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Elgar: The Music Makers & The Spirit of England / Connolly, Staples, Davis, BBC Symphony
Chandos

Elgar: The Music Makers & The Spirit of England / Connolly, Staples, Davis, BBC Symphony

$21.99

Details

Composer
SIR EDWARD ELGAR
Artist
Sarah Connolly, Andrew Staples, Sir Andrew Davis (Conductor)
Format
SACD
Label
Chandos
Released
Nov 16, 2018
Catalog #
CHSA 5215
UPC
095115521526

About



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 matury of Elgar as an orchestrator is obvious in both works on this album, 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.

Tracklist 12 tracks

  1. 1 Introduction 03:21
    Track
    1
    Title
    Introduction
    Duration
    03:21
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  2. 2 We are the music makers 01:59
    Track
    2
    Title
    We are the music makers
    Duration
    01:59
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  3. 3 With wonderful deathless ditties 01:47
    Track
    3
    Title
    With wonderful deathless ditties
    Duration
    01:47
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  4. 4 We, in the ages lying 03:29
    Track
    4
    Title
    We, in the ages lying
    Duration
    03:29
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  5. 5 A breath of our inspiration 04:04
    Track
    5
    Title
    A breath of our inspiration
    Duration
    04:04
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  6. 6 They had no vision amazing 03:20
    Track
    6
    Title
    They had no vision amazing
    Duration
    03:20
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Performer
    Sarah Connolly
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  7. 7 And therefore today is thrilling 04:42
    Track
    7
    Title
    And therefore today is thrilling
    Duration
    04:42
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Performer
    Sarah Connolly
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  8. 8 But we, with our dreaming and singing - For we are afar with the dawning 05:44
    Track
    8
    Title
    But we, with our dreaming and singing - For we are afar with the dawning
    Duration
    05:44
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  9. 9 Great hail! We cry to the comers 08:17
    Track
    9
    Title
    Great hail! We cry to the comers
    Duration
    08:17
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Performer
    Sarah Connolly
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  10. 10 No. 1. The Fourth of August 06:53
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 1. The Fourth of August
    Duration
    06:53
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Performer
    Andrew Staples
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  11. 11 No. 2. To Women 05:51
    Track
    11
    Title
    No. 2. To Women
    Duration
    05:51
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Performer
    Andrew Staples
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis
  12. 12 No. 3. For the Fallen 12:21
    Track
    12
    Title
    No. 3. For the Fallen
    Duration
    12:21
    Composer
    Edward Elgar
    Performer
    Andrew Staples
    Ensemble
    BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Andrew Davis