Hubert Parry - Twelve Sets of English Lyrics, Vol. 1 (Various Artists)

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Composer: Hubert Parry

1. English Lyrics, Set 1: No. 1. My True Love Hath My Heart
2. English Lyrics, Set 1: No. 2. Good Night
3. English Lyrics, Set 1: No. 3 Where Shall the Lover Rest
4. English Lyrics, Set 1: No. 4 Willow Song
5. English Lyrics, Set 2: No. 1. O Mistress Mine
6. English Lyrics, Set 2: No. 2. Take, O Take Those Lips Away
7. English Lyrics, Set 2: No. 3. No Longer Mourn For Me
8. English Lyrics, Set 2: No. 4. Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind
9. English Lyrics, Set 2: No. 5. When Icicles Hang By The Wall
10. English Lyrics, Set 3: No. 1. To Lucas on Going to the Wars
11. English Lyrics, Set 3: No. 3. To Althea from Prison
12. English Lyrics, Set 3: No. 4. Why so Pale and Wan
13. English Lyrics, Set 4: No. 4. Weep You No More, Sad Fountains
14. English Lyrics, Set 3: No. 6. Of All The Torments
15. English Lyrics, Set 5: No. 4. Lay A Garland On My Hearse
16. English Lyrics, Set 11: English Lyrics, Set 11: No. 7. Why Art Thou Slow
17. English Lyrics, Set 7: No. 1. On a Time the Amorous Silvy
18. English Lyrics, Set 7: No. 2. Follow a Shadow
19. English Lyrics, Set 7: No. 3. Ye Little Birds that Sit and Sing
20. English Lyrics, Set 7: No. 4. O Never Say that I was False of Heart
21. English Lyrics, Set 7: No. 5. Julia
22. English Lyrics, Set 10: No. 6. One Silent Night Of Late
23. English Lyrics, Set 12: No. 2. To Blossoms
24. English Lyrics, Set 12: No. 3. Rosaline
25. English Lyrics, Set 5: No. 3. Crabbed age and youth
26. English Lyrics, Set 6: No. 6. Under the Greenwood Tree
27. Sonnet 32, "If Thou Survive My Well-Contended Day"
28. 4 Sonnets: No. 1. Sonnet 29, "When In Disgrace"
29. 4 Sonnets: No. 2. Sonnet 87, "Farewell, Though Art Too Dear"
30. 4 Sonnets: No. 3. Sonnet 18, "Shall I Compare Thee"
31. 4 Sonnets: No. 4. Sonnet 30, "When to the Sessions"

Susan Gritton, soprano

James Gilchrist, tenor

Roderick Williams, baritone

Andrew West, piano

Date: 2016

Label: SOMM Recordings

https://somm-recordings.com/recording/parry-english-lyrics-volume-1/

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Review

Here is the first of three volumes from Somm which will embrace all 12 sets of Parry’s English Lyrics – a veritable cornucopia of exquisitely articulate settings of indigenous poetry which blazed a trail for the emergence of the English art song in the hands of such masters as Butterworth, Gurney, Warlock, Bridge, Ireland, Finzi and Britten. For proof positive of this figure’s instinctive genius for serving the text, let me urge immediate exploration of such gems as ‘Take, O take those lips away’, ‘Weep you no more, sad fountains’ and ‘Lay a garland on my hearse’. Elsewhere, it would be a hard heart indeed that failed to respond to the sly humour of ‘On a time the amorous Silvy’ or ‘One silent night of late’, the gentle poignancy of ‘To Blossoms’ (a sublime setting of Herrick from 1917 that occupied Parry on and off fully 40 years before he was satisfied), or the captivating charm of ‘When icicles hang by the wall’ (with its cheeky refrain of ‘Tuwhoo! Tuwhit! Tuwhoo!’). A nourishing 71-minute sequence concludes with an early published group of four thoroughly endearing settings of Shakespeare’s sonnets in German (a reminder that Parry grew up steeped in the Lied tradition of Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann and Brahms). A setting from the same period (1873 82) of Sonnet 32 (‘If thou survive my well-contented day’) also receives its long-overdue first recording.

I’m happy to report that all three soloists are thoroughly attuned to the idiom, their interpretations both admirably secure in technique and consistently pleasing in terms of intelligent word-pointing (I should add that the booklet contains full texts). Andrew West’s accompaniments are admirably stylish, and Jeremy Dibble’s scholarly yet personable notes prove a real boon. Boasting natural, ideally intimate sound, this is indeed a tasty first instalment. Roll on Vol 2!

-- Andrew Achenbach, Gramophone

More reviews:
https://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev//2015/Nov/Parry_songs_v1_SOMMCD257.htm

https://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2016/Feb/Parry_songs_v1_SOMMCD257.htm

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/25/hubert-parry-twelve-sets-english-lyrics-vol-1-jerusalem-review

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Parry-English-Gilchrist-Roderick-Williams/dp/B015OPMCTC

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Hubert Parry (27 February 1848 – 7 October 1918) was an English composer, teacher and historian of music. As a composer he is best known for compositions such as the choral song "Jerusalem", the coronation anthem "I was glad", and the ode Blest Pair of Sirens. His orchestral works include five symphonies and a set of Symphonic Variations. In 1895 Parry succeeded George Grove as head of the Royal College of Music, remaining in the post for the rest of his life. His influence on later composers, such as Edward Elgar, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst, Frank Bridge and John Ireland, is widely recognised.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubert_Parry

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