Venezia is a set of six songs of music by Reynaldo Hahn. For Voice and Piano the lyrics are written both in Venetian dialect and in French. The Piano score requires an upper-intermediate technique as per the Voice. A small guide to correct pronunciation is given at the beginning of the book. The six songs are: - “Sopra l’acqua indormenzada” by Pietro Pagello - “La Barcheta” by Pietro Buratti - “L’avertimento” by Pietro Buratti - “La Biondina in Gondoleta” by Antonio Lamberti - “Che peca !” by Francesco Dall’ Ongaro - “La Primavera” by Alvise Cigogna Some of these pieces are dedicated to renowned women such as Giorgio Sand the Countess of Guerne born Ségur and Ernesta Sterne. Reynaldo Hahn was a naturalised French composer conductor theatre director and singer. Best known as a composer of songs he also wrote many pieces and melodies for different instruments.

Composed in 1949 Jean Langlais' (1907-1991) Three Prayers op. 65 for Medium Voice and Organ – republished here in their complete version – can also be performed by a Choir in unison and accompanied by the Harmonium or Piano. While Marcel Dupré's training allowed Langlais to acquire brilliant virtuosity as an organist it was never an end in itself: for the composer the key word was simplicity. Testaments to a strong faith the Three Prayers reveal a sense of concision and a search for purity not incompatible with the sonic refinement of an intense expressiveness. TheAve verum which highlights the real presence of Christ during the Eucharist radiates a serene clarity. The Ave maris Stella alternates exaltation and appeasement  ('Break the chains of guilt bring light to the blind'). The first two pieces use the French translation of the Latin liturgical text while the third – Tantum ergo – offers the two versions in alternation. The entire cycle expresses the fulfilment that is found in simplicity.

Mélodies Vol.3. Third volume of original hitherto unpublished songs by Nadia Boulanger for medium voice and piano (Extase, Aubade, Allons voir sur le lac d?argent, Écoutez la chanson bien douce, Ilda, Mon c?ur, Mon âme, Un grand sommeil noir, Poème d?amour, La Sirène)

?Sing your country sing your land!? Such was the advice of Déodat de Séverac to the young Joseph Canteloube de Malaret (1879-1957) when the latter shared his dismay at the petty squabbles taking over the Parisian music scene in the Belle-Epoque. Although Canteloube had started collecting folk songs from his native Cantal in 1895 he only began the harmonisation of Baïlero in 1923 thus inaugurating the first of the five Chants d?Auvergne series that would bring him fame. Renowned baritone François Le Roux chose to begin his anthology with a famous shepherd song recorded near Vic-sur-Cère(in the Haute Auvergne) in which the baïles (shepherds in pasture commons) call to each other from hilltops soaring their vocals across rivers valleys and hills. Singers who wish to immerse themselves in one of the ten melodies that compose this tender picturesque musical landscape can use the Piano accompaniment audio file accessible through a download card. Contents: Baïlèro (Shepherd Songs from the Cantal) ? Bourrées: N?aï pas iéu de mîo (Loved by no woman) and Lo Calhé (The Quail) ? L?Antouèno (The Antoine) ? Lou Boussu (The Hunchback) ? Lo Fiolaire (The Spinner) ? Là-haut sur le rocher ? Uno jionto Postouro (The Pretty Shepherdess) ? Pour l?enfant (Lullaby from Auvergne)

Voix grave-Jacques Ibert (1890-1962) studied at the Paris Conservatoire before embarking upon a successful composing career. The film Don Quichotte increased his popularity when he composed the musical score in 1933. Controversially the producers of Don Quichotte asked five composers separately to compose songs for the film. Each composer thought only he had been approached and when Ibert's music was eventually chosen for the film it caused him some embarrassment as Maurice Ravel who had also been approached was a close friend of his. Song of Departure comes toward the beginning of the film sung by thethe main character Don Quichotte. Addressing a variety of musical aspects and techniques Ibert's Song of Departure is a challenging yet evocative addition to the Bass repertoire.