Nothing Divine is Mundane
Phillip Bush (piano), Dora Ohrenstein (soprano), Glenn Siebert (tenor), William Sharp (baritone), Cassatt String Quartet
Dora Ohrenstein in her notes for this disc writes: "At its best Thomson's music achieves an eloquence all the more moving because it is done with such seemingly simple means. And in no genre is this more true than in his vocal music, where his outstanding literary skills came into play. Thomson was a gifted writer of prose, and he had an unerring ear and feel for language. When these talents were put to use in the setting of a text the results are exemplary - indeed, his achievements here are seldom disputed. That recognition has focused primarily on his fidelity to the natural rhythms and cadences of speech and for Thomson this was an enduring concern. Writing about his first song settings of poems by Gertrude Stein, he says: "My hope in putting Gertrude Stein to music had been to break, crack open, and solve for all time anything still waiting to be solved, which was almost everything, about English musical declamation. My theory was that if a text is set correctly for the sound of it, the meaning will take care of itself...I had no sooner put to music...one short Stein text than I knew I had opened a door. I had never had any doubts about Stein's poetry; from then on I had none about my ability to handle it in music. His text settings are models of clarity, but closer examination reveals that there is far more to admire in Thomson's handling of poetry. Time and time again, he finds ingenious ways to reveal a poem's structure, enhance and amplify its meaning, and underline the potent word or image." Here we have a wonderful selection of songs by this fine American composer who composed so well for the voice.
Track Listing
| Title | Composer | Performer |
|---|---|---|
| Preciosilla | Virgil Thomson | Dora Ohrenstein, soprano, Phillip Bush, piano |
| Susie Asado | Virgil Thomson | Glenn Siebert, tenor, Phillip Bush, piano |
| La Belle en Dormant | Virgil Thomson | Glenn Siebert, tenor, Phillip Bush, piano |
| Stabat Mater | Virgil Thomson | Dora Ohrenstein, soprano, Cassat Quartet |
| Five Songs from William Blake | Virgil Thomson | William Sharp, baritone, Phillp Bush, piano |
| Four Songs to poems of Thomas Campion | Virgil Thomson | Glenn Siebert, tenor, Phillip Bush, piano |
| Mostly About Love | Virgil Thomson | Dora Ohrenstein, soprano, Phillip Bush, piano |
| Tres Estampas de Niñez | Virgil Thomson | Glenn Siebert, tenor, Phillip Bush, piano |
| Two by Marianne Moore | Virgil Thomson | William Sharp, baritone, Phillp Bush, piano |
Reviews
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"Thomson's songs, like the many character pieces for piano that he wrote throughout his life, show his range as a composer better than his most famous works...What all of these songs have in common, though, is a remarkable simplicity. This quality is not in the technical aspects of the setting; some are indeed quite demanding vocally and pianistically. Nor is it in the basic textures of the songs, which are occasionally quite demanding vocally and pianistically. Nor is it in the basic textures of the songs, which are occasionally quite elaborate. The simplicity is in the expression, which is usually direct and immediately communicative....In this thoughtfully assembled collection of songs, Thomson's expertise is aptly matched by the intelligence of the singers and accompanist....With very nice recorded sound, this disc can be enthusiastically recommended."
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