Gustav Holst has earned a place among the most revered of late 19th and early 20th century composers and is best known for his enduring Orchestral suite The Planets.But before that great work in his use of Englsh folksongs Gnostic texts and these Vedic hymns one can discern Holst’s search for a compositional Voice beyond the constraints of the European canon in the early 1900’s. Some see composition of the Vedic Hymns as a turning point in Holst’scompositional life. The quality is not completely consistent and Holst remained true to his Western musical inheritance for the most part in setting them but as art songs they are deeply felt and moving to hear.The nine songsare scored for mezzo-Soprano or baritone Voice. The texts are taken from the Rigveda one of the four sacred texts of Hinduism and the oldest religious text in the world.The first set of three comprises Ushas Varuna and Maruts or Dawn Sky and Stormclouds respectively. The second includes Indra (God of Storm and Battle) Varuna II (the Waters) and Song of the Frogs. The third group moves into the human sphere with Vac (Speech) Creation and Faith.

For many, the title will awaken memories of the demonstrations against the clearance of the Flörsheim Forest to allow for a new runway at the Frankfurt Airport. Both the poem, which extends beyond this local incident to remind us of the seriousness of our global situation, and the music join together to form an expressive, universally valid call for the conservation of our core values, our future together: 'Die Erde jedoch wird sich wehren. Sie wird uns, am Ende, nichts mehr geben als den Staub, in dem wir aufgehn.? (The earth, however, will resist. She will, in the end, not give us any more than dust, into which we will submerge.) It is up to us, to prevent the situation from advancing so far: 'Wir, die wir zu ihren Schülern wurden, sollten die Lehre der Bäume verbreiten.? (We, the students, should spread the teachings of the trees.? / Voix Et Piano

Those interested in French music have often had reason to be grateful to Roger Nichols; his writings on Debussy Ravel Messiaen and Poulenc are indispensable to the music lover.Nichols now turns his attentions to the mélodie where it is his mission to encourage singers to explore beyond the well-trodden paths of French song. In these two anthologies he does not ignore masterpieces by composers of the stature of Fauré and Duparc but sets them alongside music - almost impossible to find elsewhere in print - by such under-estimated figures as Reber Viardot Massé and Paladilhe.Even the more celebrated songs are often not easilyfound in practical editions which makes this selection an ideal starting point for wider exploration. In each of these volumes the songs appear in the chronological order of their composer's birth but Nichols somehow contrives a line-up of music which seems delightfully arbitrary at the same time as carefully designed to enrich everyone's understanding of the mélodie. The books also contain a remarkable amount of scholarship lightly worn and pithily expressed.As well as complete translations of the songs there is a useful and concise introduction on singing in French together with an illuminating historical note and critical commentary; and Nichols gives full due to the poets who were of crucial importance in the development of the mélodie tradition.Complete with translations and guidance on pronunciationNiedermeyer Le Lac (Meditation poétique)Berlioz AbsenceGounod Ô ma belle RebelleViardot Fleur desséchéeFranck S'il est un charmant gazonMassé ConsolationLalo Ballade à la luneSaint-Saëns La sérénitéDelibes Chanson espagnoleBizet

Those interested in French music have often had reason to be grateful to Roger Nichols; his writings on Debussy Ravel Messiaen and Poulenc are indispensable to the music lover.Nichols now turns his attentions to the mélodie where it is his mission to encourage singers to explore beyond the well-trodden paths of French song. In these two anthologies he does not ignore masterpieces by composers of the stature of Fauré and Duparc but sets them alongside music - almost impossible to find elsewhere in print - by such under-estimated figures as Reber Viardot Massé and Paladilhe.Even the more celebrated songs are often not easilyfound in practical editions which makes this selection an ideal starting point for wider exploration. In each of these volumes the songs appear in the chronological order of their composer's birth but Nichols somehow contrives a line-up of music which seems delightfully arbitrary at the same time as carefully designed to enrich everyone's understanding of the mélodie. The books also contain a remarkable amount of scholarship lightly worn and pithily expressed.As well as complete translations of the songs there is a useful and concise introduction on singing in French together with an illuminating historical note and critical commentary; and Nichols gives full due to the poets who were of crucial importance in the development of the mélodie tradition.Complete with translations and guidance on pronunciationReber GuitareGounod Le soirGounod Le premier jour de maiViardot Les deux rosesViardot La mésangeFranck NocturneMassé SouvenirsLalo Chant BretonSaint-Saëns Chanson tristeBizet Vieille chanson Massenet Madrigal

Long neglected and misunderstood 'Cosi Fan Tutte' (Thus Do All Women) emerged from obscurity in the twentieth century and has come to be regarded as among Mozart's finest works. The Libretto is by Lorenzo da Ponte and tells of two friends Ferrando and Guglielmo who wager with Don Alfonso that their lovers Fiordiligi and Dorabella will remain constant in their absence. To prove the point they depart under false pretences and return as 'Albanians' to try to woo the women away. Each of the six characters receives an equally insightful musical portrayal for example Fiordiligi transcends her role as the victim of cruel manipulation revealing a complex personality that issincere capable of growth and inarguably sympathetic. In contrast Guglielmo never progresses beyond concern for his own ego and interests; his music therefore remains within the stock traditions of opera buffa. The ambigous nature of the ending (who actually loves whom?) can be seen as appropriate given the emotional issues aired during the drama. This is the Schirmer edition of the Vocal Score with an English version by Ruth and Thomas Martin.

Those interested in French music have often had reason to be grateful to Roger Nichols; his writings on Debussy Ravel Messiaen and Poulenc are indispensable to the music lover.Nichols now turns his attentions to the mélodie where it is his mission to encourage singers to explore beyond the well-trodden paths of French song. In these two anthologies he does not ignore masterpieces by composers of the stature of Fauré and Duparc but sets them alongside music - almost impossible to find elsewhere in print - by such under-estimated figures as Reber Viardot Massé and Paladilhe.Even the more celebrated songs are often not easilyfound in practical editions which makes this selection an ideal starting point for wider exploration. In each of these volumes the songs appear in the chronological order of their composer's birth but Nichols somehow contrives a line-up of music which seems delightfully arbitrary at the same time as carefully designed to enrich everyone's understanding of the mélodie. The books also contain a remarkable amount of scholarship lightly worn and pithily expressed.As well as complete translations of the songs there is a useful and concise introduction on singing in French together with an illuminating historical note and critical commentary; and Nichols gives full due to the poets who were of crucial importance in the development of the mélodie tradition.Reber GuitareGounod Le soirGounod Le premier jour de maiViardot Les deux rosesViardot La mésangeFranck NocturneMassé SouvenirsLalo Chant BretonSaint-Saëns Chanson tristeBizet Vieille chanson Massenet MadrigalMassenet Ouvre tes yeux bleusChabrier Les