Michael Head: Songs

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Head created the most inventive and sympathetic writing for voice and piano, in asymmetrical, free-flowing, artful settings of poets such as Walter de la Mare, John Masefield and Christina Rossetti.... — BBC Music Magazine, March 2012, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 3rd Jan 2012
Catalogue No: CDA67899
Label: Hyperion
Length: 76 minutes

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Head, M: Dear delight

Work length2:54

$1.00

$1.25

Ailish Tynan (soprano), Christopher Glynn (piano)

Head, M: Oh, for a March wind

Work length3:10

$1.00

$1.25

Ailish Tynan (soprano), Christopher Glynn (piano)

Excerpt, Head, M: Songs of the Countryside

Work length2:21

$1.00

$1.25

Ailish Tynan (soprano), Christopher Glynn (piano)

V. Sweet Chance, that led my steps abroad

Track length2:21

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$1.25

Head, M: Tewkesbury Road

Work length2:52

$1.00

$1.25

Roderick Williams (baritone), Christopher Glynn (piano)

Excerpt, Head, M: Poems (6) of Ruth Pitter

Work length4:14

$1.00

$1.25

Roderick Williams (baritone), Christopher Glynn (piano)

VI. The Estuary

Track length4:14

$1.00

$1.25

Excerpt, Head, M: Sea Songs (6)

Work length2:45

$1.00

$1.25

Roderick Williams (baritone), Christopher Glynn (piano)

II. Limehouse Reach

Track length2:45

$1.00

$1.25

Head, M: Over the rim of the moon

Work length12:11

$4.00

$5.00

Ailish Tynan (soprano), Christopher Glynn (piano)

I. The ships of Arcady

Track length3:48

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$1.25

II. Beloved

Track length1:40

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III. A blackbird singing

Track length2:45

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IV. Nocturne

Track length3:58

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Head, M: October Valley

Work length3:12

$1.00

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Catherine Wyn-Rogers (mezzo-soprano), Christopher Glynn (piano)

Head, M: More Songs of the Countryside

Work length5:01

$2.00

$2.50

Catherine Wyn-Rogers (mezzo-soprano), Christopher Glynn (piano), Ailish Tynan (soprano)

II. The Garden Seat

Track length2:19

$1.00

$1.25

I. Foxgloves

Track length2:42

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$1.25

Excerpt, Head, M: Poems (6) of Ruth Pitter

Work length2:24

$1.00

$1.25

Roderick Williams (baritone), Christopher Glynn (piano)

II. The Viper

Track length2:24

$1.00

$1.25

Head, M: Had I a golden pound

Work length1:56

$1.00

$1.25

Ailish Tynan (soprano), Christopher Glynn (piano)

Head, M: Lean out of the window

Work length2:25

$1.00

$1.25

Roderick Williams (baritone), Christopher Glynn (piano)

Head, M: A Piper

Work length1:25

$1.00

$1.25

Catherine Wyn-Rogers (mezzo-soprano), Christopher Glynn (piano)

Head, M: A green cornfield

Work length2:18

$1.00

$1.25

Ailish Tynan (soprano), Christopher Glynn (piano)

Head, M: Love’s Lament

Work length3:15

$1.00

$1.25

Catherine Wyn-Rogers (mezzo-soprano), Christopher Glynn (piano)

Head, M: Star Candles

Work length2:30

$1.00

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Ailish Tynan (soprano), Christopher Glynn (piano)

Head, M: The Little Road to Bethlehem

Work length2:44

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Catherine Wyn-Rogers (mezzo-soprano), Christopher Glynn (piano)

Excerpt, Head, M: Songs of the Countryside

Work length2:13

$1.00

$1.25

Roderick Williams (baritone), Christopher Glynn (piano)

VI. Money, O!

Track length2:13

$1.00

$1.25

Head, M: Songs of Venice (3)

Work length11:09

$3.00

$3.75

Catherine Wyn-Rogers (mezzo-soprano), Christopher Glynn (piano)

I. The Gondolier

Track length5:09

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II. St Mark's Square

Track length2:26

$1.00

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III. Rain storm

Track length3:34

$1.00

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Head, M: My sword for the King

Work length2:18

$1.00

$1.25

Roderick Williams (baritone), Christopher Glynn (piano)

Head, M: You cannot dream things lovelier

Work length2:58

$1.00

$1.25

Roderick Williams (baritone), Christopher Glynn (piano)

About
Reviews
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About

Who is Michael Head? His name may be largely forgotten but the music here forms part of the rich seam of English song in the manner of Quilter, Gurney and Warlock. Born in 1900, he worked modestly as a singer, pianist, teacher, broadcaster and adjudicator, writing his first song (The ships of Arcady) aged 19, studying at the Royal Academy of Music, where he became a professor of piano aged 27, remaining there for the rest of his career.

At the centre of his composing life were songs, which he used to perform as a kind of one-man band, accompanying himself at the piano. Out of more than 100, here’s a choice selection: setting poets such as Walter de la Mare, John Masefield and Christina Rossetti, many of them focus on the pleasures of England—its flora and fauna, its changing seasons and lyrical landscapes.

They’re sung by three of the brightest stars in today’s vocal firmament, Ailish Tynan (making her Hyperion debut), Catherine Wyn-Rogers and Roderick Williams, accompanied by Christopher Glynn, who adds Head to his previous recordings of Reger and Brahms.

Reviews

March 2012

Head created the most inventive and sympathetic writing for voice and piano, in asymmetrical, free-flowing, artful settings of poets such as Walter de la Mare, John Masefield and Christina Rossetti. His music heightens their acute observations of the natural world, expressing their appetite for the present, fleeting moment...A revelation.

14th January 2012

Head makes sure England’s fields are forever green, even when the mood is tinged with sadness: not for him the slightest inelegance. The apportioning of songs to soprano, mezzo and baritone gives the recital an easy pace. Williams’ flawless diction makes his the pick of the bunch.

March 2012

the enterprise of Hyperion knows no bounds. Here is a disc devoted to songs by Michael Head, who is not likely to be known to many...Singers and pianists perform with conviction and style. If you can, start with 'Limehouse Reach', which has the charm and simplicity of Vaughan Williams's 'Linden Lea', and take it from there.

January 2012

[Wyn-Rogers] is laudable in the very sad, well-named Love's Lament...The two lustiest songs, 'Money, O!' and 'My sword for the King' are allotted to Roderick Williams, who brings bold vocalism to both...Christopher Glynn brings out the different colours in accordance with each song, from crashing chords to gurgling gruppetti, sparking little scales to vigorous outpourings or soft sweetness.

12th January 2012

as the meticulous performances by these singers...demonstrate, Head was acutely sensitive to words. There are settings of Masefield and Yeats, Hardy, Joyce and Christina Rossetti here, and in every song each phrase is perfectly balanced, its meaning directly communicated, its accompaniment supremely tactful.

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