An Appropriate Memorial Songs by Moeran, Warlock and Geoffrey Stern - heard by PATRIC STANDFORD '... a well balanced programme and clean, clear studio performances ...'

The three composers featured in this recital of English songs have all suffered some degree of undue neglect -- as has the song recital itself, no doubt -- and the partnership of tenor Paul Martyn-West and the fine accompanist Nigel Foster have sought to redress this musical imbalance with a well balanced programme and clean, clear studio performances recorded in 2005. A binding thread is the poetry of James Joyce. E J Moeran's setting of seven of the poems from Chamber Music dates from 1929 and easily makes a group of the best of his songs. The title of the disc is taken from the opening of one of the poems:

Strings in the earth and air make music sweet;
strings by the river where the willows meet.

which Moeran sets with grace and tenderness, and which is sung and played with understanding care...

E J MOERAN

PHILIP HESELTINE

DIVINE ART LTD

SHAKESPEARE