Orlando Gough and The Shout
Sunday 28 May 2006 18:30-19:30 (Radio 3)
'The Shout' is unlike any other choir. The members are more at home in the theatre than the concert hall, and the choir draws singers from the disparate worlds of gospel, jazz, blues and opera. Aled Jones talks to composer Orlando Gough and other members of the group about their unique style, and previews their latest project for The BBC Proms.
Plus, the BBC Singers provide specially recorded performances of music by Poulenc, Auric and Canteloube.
Playlist
Gough: And The Days Are Not Full Enough
The Shout
On Arrival, Carbon 7 C7-051, track 1
Gough: Ariel Songs
The Shout
Deep Blue, SHO2, tracks 2-5
Gough: He Walks Unseen (Tall Stories)
The Shout
BBC Recording
Gough / Avis: Selection from 'Lips'
What is it, Love Hearts, Falling, So Long
The Shout
Deep Blue, SHO2, tracks 7, 8, 10 & 21
Gough / Chew: Axaxaxas MLO part III & IV
The Shout
On Arrival, Carbon 7 C7-051, tracks 5 & 6
Gough / Henry: from 'Stand'
The Shout
Private recording
Vincente Goicoechea: Ave Maria
Coro Cervantes, Tansy Castledine (Organ), Carlos Fernández Aransay (Director)
GMCD7243, track 12
Georges Auric: Cinq Chansons Francaises
Pour un chief d'œuvre, Le jour m'est nuict, J'en ay le dueil, C'est grant paine, Quant je me treuve
BBC Singers, Andrew Carwood (conductor)
BBC recording
Composed in 1941 these five songs are all settings of 15th century French poems.
1. Pour un chief d'oevre
A grandly elaborate setting of fulsome words of praise - as the poet delivers a panegyric to his mistress, who has no equal under the heavens.
2. Le jour m'est nuiet
Without love, day is as night says the poet. Rest becomes like hard work and pleasure turns into pain. Auric's searching musical lines reflect the poet's yearning.
3. L'en ay le dueil
In a spiky, scherzo-like setting, the poet finds himself completely incompatible with his lover. When he is sad, she is happy; when he is angry, she is calm; when he weeps, she laughs.
4. C'est grant paine
The music offers quiet tones of gentle resignation as the poet mourns: "It is a great burden to be alive, when reason can only offer death"
5. Quart je me treuve
When he is near his love the poet's spirits are unbridled - and the music simply bubbles over with joyfulness and high spirits.
Joseph Canteloube (arr. composer): Bailero (Chants d'Auvergne - Set 1 No. 2)
BBC Singers, Andrew Carwood (conductor
Soloists: Margaret Feaviour, soprano; John Bowley, tenor
BBC Recording
A dialogue between two shepherds calling to one another across the mountain valley: "Shepherd, yonder across the river, surely you are not having much fun?"..."None at all, and are you?"..."Shepherd, the grass is in flower, come here to tend your flock". It is sung in the original Auvergne language - a dialect of the Occitan (Languedoc/Provençal language, which is still spoken in southern France today).
Francis Poulenc: Sept Chansons
La blanche neige, A peine défigurée, Par une nuir nouvelle, Tous les droits, Belle et ressemblante, Marie, Luire
BBC Singers, Andrew Carwood (conductor)
BBC recording
Poulenc said it was the joy of a solitary April at Noizay which inspired these songs. They were composed in 1936 and are his first mature work for choir.
1. Blanche Neige [ = snow-white] (Apollinaire)
The poet presents images seen through falling snow: angels in heaven: one in soldier's uniform, one dressed as a cook...and the rest singing. The cook plucks the geese, snow falls and my beloved is not in my arms.
2. A peine défigurée [ = hardly disfigured] (Eluard)
Addressing the power of love - when the smile of love appears, sadness is transformed into beauty. Elusive harmonies match the oppositions of the text: "Goodbye sadness: hello sadness."
3. Par une nuit nouvelle [ = by a new night] (Eluard)
Anguish and violent cries in the music as the poet complains that women seem all the same. The lines are abruptly cut off by silences, as the poet pictures the woman with whom he lives in a red coat, with red gloves, red mask and black stockings...but otherwise naked.
4. Tous les droits [ = complete truth] (Eluard)
Full of sharp contrasts, mirroring the tumultuous sensations of the text, in which worlds are seen in the lover's eyes. The poet extols truth and promises that are kept.
5. Belle et ressemblante [ = beautiful and lifelike] (Eluard)
In luminous calm...a woman's face pictured at the close of day...a face suspended in silence...in the rain...the sun hidden.
6. Marie (Apollinaire)
Threaded among images of pealing bells and sheep walking in the snow, of silent masques and far off music, the poet remembers an old lover and asks when she'll return?
7. Luire [ = a glow] (Eluard)
A vehement setting about summer with it's bright, hot sunshine, which drifts off in the middle into images of sleep and dreams ....
Listen Live
help
