When deciding on the repertoire for his debut album, James Newby's first choice fell on An die ferne Geliebte, songs that he had been performing ever since the beginning of his career. But Beethoven's song cycle - and perhaps even more so the quasi-operatic Adelaide - also sets a tone for the entire album, that of longing and of wanting to be elsewhere, near the distant beloved. These are emotions that Schubert, perhaps more than any other composer, has plumbed in depth, and Newby went on to select five of his songs that in various ways depict the restlessness and loneliness of the eternal wanderer. Mahler is another composer who knew something about longing - for instance that it can be deadly, which he demonstrated with his Zu StraÃŸburg auf der Schanz, in which a soldier awaits execution after trying to desert to his homeland while the piano imitates the muffled rolling of drums. The military theme continues in the high-strung Revelge, as a young soldier marches towards his death, thinking about his sweetheart with ever-greater desperation. The final song by Mahler, Urlicht, expresses the anguish and pain of earthly life, and the longing for Heaven and, in effect, death. Framing this programme with five folk song arrangements by Benjamin Britten, James Newby and Joseph Middleton explore Man's never-ending search (geographical or psychological) for that distant object of desire: who, what or wherever it may be.

Tracklist:

Tom Bowling & Other Song Arrangements: No. 6, I Wonder As I Wander
Folksong Arrangements, Vol. 3 "British Isles": No. 2, There's None To Soothe
Der Wanderer, D. 489
Der Wanderer, D. 649
Auf Der Donau, Op. 21 No. 1, D. 553
Im Freien, Op. 80 No. 3, D. 880
Abendstern, D. 806
Adelaide, Op. 46
8 Songs, Op. 52: No. 4, Maigesang
An Die Ferne Geliebte, Op. 98: No. 1, Auf Dem Hügel Sitz Ich Spähend
An Die Ferne Geliebte, Op. 98: No. 2, Wo Die Berge So Blau
An Die Ferne Geliebte, Op. 98: No. 3, Leichte Segler In Den Höhen
An Die Ferne Geliebte, Op. 98: No. 4, Diese Wolken In Den Höhen
An Die Ferne Geliebte, Op. 98: No. 5, Es Kehret Der Maien, Es Blühet Die Au
An Die Ferne Geliebte, Op. 98: No. 6, Nimm Sie Hin Denn, Diese Lieder
Lieder Und Gesänge, Vol. 3: No. 10, Zu Straßburg Auf Der Schanz'
Des Knaben Wunderhorn (Version For Voice & Piano) [Excerpts]: No. 11a, Revelge
Des Knaben Wunderhorn (Version For Voice & Piano) [Excerpts]: No. 11, Urlicht
Folksong Arrangements, Vol. 4 "Moore's Irish Melodies" (Excerpts): No. 5, At The Mid Hour Of Night
Folksong Arrangements, Vol. 4 "Moore's Irish Melodies" (Excerpts): No. 9, The Last Rose Of Summer
Folksong Arrangements, Vol. 4 "Moore's Irish Melodies" (Excerpts): No. 2, Sail On, Sail On

UPC: 7318599924755
Label: Bis
Release Date: 1.1.21
Format: CD

Beethoven / Newby / Middleton - I Wonder As I Wander (CD)