Heavenly Love, Earthly Joy / Bream, Pears

$8.99
Label
Sony Masterworks
Release Date
January 16, 2007
Format
Added to Cart! View cart or continue shopping.


    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      DOWNLAND VARIOUS
    • PERFORMER
      Bream, Pears
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      January 16, 2007
    • UPC
      886970492720
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      88697049272
    • LABEL
      Sony Masterworks
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Chamber Music & Recitals
    Works ⌄

    1. The First Book of Ayres or Little Short Songs: Absence, hear thou my protestation

      Composer: Thomas Morley

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    2. What then is love but mourning?

      Composer: Philip Rosseter, Thomas Campion

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    3. Book of Songs, Book 2: I saw my lady weep

      Composer: John Dowland

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    4. If she forsakes me

      Composer: Philip Rosseter

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    5. Book of Songs, Book 1: Dear, if you change, I'll never choose again

      Composer: John Dowland

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    6. Musicke of Sundrie Kindes: Come, Phyllis, come unto these bowers

      Composer: Thomas Ford

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    7. Book of Songs, Book 4, "A Pilgrimes Solace": Stay, Time, awhile thy flying

      Composer: John Dowland

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    8. The First Book of Ayres or Little Short Songs: It was a lover and his lasse

      Composer: Thomas Morley

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    9. Book of Songs, Book 3: Weep you no more, sad fountains

      Composer: John Dowland

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    10. When Laura smiles

      Composer: Philip Rosseter

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    11. Musicke of Sundrie Kindes: Faire, sweet, cruell

      Composer: Thomas Ford

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    12. Book of Songs, Book 2: Shall I sue, shall I seek for grace?

      Composer: John Dowland

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    13. Book of Songs, Book 4, "A Pilgrimes Solace": Sweet, stay awhile, why will you rise?

      Composer: John Dowland

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    14. Who is it that this darke night

      Composer: Thomas Morley

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    15. Book of Songs, Book 1: Can she excuse my wrongs

      Composer: John Dowland

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    16. Book of Songs, Book 1: Come, heavy sleep

      Composer: John Dowland

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    17. Book of Songs, Book 1: Wilt thou unkind thus reave me of my heart

      Composer: John Dowland

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    18. Book of Songs, Book 2: Sorrow, stay, lend true repentant tears

      Composer: John Dowland

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    19. Book of Songs, Book 3: The lowest trees have tops

      Composer: John Dowland

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    20. Book of Songs, Book 2: Time's eldest son

      Composer: John Dowland

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    21. Book of Songs, Book 4, "A Pilgrimes Solace": In Darkness Let Me Dwell

      Composer: John Dowland

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream

    22. Book of Songs, Book 3: Say, Love, if ever thou didst find

      Composer: John Dowland

      Performer: Peter Pears, Julian Bream


This reissue of two concert performances--from London's Wigmore Hall in 1963 and Conway Hall in 1969--makes delightful and frequently very compelling listening, given the superlative musical selections (22 of the period's finest songs) and the facility and inherent compatibility of the two great artists who perform them.

Reviewers of tenor Peter Pears' performances so often feel compelled to mitigate praise for his artistry with some comment about, or apology for, the voice's quality--that it's one of those "love it or hate it" voices. Nonsense. I say it's a wonderful voice, its unmistakable timbre pleasingly distinctive, its somewhat bright edge accompanied by a warm, natural, unforced, open-throated resonance. And especially in English songs, Pears was a master storyteller, shaping the musical lines with a poet's sense of textual nuance and clever inflection, often delivered with a twinkle in the eye or, especially with Dowland, a tear or two. His lovely rendition of Dowland's "Come, heavy sleep" is about as close to perfect as we'll ever hear a song sung.

Of course, Pears' partner in this recital, Julian Bream, was a master of Dowland's solo music and is more than comfortable in his significant supporting role here. Pears and Bream performed many concerts together over a period of many years, beginning around 1963 when the earliest of these tracks were recorded, and you simply can't listen to such gems as Philip Rosseter's "What then is love?", Morley's "It was a lover and his lass" and "Absence", or Dowland's "Weep you no more, sad fountains" without being grateful for this rare and rewarding partnership. The sound tends to favor the treble on some tracks, but your ear adjusts to this quickly, readily and happily attending to the singing and playing, enjoying the promise of the disc's title.

--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com