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<< -- 2 -- Robert Anderson ONWARD TREAD
Wood was fastidious and usually more orthodox in his choice of words.
Here he sets psalm verses; translations from the Latin and Greek; two poems
of Thomas Campion, which rhyme happily enough despite his disparagement
of 'the childish tittillation of riming'; a simple poem mainly about sheep
by Richard Baxter, who was 'too puritan for the Bishops and too episcopalian
for the presbyterians', upbraiding Cromwell for taking supreme power, but
becoming briefly a chaplain to Charles II; the final work on the disc is
a translation by J M Neale of words by Theodulph of Orleans, who was brought
to France by Charlemagne but spent most of his days in prison. Legend has
it that he sang from his window to the passing emperor the Latin original
of Neale's Glory and honour, and laud be to Thee, set unaccompanied
but with grand affirmation by Wood. Better known, of course, are the words
'All glory, laud, and honour', adapted by Neale for Hymns Ancient and
Modern. The only New Testament words Wood chose are Luke's account of
the prodigal son. I will arise, and go has the steady onward tread
that informs much of Wood's music but is particularly apt for the penniless
young man determined to lay aside his sins [listen --
track 3, 0:00-1:08].
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Copyright © 12 February 2003
Robert Anderson, London, UK
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