佳佳唱片

艾爾加: 創樂者 / 英格蘭精神
安德魯．戴維斯 指揮
BBC交響樂團

Distinguished British music interpreter Sir Andrew Davis joins forces with the BBCSO once again, this time with acclaimed soloists Dame Sarah Connolly and Andrew Staples, in this thoughtful presentation of the last two substantial choral works of Sir Edward Elgar.

The maturity of Elgar as an orchestrator is obvious in both works on this disc, notably, in The Music Makers (1912), during passages in which he quotes from Sea Pictures and the Violin Concerto, and in representing the sound of aircraft in The Spirit of England (1917).

Elgar uses self-quotation to reflect: The Music Makers is a canvas of self-reflection, written quickly following a period of illness. The orchestral introduction is introspective, melancholic and noble, before the words of Arthur O'Shaughanessy's poem and much self-quotation within the music offer an insight into the sense of nostalgia and awareness of the loneliness of the creative artist felt by the composer. The Spirit of England reflects on the sadness and desolation of war felt by a nation, with the inclusion of quotations from The Dream of Gerontius in some of the more negative stanzas that Elgar found harder to set. Specified in the score for tenor or soprano, all three movements are sung here by a tenor in a recording first.

SIR EDWARD ELGAR
The Music Makers, Op.69 (1912) *
Ode by Arthur O'Shaughnessy
for Contralto Solo, Chorus, and Orchestra
To my friend Nicholas Kilburn
1.Moderato e nobilmente - Tranquillo e cantabile - Tempo I - Piu tranquillo -3:21

2.Chorus: 'We are the music makers'. Larghetto - Come prima -1:59

3.Chorus: 'With wonderful deathless ditties'. Allegro - Animato -1:47

4.Chorus: 'We, in the ages lying'. Allegretto - Maestoso - (Giocoso) -3:29

5.Chorus: 'A breath of our inspiration'. Molto tranquillo - 4:04

6.Contralto: 'They had no vision amazing'. Lento, quasi recitativo -3:20

7.Contralto and Chorus: 'And therefore to-day is thrilling'. Allegro molto - Maestoso -4:42

8.Chorus: 'But we, with our dreaming and singing'. Andantino -5:44

Chorus: 'For we are afar with the dawning'. Come prima -
9.Contralto: ;Great hail! we cry to the comers'. Allegro - Andantino - Poco piu mosso -8:17

The Spirit of England, Op.80 (1915-17)

Three Poems by Laurence Binyon
for Tenor or Soprano Solo, Chorus, and Orchestra
My portion of this work I dedicate to the memory of our glorious men,
with a special thought for the WORCESTERS.
1916 Edward Elgar

10.IThe Fourth of August6:53

Moderato e maestoso -
'Now in thy splendour go before us'. Grandioso -
11.IITo Women5:51

'Your hearts are lifted up'. Moderato -
12.IIIFor the Fallen12:21

'With proud thanksgiving'. Solenne -
'Death august and royal'. Nobilmente -
Total time: 61:56

Solo: Dame Sarah Connolly mezzo-soprano *
Solo: Andrew Staples tenor †
Choral: BBC Symphony Chorus
Neil Ferris chorus master
Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra
Igor Yuzefovich leader
Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis