Songs by a wide range of British composers feature in two new CDs being released by SOMM in April.
Tomorrow is Today: Songs of love, beauty and the passing of time (SOMMCD 0721) features the ‘extraordinary voices’ (BBC Radio 3) of the all-female a cappella vocal quintet Papagena. Papagena’s adventurous programming encompasses medieval, classical, folk, and contemporary music from around the world.
Amongst six world premier recordings the album includes an eclectic selection of works ranging from James MacMillan to Kate Bush. The title song Tomorrow is Today was commissioned from composer Janet Wheeler with a text by her daughter.
Stephen Dodgson: Turn Ye to Me – Songs, Volume Three (SOMMCD 0720) features the expanding catalogue of this composer and BBC Radio 3 broadcaster.
This album, featuring performers include James Gilchrist (tenor) and Roderick Williams (baritone), includes Dodgson’s three sets of Bush Ballads based on texts by Australian poets and Australian folk verses alongside a wide variety of other works for voice and guitar.