The English Art Song tradition, represented on this album by Britten, Head, and Ireland, boasts a long history with notable composers like John Dowland, Henry Purcell, and Edward Elgar.
Compositional Technique
Benjamin Britten's folksong arrangements often feature highly figurative musical language in the accompaniments, such as imitating a mill wheel in 'The Miller of Dee' or a harp in 'The Last Rose of Summer.'
Composer's Artistic Vision
Unlike Ralph Vaughan Williams, Benjamin Britten's approach to folksong arrangements was not to create an encyclopedic collection, but to transform melodies and texts into independent works of art, sometimes making small changes to the original material.
Critical Reception
John Ireland, one of the composers on this album, was a respected composer among his peers, known for his graceful vocal music and beautiful accompaniments.
Composer Biography
The three composers on this album, Benjamin Britten, Michael Head, and John Ireland, were contemporaries whose paths crossed at the Royal College of Music, where they either studied or taught.
Composition History
Benjamin Britten's first folksong arrangements were created during a period of personal crisis, while he was in the USA experiencing writer's block, serious illness, and homesickness for England.
Composer Biography
Michael Head's compositional output primarily consists of 121 solo songs, including his first song cycle, 'Over the Rim of the Moon,' and his last, 'Three Songs of Venice.'
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