photograph of Percy Grainger

Percy Grainger

Percy Aldridge Grainger (1882–1961) was an Australian-born composer, arranger and pianist. A brilliant folk-song collector and arranger, he was also a restless experimenter whose work ranged from tuneful percussion to Free Music machines that foreshadowed electronic synthesis.

Photograph of Roger Quilter

Roger Quilter

Roger Quilter’s art songs, more than a hundred in number, set Shakespeare, Herrick and Shelley with a clear English lyricism that has kept them in the recital room for generations.

Photograph of Maurice Ravel

Maurice Ravel

Many consider Maurice Ravel a major composer for the piano as well as a genius of orchestration. It remains a surprise how few works make up his total output for the instrument: all his piano compositions can be performed in under two and a half hours.

Photograph of Robert Schumann

Robert Schumann

Robert Schumann (1810–1856) was a German composer and music critic of the early Romantic era. His piano works and songs remain among the most enduring of the period.

No photograph: H H Beach

H H Beach

No photograph: Ignaz Brüll

Ignaz Brüll

No photograph: André Gedalge

André Gedalge

No photograph: John Maxwell Geddes

John Maxwell Geddes

No photograph: Esther Kahn

Esther Kahn

No photograph: Liza Lehmann

Liza Lehmann

No photograph: Claire Liddell

Claire Liddell

Where to listen

Burns and Beyond is available for streaming through Spotify and Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.

Burns and Beyond is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.

Product details

Catalogue number
MCD 420
List price
$25.00 AUD
Total playing time
68 minutes 31 seconds
Producer
Vivien Hamilton
Recording Engineer
Martin Wright
Editing Engineer
Vaughan McAlley
Venue
Move Records Studio
Release date
Musical work
copyright
© 2009 Vivien Hamilton
Sound recording
copyright
℗ 2009 Move Records
Categories
Classical, Vocal
Genres
Vocal & Opera, Folk
Barcode
EAN 9314574042023

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