Episode 292. Ian Partridge Revisited
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David and I leave tomorrow on a short jaunt to London, my first visit there in absolute ages. As a result, I have had my favorite British singers very much in mind. In 2023, the quintessential British tenor Ian Partridge celebrated his 80th birthday, and in hono(u)r of that occasion, I produced a pair of Countermelody episodes in tribute to his exquisite artistry. Today’s episode is a refashioning of the bonus episode I produced at that time, which I entitled “Evening with Partridge,” since all of the selections reference evening or nighttime in some fashion, with additional emphasis on the themes of moonlight and The Wanderer. One might also note how the clarity of Partridge’s voice and the precision of his diction make a marvelous contrast with the half-shades of the evening. I have put together an episode which features all types of song, in musical styles from Baroque to contemporary: orchestral song, songs with guitar and lute accompaniment, and art songs with piano in English, German, and French, one of them even self-accompanied! May this episode also bring joy and satisfaction to my devoted listeners and supporters, and encourage you to further explore this esteemed gentleman, one of my favorite singers of all time.
RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE
Richard Dering: The Cryes of London [excerpt]. The Golden Age Singers [Margaret Field-Hyde, Varier Cardnell, Andrew Pearmain, Ian Partridge, Alfred Hepworth, James Atkins], The Elizabethan Consort of Viols [Dennis Nesbitt, Benjamin Kennard, Jillian Amherst, Nancy Neild, Dietrich Kessler] [1964]
Ralph Vaughan Williams, Robert Bridges [after an anonymous Greek text]: Evening Hymn [O gladsome light, O grace] (Four Hymns, No. 4). Ian Partridge, The Music Group of London [Christopher Wellington, David Parkhouse] [1974]
Scottish Folk Song, arr. Carl Maria von Weber: The soothing shades of gloaming, J.295 (Ten Scottish Folksongs, No. 1). Ian Partridge, Stanley Hoogland, Jaap Schröder, Vera Beths, Anner Bylsma [1978]
Lord Berners [Gerald Hugh Tyrwhitt], Thomas Dekker: Lullaby [Golden slumber kisses your eyes]. Ian Partridge, Len Vorster [1998]
Francis Pilkington: Rest, sweet nymphs. Ian Partridge, Konrad Ragnossig [1990]
Franz Schubert, Karl Gottfried von Leitner: Die Sterne, D.939. Ian Partridge, Jennifer Partridge [1999]
Robert Schumann, Joseph von Eichendorff: Mondnacht (Liederkreis, Op. 39/5). Ian Partridge, Jennifer Partridge [BBC Studios 02.VIII.71]
Franz Schubert, Johann Gabriel Seidl: Der Wanderer an den Mond, D.870. Ian Partridge, Jennifer Partridge [1976]
Gerald Finzi, Ivor Gurney: Only the wanderer (Oh Fair to See, Op. 13b/4). Ian Partridge, Clifford Benson [1981]
Ivor Gurney, Wilfred Gibson: All Night under the Moon. Ian Partridge, Jennifer Partridge [1980]
Cecil Armstrong Gibbs, Walter de la Mare: A Song of Shadows, Op. 9/5. Ian Partridge, Jennifer Partridge [1977]
Lennox Berkeley, Walter de la Mare: Songs of the Half-Light, Op. 65: II. Full Moon; IV. The Moth. Ian Partridge, Jukka Savijoki [1992]
Benjamin Britten, John Keats: Sonnet [To Sleep] (Serenade, Op. 31). Ian Partridge, Nicholas Busch, John Pritchard, London Philharmonic Orchestra [1976]
Henri Duparc, Jean Lahor: Extase. Ian Partridge, Jennifer Partridge [1975]
Louis Spohr (unknown guitar arrangement), Johann Ludwig Tieck: Schlaflied [Ruhe, Süßliebchen]] (Sechs deutsche Lieder, Op. 72/6). Ian Partridge, Jakob Lindberg [1989]
Franz Schubert, Johann Mayrhofer, guitar arrangement by J. Pfeifer: Nachtstück, D.672. Ian Partridge, Jakob Lindberg [1989]
Franz Schubert, Matthäus von Collin: Nacht und Träume, D. 827. Ian Partridge [tenor and piano]. [BBC 20.III.72]
Arnold Bax, Fiona MacLeod (née William Sharp): The White Peace. Ian Partridge, Michael Dussek [2003]
Peter Warlock [né Philip Heseltine], Hilaire Belloc: My own country. Ian Partridge, Jennifer Partridge [1980]
John Dowland: Now, o now I needs must part. Ian Partridge, Jakob Lindberg [1983]
Henry Purcell, William Fuller: An Evening Hymn [Now that the sun hath veil’d his light], Z 193. Ian Partridge, George Malcolm [1978]