Avie Records
Handel: English Cantatas / Kennedy, Bruce-Payne, Brook Street Band
$29.99
Details
- Composer
- HANDEL, GEORGE FRIDERIC
- Artist
- Kennedy, Bruce-Payne, Brook Street Band
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Avie Records
- Released
- Sep 01, 2008
- Catalog #
- AV2153
- UPC
- 822252215328
About
It is interesting to see what uses musical amateurs of Handel’s day made of his scores, and the singing by Nicki Kennedy is excellent.
HANDEL Cantatas: So Pleasing the Pain Is. 1,2 With Roving and with Ranging. 1,2 To Lonely Shades 1,2 & • Nicki Kennedy (sop); 1 Sally Bruce-Payne (alt); 2 The Brook Street Band (period instruments) • AVIE 2153 (2 CDs: 118:57 Text and Translation)
& HANDEL Songs: 1 An answer to Collin’s complaint. Dear Adonis, beauty’s treasure. The forsaken nymph. I like the am’rous youth. Love’s but the frailty of the mind. ’Twas when the seas were roaring. Transporting joy
This recording is titled “Handel’s English Cantatas.” The three works consist of 13 arias and three duets from three Handel operas, Giulio Cesare, Ottone , and Flavio , with new English texts and arranged for two violins and basso continuo . The arrangements have been attributed to Handel, but this claim is very doubtful. The form of each work, a series of arias ending with a duet, without linking recitative, is otherwise unknown in Handel, and there is no evidence that Handel had any part in putting these works together. The notes to this recording make as good a case as can be made for Handel’s involvement, but I remain unconvinced. The works themselves make enjoyable listening, since the music is taken from three of Handel’s best operas, and it is interesting to see what uses musical amateurs of Handel’s day made of his scores.
The performances are generally enjoyable. Nicki Kennedy is the more pleasing of the two soloists. Sally Bruce-Payne has a large voice that does not sound like it is always completely under her control, and she has an annoying habit of giving a very strong accent to some words; for example, in So Pleasing the Pain Is her overstress produces too strong an emphasis on some syllables. Fortunately, she manages to control this tendency most of the time. The Brook Street Band, consisting of two violins, cello, and harpsichord, plays expertly, and one hardly misses the full orchestra for which these works were originally written.
According to the catalog of Handel’s works in the New Grove , these three cantatas were arranged for different voices than those assigned to them here: So Pleasing the Pain Is for tenor and baritone, With Roving and with Ranging for soprano and baritone, and To Lonely Shades for soprano and tenor. The notes are silent on the arrangements made for this recording.
There are two English cantatas that are accepted as legitimate. Look Down, Harmonious Saint , a single recitative and aria, is not included here but can be found as a supplement to Robert King’s recording of Acis and Galatea . The second, Venus and Adonis , survives in fragmentary form as two arias with harpsichord accompaniment. Those two arias, Dear Adonis, beauty’s treasure and Transporting joy , are included here in a group of seven songs. Many songs have been attributed to Handel. A few years ago, Somm released a recording of all of the songs of unquestioned attribution. Four of them are included here, though one ( An answer to Collin’s complaint ) is performed in a harpsichord arrangement. The forsaken nymph and the two arias from Venus and Adonis are recording premieres. All are excellently sung by Nicki Kennedy.
The three newly recorded items make this recording a must for dedicated Handelians, and the three English cantatas make interesting listening.
FANFARE: Ron Salemi
HANDEL Cantatas: So Pleasing the Pain Is. 1,2 With Roving and with Ranging. 1,2 To Lonely Shades 1,2 & • Nicki Kennedy (sop); 1 Sally Bruce-Payne (alt); 2 The Brook Street Band (period instruments) • AVIE 2153 (2 CDs: 118:57 Text and Translation)
& HANDEL Songs: 1 An answer to Collin’s complaint. Dear Adonis, beauty’s treasure. The forsaken nymph. I like the am’rous youth. Love’s but the frailty of the mind. ’Twas when the seas were roaring. Transporting joy
This recording is titled “Handel’s English Cantatas.” The three works consist of 13 arias and three duets from three Handel operas, Giulio Cesare, Ottone , and Flavio , with new English texts and arranged for two violins and basso continuo . The arrangements have been attributed to Handel, but this claim is very doubtful. The form of each work, a series of arias ending with a duet, without linking recitative, is otherwise unknown in Handel, and there is no evidence that Handel had any part in putting these works together. The notes to this recording make as good a case as can be made for Handel’s involvement, but I remain unconvinced. The works themselves make enjoyable listening, since the music is taken from three of Handel’s best operas, and it is interesting to see what uses musical amateurs of Handel’s day made of his scores.
The performances are generally enjoyable. Nicki Kennedy is the more pleasing of the two soloists. Sally Bruce-Payne has a large voice that does not sound like it is always completely under her control, and she has an annoying habit of giving a very strong accent to some words; for example, in So Pleasing the Pain Is her overstress produces too strong an emphasis on some syllables. Fortunately, she manages to control this tendency most of the time. The Brook Street Band, consisting of two violins, cello, and harpsichord, plays expertly, and one hardly misses the full orchestra for which these works were originally written.
According to the catalog of Handel’s works in the New Grove , these three cantatas were arranged for different voices than those assigned to them here: So Pleasing the Pain Is for tenor and baritone, With Roving and with Ranging for soprano and baritone, and To Lonely Shades for soprano and tenor. The notes are silent on the arrangements made for this recording.
