Somervell's song cycle Maud, based on poems by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, was published in 1898 and was considered more sophisticated than previous settings in its piano role and narrative concept.
Composer Biography
Arthur Somervell studied composition with Charles Villiers Stanford at King's College, Cambridge, and later with Friedrich Kiel and Woldemar Bargiel in Berlin.
Composition History
A.E. Housman, the poet of A Shropshire Lad, was unmusical and initially reluctant to have his poems set to music, but Somervell was among the first to do so in 1904.
Performer Biography
Roderick Williams, the baritone on this recording, is a highly sought-after performer who has sung world premieres and regularly appears with major orchestras and at festivals like the BBC Proms.
Performer Biography
Susie Allan, the pianist, is a perceptive accompanist who has performed with international vocal soloists and is the Artistic Director of the Ludlow Music Society.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Arthur Somervell earned the nickname 'the English Schumann' due to his sensitivity and imagination in the solo song genre and his immersion in the German Lieder tradition.
Composer Biography
Arthur Somervell, the composer, was born into a wealthy family that founded 'K Shoes' and was the youngest of nine children.
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