Ivor Gurney Songs Naxos English Song Series - 857215 I have long been interested in Ivor Gurney, notable poet and prolific song composer, and hoped to fit something of his into our LP of English Song with my son Simon Woolf. As a psychiatrist in Dartford, I had the opportunity to research his treatment in the City of London 'asylum' there; see my review of a Gurney recital by Ian & Jennifer Partridge. Gurney has an easy way with English poetry, as does Hugo Wolf with the German. There are gems amongst these thirty settings and they should certainly be explored by singers building up their song repertoires. At Naxos price one ought not to cavill at shortcomings, and the associated support of The Ivor Gurney Society helps to make this is a valuable contribution to Gurney's discography. But I did wonder whether Susan Bickley was not in most comfortable voice for some of the three day sessions at Potton Hall; she can sound edgy and a little harsh sometimes here. Iain Burnside's accompanying is reliable and Roderick Dunnett of the Gurney Society provides detailed track notes. But what is the justification for what seems to have been dog-in-the-manger obstruction by many of the copyright holders, so that near twenty of the song texts had to be conspicuously omitted? It is hard enough getting vocal CDs financed and produced without being thwarted by that hurdle, surely to no-one's gain. Peter Grahame Woolf |