There are two English cantatas that are accepted as legitimate. Look Down, Harmonious Saint , a single recitative and aria, is not included here but can be found as a supplement to Robert King’s recording of Acis and Galatea . The second, Venus and Adonis , survives in fragmentary form as two arias with harpsichord accompaniment. Those two arias, Dear Adonis, beauty’s treasure and Transporting joy , are included here in a group of seven songs. Many songs have been attributed to Handel. A few years ago, Somm released a recording of all of the songs of unquestioned attribution. Four of them are included here, though one ( An answer to Collin’s complaint ) is performed in a harpsichord arrangement. The forsaken nymph and the two arias from Venus and Adonis are recording premieres. All are excellently sung by Nicki Kennedy.
The three newly recorded items make this recording a must for dedicated Handelians, and the three English cantatas make interesting listening.
FANFARE: Ron Salemi
Tracklist 24 tracks
- Disc 1
-
1 Aria: So pleasing, the Pain Is 08:26
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Aria: So pleasing, the Pain Is
- Duration
- 08:26
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Nicki Kennedy
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
2 Aria: Foolish swain at length grow wiser 05:04
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Aria: Foolish swain at length grow wiser
- Duration
- 05:04
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Sally Bruce-Payne
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
3 Aria: Love thou Joy of ev'ry Creature 09:04
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Aria: Love thou Joy of ev'ry Creature
- Duration
- 09:04
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Nicki Kennedy
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
4 Aria: Soon as the Day is breaking 06:00
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Aria: Soon as the Day is breaking
- Duration
- 06:00
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Sally Bruce-Payne
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
5 Aria: Cease, cease thy vain Contending 05:03
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Aria: Cease, cease thy vain Contending
- Duration
- 05:03
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Nicki Kennedy
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
6 Aria: Let our Discords all be ended 04:45
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Aria: Let our Discords all be ended
- Duration
- 04:45
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Sally Bruce-Payne
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
7 Aria: With roving and with Ranging 04:33
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Aria: With roving and with Ranging
- Duration
- 04:33
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Sally Bruce-Payne
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
8 Aria: Strephon Cease no more pursue me 05:40
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Aria: Strephon Cease no more pursue me
- Duration
- 05:40
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Nicki Kennedy
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
9 Aria: My Chloe you may believe me 06:13
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Aria: My Chloe you may believe me
- Duration
- 06:13
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Sally Bruce-Payne
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
10 Aria: Prudence bids me Shun your passion 04:27
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Aria: Prudence bids me Shun your passion
- Duration
- 04:27
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Nicki Kennedy
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
11 Aria: The Floods shall quit the Ocean 04:18
- Track
- 11
- Title
- Aria: The Floods shall quit the Ocean
- Duration
- 04:18
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Sally Bruce-Payne
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
12 Duet: Gentle Hymen lose no time 05:11
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Duet: Gentle Hymen lose no time
- Duration
- 05:11
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Nicki Kennedy, Sally Bruce-Payne
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
- Disc 2
-
1 Recit: To lonely Shades fair Delia stray’d 01:05
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Recit: To lonely Shades fair Delia stray’d
- Duration
- 01:05
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Sally Bruce-Payne
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
2 Aria: My Fair from hence is gone 08:03
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Aria: My Fair from hence is gone
- Duration
- 08:03
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Sally Bruce-Payne
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
3 Aria: See, See my dearest Damon 03:20
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Aria: See, See my dearest Damon
- Duration
- 03:20
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Nicki Kennedy
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
4 Aria: How delighted how contented 06:35
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Aria: How delighted how contented
- Duration
- 06:35
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Sally Bruce-Payne
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
5 Duet: To tender Love and Pleasure 04:50
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Duet: To tender Love and Pleasure
- Duration
- 04:50
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Nicki Kennedy, Sally Bruce-Payne
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
6 I like the amorous youth that's free, HWV 228 02:33
- Track
- 6
- Title
- I like the amorous youth that's free, HWV 228
- Duration
- 02:33
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Nicki Kennedy
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
7 Ye winds to whom Collin complains (An Answer to Collin's Complaint), HWV 228 01:44
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Ye winds to whom Collin complains (An Answer to Collin's Complaint), HWV 228
- Duration
- 01:44
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Carolyn Gibley
-
8 Faithless, ungrateful (The Forsaken Maid's Complaint), HWV 228 03:32
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Faithless, ungrateful (The Forsaken Maid's Complaint), HWV 228
- Duration
- 03:32
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Nicki Kennedy
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
9 Behold, where Venus weeping stands (Venus and Adonis), HWV 85: Dear Adonis 05:04
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Behold, where Venus weeping stands (Venus and Adonis), HWV 85: Dear Adonis
- Duration
- 05:04
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Nicki Kennedy
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
10 Love's but the frailty of the mind, HWV 218 05:02
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Love's but the frailty of the mind, HWV 218
- Duration
- 05:02
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Nicki Kennedy
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
11 ’Twas when the seas were roaring (The Melancholy Nymph), HWV 228 04:18
- Track
- 11
- Title
- ’Twas when the seas were roaring (The Melancholy Nymph), HWV 228
- Duration
- 04:18
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Nicki Kennedy
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band
-
12 Behold, where Venus weeping stands (Venus and Adonis), HWV 85: Transporting Joy 03:11
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Behold, where Venus weeping stands (Venus and Adonis), HWV 85: Transporting Joy
- Duration
- 03:11
- Composer
- George Frideric Handel
- Performer
- Nicki Kennedy
- Ensemble
- The Brook Street Band