War's Embers: Songs by Browne, Butterworth, Farrar, Finzi, Gurney, and Kelly [Import]

Michael George (Performer), Martyn Hill (Performer), Stephen Varcoe (Performer), Clifford Benson (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Michael George, Martyn Hill, Stephen Varcoe, Clifford Benson
• Audio CD (September 9, 1997)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Hyperion UK
• ASIN: B000002ZER
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #552,131 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Requiem da Camera: Only A Man Harrowing Clods

2. In Flanders

3. Ha'nacker Mill

4. Black Stitchel

5. By A Brierside

6. Blaweary

7. The Twa Corbies

8. The Fiddler Of Dooney

9. Goodnight To The Meadow

10. Severn Meadows

See all 20 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Arabia

2. The Boat Is Chafing

3. Cathleen Ni Houlihan

4. Edward, Edward

5. The Night Of Trafalgar

6. Even Such Is Time

7. Thou Didst Delight My Eyes

8. Most Holy Night

9. Diaphenia

10. Brittany Op. 21 No. 1 - Two Pasorals

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic recording, July 6, 2005

By 

Pamela Blevins (Brevard, North Carolina USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: War's Embers: Songs by Browne, Butterworth, Farrar, Finzi, Gurney, and Kelly (Audio CD)

War's Embers draws its title from composer-poet Ivor Gurney's second volume of poetry written at the Front. Conceived by Joy Finzi, the widow of composer Gerald Finzi, it features songs by composers who fought in World War I with the exception of Finzi whose teacher Ernest Farrar died two months before the war ended. The 2-CD collection features Farrar, Gurney, George Butterworth, Denis Browne and Frederick Kelly, the latter two being friends of the poet Rupert Brooke. Brooke died on the way to Gallipoli where Browne was killed in June 1915. This important recording brings together a fine collection of songs, including four by Denis Browne whose reputation stands on this handful of songs. (There are others that might some day be recorded). For many years it was assumed that Ivor Gurney, who spent the last 15 years of his life in an asylum, was a shell-shocked victim of the war. This is not true. Gurney suffered from a severe manic-depressive disorder that had first shown symptoms when he was in his teens. He actually flourished during the war, writing four songs that are considered masterpieces (listen to In Flanders, By A Bierside, Severn Meadows and Even such is Time), producing enough poetry for two volumes of poetry and writing hundreds of letters to his friends, primarily to musicologist-critic Marion Scott. George Butterworth, who was killed in the Battle of the Somme, was a good friend of Ralph Vaughan Williams. Finzi is represented by Only A Man Harrowing Clods (a setting of Thomas Hardy) from his Requiem da Camera, which he wrote in memory of Farrar. The performances by Martyn Hill, tenor, Stephen Varcoe, baritone, and Michael George are excellent and heartfelt. Hill was one of the first singers to record Gurney's songs. War's Embers is a must-buy CD for anyone interested in 20th English song.

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars great music - bad singer, June 19, 2002

By 

T. Johns "terry-j" (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: War's Embers: Songs by Browne, Butterworth, Farrar, Finzi, Gurney, and Kelly (Audio CD)

What a SHAME!!! This is one of the only recordings that I know of featuring the 4 songs of William Denis Browne... played very well by Stephen Varcoe - but sung terribly by Martin Hill. Much like the collection of Michael Tippett vocal music, Mr. Hill seems to scream his way through most everything he sings.
Someone must like him, he's signed to Hyperion, and they usually choose such wonderful singers... but not this time. Let's just pray that Ian Bostridge or John Mark Ainsley will be asked to sing this wonderful repertoire... and we can use these discs as coasters!
The baritone, Michael George, does a commentable job with the Gurney songs - sometimes a bit swallowed and throaty.

I am not saying do not buy this recording... It's music that we should know and learn. But, this way we arent in the least tempted to simply immitate what we hear. You'll know you could sing it better, trust me.