Works from Ralph Vaughan Williams and his contemporary and friend, Percy Grainger.

Plans for this recital began as a comparison of the extent to which folk music influenced the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams and that of his contemporary and friend, Percy Grainger. The album begins with the first complete recording by a woman of Vaughan Williams's cycle of nine songs: Songs of Travel

There is ample historical evidence for women both singing and recording these songs, from Ada Crossley under Sir Henry Wood in 1910 to later singers such as Dame Janet Baker, but the cycle has been a male preserve until now. We are proud to present Kathryn Rudge's pioneering recording, accompanied by the Australian pianist Penelope Thwaites.

Alessandro Fisher sings three songs from Vaughan Williams's operas. We then hear two songs from Vaughan Williams's former pupil, Peggy Glanville-Hicks (another Australian) and two from John Raynor - a composer for whom Vaughan Williams once sponsored a concert, but whose music has not been recorded until now.

Track Listing

• Songs of Travel: The Vagabond
• Songs of Travel: Let Beauty Awake
• Songs of Travel: The Roadside Fire
• Songs of Travel: Youth and Love
• Songs of Travel: In Dreams
• Songs of Travel: The Infinite Shining Heavens
• Songs of Travel: Whither Must I Wander
• Songs of Travel: Bright is the Ring of Words
• Songs of Travel: I Have Trod the Upward and the Downward Slope
• The Poisoned Kiss: Dear Love, behold
• Sir John in Love: See the Chariot at Hand
• Hugh the Drover: The Devil and Bonyparty
• Come Sleep
• Sappho: How Soon Will all my Lovely Days be Over
• Down by the River
• Spring
• Bold William Taylor
• Weaving Song
• Died for Love
• Dedication II
• Fair Young Mary
• A Reiver's Neck-Verse
• Under a Bridge
• Hubby and Wifey
• Up-Country Song

Additional Details

Label: ALBION RECORDS

Genre: Classical

Language: English

Region: 0

Release Date: 10/10/25

UPC: 5060158190669