Sony Masterworks

Heavenly Love, Earthly Joy / Bream, Pears

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Details

Composer
DOWNLAND VARIOUS
Artist
Bream, Pears
Format
CD
Discs
1
Label
Sony Masterworks
Released
Jan 16, 2007
Catalog #
88697049272
UPC
886970492720

About

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

Tracklist 22 tracks

  1. 1 The First Book of Ayres or Little Short Songs: Absence, hear thou my protestation 02:30
    Track
    1
    Title
    The First Book of Ayres or Little Short Songs: Absence, hear thou my protestation
    Duration
    02:30
    Composer
    Thomas Morley
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  2. 2 What then is love but mourning? 02:21
    Track
    2
    Title
    What then is love but mourning?
    Duration
    02:21
    Composer
    Philip Rosseter, Thomas Campion
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  3. 3 Book of Songs, Book 2: I saw my lady weep 04:33
    Track
    3
    Title
    Book of Songs, Book 2: I saw my lady weep
    Duration
    04:33
    Composer
    John Dowland
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  4. 4 If she forsakes me 01:43
    Track
    4
    Title
    If she forsakes me
    Duration
    01:43
    Composer
    Philip Rosseter
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  5. 5 Book of Songs, Book 1: Dear, if you change, I'll never choose again 04:06
    Track
    5
    Title
    Book of Songs, Book 1: Dear, if you change, I'll never choose again
    Duration
    04:06
    Composer
    John Dowland
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  6. 6 Musicke of Sundrie Kindes: Come, Phyllis, come unto these bowers 01:47
    Track
    6
    Title
    Musicke of Sundrie Kindes: Come, Phyllis, come unto these bowers
    Duration
    01:47
    Composer
    Thomas Ford
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  7. 7 Book of Songs, Book 4, "A Pilgrimes Solace": Stay, Time, awhile thy flying 02:39
    Track
    7
    Title
    Book of Songs, Book 4, "A Pilgrimes Solace": Stay, Time, awhile thy flying
    Duration
    02:39
    Composer
    John Dowland
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  8. 8 The First Book of Ayres or Little Short Songs: It was a lover and his lasse 02:25
    Track
    8
    Title
    The First Book of Ayres or Little Short Songs: It was a lover and his lasse
    Duration
    02:25
    Composer
    Thomas Morley
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  9. 9 Book of Songs, Book 3: Weep you no more, sad fountains 03:35
    Track
    9
    Title
    Book of Songs, Book 3: Weep you no more, sad fountains
    Duration
    03:35
    Composer
    John Dowland
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  10. 10 When Laura smiles 01:31
    Track
    10
    Title
    When Laura smiles
    Duration
    01:31
    Composer
    Philip Rosseter
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  11. 11 Musicke of Sundrie Kindes: Faire, sweet, cruell 01:57
    Track
    11
    Title
    Musicke of Sundrie Kindes: Faire, sweet, cruell
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Thomas Ford
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  12. 12 Book of Songs, Book 2: Shall I sue, shall I seek for grace? 01:57
    Track
    12
    Title
    Book of Songs, Book 2: Shall I sue, shall I seek for grace?
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    John Dowland
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  13. 13 Book of Songs, Book 4, "A Pilgrimes Solace": Sweet, stay awhile, why will you rise? 03:27
    Track
    13
    Title
    Book of Songs, Book 4, "A Pilgrimes Solace": Sweet, stay awhile, why will you rise?
    Duration
    03:27
    Composer
    John Dowland
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  14. 14 Who is it that this darke night 02:57
    Track
    14
    Title
    Who is it that this darke night
    Duration
    02:57
    Composer
    Thomas Morley
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  15. 15 Book of Songs, Book 1: Can she excuse my wrongs 01:37
    Track
    15
    Title
    Book of Songs, Book 1: Can she excuse my wrongs
    Duration
    01:37
    Composer
    John Dowland
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  16. 16 Book of Songs, Book 1: Come, heavy sleep 03:44
    Track
    16
    Title
    Book of Songs, Book 1: Come, heavy sleep
    Duration
    03:44
    Composer
    John Dowland
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  17. 17 Book of Songs, Book 1: Wilt thou unkind thus reave me of my heart 02:04
    Track
    17
    Title
    Book of Songs, Book 1: Wilt thou unkind thus reave me of my heart
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    John Dowland
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  18. 18 Book of Songs, Book 2: Sorrow, stay, lend true repentant tears 03:56
    Track
    18
    Title
    Book of Songs, Book 2: Sorrow, stay, lend true repentant tears
    Duration
    03:56
    Composer
    John Dowland
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  19. 19 Book of Songs, Book 3: The lowest trees have tops 02:12
    Track
    19
    Title
    Book of Songs, Book 3: The lowest trees have tops
    Duration
    02:12
    Composer
    John Dowland
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  20. 20 Book of Songs, Book 2: Time's eldest son 04:53
    Track
    20
    Title
    Book of Songs, Book 2: Time's eldest son
    Duration
    04:53
    Composer
    John Dowland
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  21. 21 Book of Songs, Book 4, "A Pilgrimes Solace": In Darkness Let Me Dwell 04:36
    Track
    21
    Title
    Book of Songs, Book 4, "A Pilgrimes Solace": In Darkness Let Me Dwell
    Duration
    04:36
    Composer
    John Dowland
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream
  22. 22 Book of Songs, Book 3: Say, Love, if ever thou didst find 01:20
    Track
    22
    Title
    Book of Songs, Book 3: Say, Love, if ever thou didst find
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    John Dowland
    Performer
    Peter Pears, Julian Bream