Composer: Joseph Parry, John Wilson
Performer: Caroline McCausland, Fiona Kelly, Jean Kelly, Nicky Spence, Janis Kelly, Kevin Whately, Yvonne Howard, Elaine Delmar, Mark Llewelyn Evans, Michael Pollock, Wynne Evans
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Somm
Catalogue: SOMMCD0668
Release: 2023
Size: 1.29 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
01. trad.: She moved through the fair
02. trad.: The Lark in the Clear Air
03. Chesson: By the Short Cut to the Rosses
04. trad.: Si Bheag Si Mor
05. trad.: Give Me Your Hand
06. trad.: The Last Rose of Summer
07. anon.: Down by the sally garden’s
08. trad.: O can ye sew cushions?
09. trad.: My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose
10. trad.: The Skye Boat Song
11. anon.: Ye Banks and Braes
12. trad.: The rowan tree
13. trad.: Dance to your Daddy
14. trad.: The Blaydon Races
15. trad.: Blow the Wind Southerly
16. trad.: Sweet Polly Oliver
17. trad.: Oliver Cromwell
18. Lamont: English Folk Song
19. Lewis: Can yr Arad Goch
20. Parry: Myfanwy
21. trad.: The Foggy, Foggy Dew
22. anon.: Bugail Aberdyfi
23. Williams: My Little Welsh Home
24. trad.: Sospan Fach
25. Callcott: Drink to Me Only
26. anon.: The oak and the ash
27. Wilson: Song for Gwyn
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 Races, Skye Boat Song, Sosban 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 Fremaux and Sir Simon Rattle. Royalties will be donated to the Gwyn Williams Bursary Fund which supports young violists at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.