Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
"Ancient and modern poetry set to medieval and traditional melodies," says the subtitle to this disc--and it's not as unusual an idea as it might seem: fitting a pre-existing melody to new words, far from being an invention of television advertising, has been done at least since the Middle Ages. Baritone Paul Hillier has revived this practice, pairing troubadour and traditional tunes with poetry ranging from Sappho to Swift and Blake to Brecht. The effect is that of a polished folk song recital--but with a more jaundiced tone: these really are "bitter ballads." Hillier's diction could be sharper (you may want to read the poems through before you listen), but his discerning choices and sensitive delivery, along with the exquisite playing of harpist Andrew Lawrence-King, make this innovative program fascinating and even moving--most of all in two excerpts from Gertrude Stein's The Making of Americans--"It was summer now" and "Disillusionment--sung to melodies by Hillier himself. --Matthew Westphal
Bitter Ballads-Ancient & Modern, Music, Paul Hillier, Andrew Lawrence-King, Classical, Classical Artists, Classical Vocals
Average customer rating: 
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Bitter Ballads-Ancient & Modern
Paul Hillier , and Andrew Lawrence-King Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
| Opera & Vocal
| Styles
| Music
General
| Classical
| Styles
| Music
Classical
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
ASIN: B00000DLVM Release Date: 1998-11-10 |
Tracks:
Amazon.com
"Ancient and modern poetry set to medieval and traditional melodies," says the subtitle to this disc--and it's not as unusual an idea as it might seem: fitting a pre-existing melody to new words, far from being an invention of television advertising, has been done at least since the Middle Ages. Baritone Paul Hillier has revived this practice, pairing troubadour and traditional tunes with poetry ranging from Sappho to Swift and Blake to Brecht. The effect is that of a polished folk song recital--but with a more jaundiced tone: these really are "bitter ballads." Hillier's diction could be sharper (you may want to read the poems through before you listen), but his discerning choices and sensitive delivery, along with the exquisite playing of harpist Andrew Lawrence-King, make this innovative program fascinating and even moving--most of all in two excerpts from Gertrude Stein's The Making of Americans--"It was summer now" and "Disillusionment--sung to melodies by Hillier himself. --Matthew WestphalCustomer Reviews:
wonderful...with even a pinch of politricks.......2004-02-15
Track Listings:
Track Listings
Stravinsky: Danses Concertantes; Mozart: Symphonie KV 551
The Complete Decca Recordings: 1937 [Box set]
The Bucket, Pt. 1 [CD-single] [Import]
Sergei Prokofiev: War And Peace
The Songs that Won the War, Vol. 2: Hollywood Canteen
The Godfather Live in New York City