George Butterworth, the English composer, was part of a generation of young men who died in the Great War of 1914-1918.
Performer Biography
Roderick Williams, the baritone on this recording, encompasses a wide repertoire from baroque to contemporary music and has sung world premieres of operas by several composers.
Composer Biography
Butterworth's father opposed his choice to become a musician, leading Butterworth to support himself by working on the music staff of The Times and as a school master.
Historical Context
Butterworth was commissioned into the 13th Durham Light Infantry at the outbreak of World War I, posted to France in 1915, and killed the following year at the Battle of the Somme.
Composer Biography
Butterworth's father, Sir Alexander Kaye Butterworth, was a solicitor and general manager of the North Eastern Railway, while his mother was an amateur singer.
Composition History
Butterworth instigated the composition of Vaughan Williams's A London Symphony and helped reconstruct its full score after it was lost.
Performer Biography
Iain Burnside, the pianist on this recording, has a strong reputation as a pianist and broadcaster, known for his commitment to song repertoire and collaborations with leading international singers.
You might also enjoy...
Vaughan Williams: Songs of Travel / Holman: The Centred Passion
Love's Voices
Vaughan Williams: Folksong Arrangements
A Lad's Love
Celebrating English Song
Sonnets
Shakespeare Songs
Coates, E.: Songs
Coates, E.: Songs
Silver Stridencies of Sound
The Harmonious Echo: Songs by Sir Arthur Sullivan
Down By The Sally Gardens
The Roadside Fire (The Royal Academy of Music Bicentenary Series)
