Roger Quilter, the composer, was often ill and may have suffered stress from being homosexual at a time when it was illegal, with rumors of blackmail.
Compositional Technique
Quilter's song-writing style is characterized by a warm, tonal, and often highly chromatic sound, with an iridescent quality and sensitivity to the text.
Recording & Production
Adrian Farmer, the pianist on this album, is also a record producer and co-owner of Nimbus Records, the label for this recording.
Composer Biography
Roger Quilter, the composer, came from a wealthy family, meaning he never had to earn a living and could compose what he chose.
Compositional Technique
The Five Jacobean Lyrics, though less celebrated than Quilter's Elizabethan settings, show a subtle shift in his musical language with richer harmonies and longer vocal lines.
Composition History
The Shakespeare settings on this album were crucial to Roger Quilter's enduring reputation, with many vocal students learning songs from his first set.
Compositional Technique
Quilter's early songs, particularly his Shakespeare settings, feature transparent piano textures and simple syncopated rhythms that support a natural delivery of the words.
