The NMC Songbook (NMC D150).

Four CDs of commissioned songs to celebrate NMC’s 20th anniversary. Includes first recordings of The Moon’s Funeral (Joseph Phibbs) and Haiku (Bláar Kindsdottir) sung by James Bowman; and Labyrinth to Light (Peter Maxwell Davies) sung by Andrew Swait, all three accompanied by Andrew Plant.

Best Contemporary Release, Classic FM / Gramophone Awards 2009

First-time NMC composer Peter Maxwell Davies, whose setting of the anonymous nursery rhyme ‘Labyrinth to Light’ for treble (Andrew Swait) and piano (Andrew Plant) is like a slow extended shiver down the spine – The Journal of New Music

This extraordinary project confirms the robust health and endlessly varied landscape of Britain’s new music – John Adams

The performances are uniformly superb – The Guardian

Songs of Innocence (SIGCD128)

Songs of Innocence (Andrew Swait; James Bowman; Andrew Plant)
This CD was recorded in autumn 2007 with Andrew Swait treble (of The Choirboys) and James Bowman counter tenor. It comprises several rare works and arrangements by Britten, including four world première recordings of early songs, together with music by Ives, Quilter, Warlock, Williamson and others.

Swait’s voice is clear, bright, and tuned with innate precision, ringing with carefree but studious childhood. Bowman, worldly and artistic … phrasing with a characteristic elegance and expressivity.  Andrew Plant accompanies with sensitivity – The Times

Swait’s voice is the raison d’etre of this project … this disc catches its uniquely fresh and limpid timbre excellently. Material (mainly English) is carefully chosen to suit the treble voice and Swait’s clear diction and unaffected directness of communication are very striking.  A highly recommendable recital – HMV Choice

For not a single moment are any parts of these songs forced or contrived.  There is a beauty about both the voices that almost defies description.  And of course, Andrew Plant makes a sensitive accompanist.  Finally, there is nothing sentimental about this CD: this is not some choir-robed starlet singing popular tear-jerkers – this is well written and well presented music at its best – MusicWeb International

TRACK LISTING

I wonder as I wander

Niles, arr. Britten

In the mornin’

Spiritual, arr. Ives

Diaphenia 

Britten (first recording)

The Owl 

Britten (first recording)

Witches’ Song 

Britten (first recording)

Chamber Music V (‘Goldenhair’)

Britten (first recording)

The Rainbow

Britten (from Three Two-part Songs)

The Oxen

Britten

Little Sir William 

Trad., arr. Britten

Cradle song 

Michael Berkeley

The bayly berith the bell away 

Warlock

Tell me, lovely shepherd 

Boyce, arr. Poston

The Slow Train 

Flanders & Swann, arr. Andrew Plant

Ca’ the yowes 

Trad., arr. Britten

Silent worship 

Handel, arr. Jacobson

Who is Silvia? 

Wood

Caleno custure me 

Trad., arr. Andrew Plant

Dirge for Fidele 

Vaughan Williams

Summer sunset 

Quilter

Slow march 

Ives

Tom Bowling 

Dibdin, real. Britten

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Jeffreys

My bed is a boat

Williamson (from A Child’s Garden)

Sure on this shining night

Barber, op. 13, no. 3

Sweet and low

Williamson (from Six English Lyrics)

By Night or By Noon (IAF–CD1)

Ian Ford was an alto in the Cambridgeshire Boys’ Choir and possessed a clear, rich voice that was allied to a remarkable technique and superb breath control.  This CD captures him in his prime and it was a great pleasure recording it with him.  We were joined by the organist Fergus Black, who contributed a solo and accompanied Ian in four pieces recorded on the sparkling Frobenius instrument in the chapel of Oundle School.  The CD includes some of Ian’s favourite pieces with a strong bias towards English music and more unusual repertoire: we were anxious to avoid producing yet another collection of over-familiar items.  It was a limited edition, produced primarily for friends but there are still some copies left, so do contact me if you would like to purchase one.

TRACK LISTING