Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence

Folk Songs of the British Isles

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SOMM Recordings is pleased to announce a musical journey around the four nations of the United Kingdom with Folk Songs of the British Isles.

Celebrating the “living, breathing heritage of British and Irish folksong down the ages”, the 27-track recital features soprano Janis Kelly, mezzos Yvonne Howard and Maria Jagusz, tenors Nicky Spence and Wynne Evans, baritone Mark Llewelyn Evans, jazz doyenne Elaine Delmar and actor- singer Kevin Whately.

Fiona Kelly (flute), Jean Kelly (harp) and pianists Michael Pollock and John Wilson provide instrumental contributions with singer Caroline McCausland accompanying herself on guitar.

Much-loved songs include She Moved Through the Fair, The Last Rose of Summer, The Foggy, Foggy Dew and Down by the Salley Gardens.

Local colour is provided by songs such as Blaydon RacesSkye Boat SongSosban Fach and The Oak and the Ash while the entirely new Song for Gwyn (words by Christopher Morley, music by John Wilson) tributes Gwyn Williams, former Principal Viola with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, which he joined in 1965 and where he played for conductors Hugo Rignold, Louis Frémaux and Sir Simon Rattle.

Royalties will be donated to the Gwyn Williams Bursary Fund which supports young violists at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and endows three viola chairs in the CBSO Youth Orchestra.

SOMM’s long commitment to British vocal music includes the acclaimed three-volume One Hundred Years of British Song by James Gilchrist and Nathan Williamson (SOMMCD 0621, 0636, 0646), two discs of Parry’s English Lyrics (SOMMCD 257, 270), volumes by Eric Coates (SOMMCD 0192), Ethel Smyth (SOMMCD 0611) and a British song recital by Kathleen Ferrier (ARIADNE 5010).

Recent releases include a first volume of songs by Stephen Dodgson (The Peasant PoetSOMMCD 0659) and Robert Matthew-Walker’s A Bad Night in Los Angeles (SOMMCD 0662), hailed by MusicWeb International as “individual and accessible but with a sophistication and craft that repays attentive listening”.

On This Recording

    Traditional
    Caroline McCausland

  1. She Moved Through the Fair
  2. Traditional
    Fiona Kelly, Jean Kelly

  3. The Lark in the Clear Air
  4. Norah Hopper Chesson
    Caroline McCausland ( with guitar acc.)

  5. By the Short Cut to the Rosses
  6. Irish Traditional
    Fiona Kelly, Jean Kelly

  7. Si Bheag Si Mor
  8. Irish Traditional
    Fiona Kelly, Jean Kelly

  9. Give Me Your Hand
  10. Traditional
    Caroline McCausland ( with guitar acc.)

  11. Irish The Last Rose of Summer
  12. Traditional arr. by Benjamin Britten
    Nicky Spence, John Wilson

  13. Down by the Salley Gardens
  14. Traditional arr. by Benjamin Britten
    Nicky Spence, John Wilson

  15. Can Ye Sew Cushions
  16. Scottish Traditional
    Nicky Spence, John Wilson

  17. My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose
  18. Scottish Traditional
    Janis Kelly

  19. Skye Boat Song
  20. Scottish Traditional
    Janis Kelly, John Wilson

  21. Ye Banks and Braes
  22. Scottish Traditional
    Janis Kelly, John Wilson

  23. The Rowan Tree
  24. Northumbrian Traditional
    Kevin Whately, John Wilson

  25. Dance te Thi Daddy
  26. Northumbrian Traditional
    Kevin Whately, John Wilson

  27. Blaydon Races
  28. Northumbrian Traditional
    Yvonne Howard, John Wilson

  29. Blow the Wind Southerly
  30. Traditional arr. by Benjamin Britten
    Yvonne Howard, John Wilson

  31. Sweet Polly Oliver
  32. Traditional arr. by Benjamin Britten
    Yvonne Howard, John Wilson

  33. Oliver Cromwell
  34. Duncan Lamont
    Elaine Delmar

  35. English Folk Song
  36. Idris Lewis
    Mark Llewelyn Evans, Michael Pollock

  37. Can yr Arad Goch
  38. Joseph Parry arr. John Quirk
    Mark Llewelyn Evans, Michael Pollock

  39. Myfanwy
  40. Traditional arr. by Benjamin Britten
    Wynne Evans, Michael Pollock

  41. The Foyy, Foggy Dew
  42. Welsh Traditional
    Wynne Evans, Michael Pollock

  43. Bugail Aberdyfi
  44. William Sydney Gwynn Williams
    Mark Llewelyn Evans, Michael Pollock

  45. My Little Welsh Home
  46. Traditional arr. John Quirk
    Wynne Evans, Mark Llewelyn Evans, Michael Pollock

  47. Sospan Fach
  48. John Wall Callcott
    Maria Jagusz, John Wilson

  49. Drink to Me Only
  50. Northumbrian Traditional
    Maria Jagusz

  51. The Oak and the Ash
  52. John Wilson
    Maria Jagusz, John Wilson

  53. Song for Gwyn