The facility with which Ned Rorem tunes into the shift of language and of tones of voice from Elizabethan England to Gertrude Stein finds its match here in the warm, easeful communication of Susan Graham and Malcolm Martineau.
Ned Rorem is one of the most fluent and prolific composers in the pantheon of American songwriters who have dominated English-language verse setting in the last 50 years. The facility with which he tunes into the shift of language and of tones of voice from Elizabethan England to Gertrude Stein, from Tennyson to Roethke, finds its match here in the warm, easeful communication of Susan Graham and Malcolm Martineau. The Berlin-based Ensemble Oriol plays its part in evoking the wide spaces andRead more heat-hazes of Rorem’s Santa Fe Songs.
There are times when you long for Rorem to have a tougher tussle with the poets he sets: his languid fluency somehow bypasses much of the mystery behind the apparent simplicity of, for instance, Robert Frost or Yeats. But the performances bring to bear every nuance that’s possible, be it in the breathless, ecstatic archaisms of Rorem’s ‘Ronsard’, or in the sense of a song without beginning or ending which is Paul Goodman’s ‘Clouds’.
Among this generous and sensitively paced programme of 32 songs, I particularly enjoyed Rorem’s oblique, Brittenesque arrangement of Stephen Foster’s ‘I dream of Jeannie with the light brown hair’, and Graham’s exquisitely sung performance of the Christina Rossetti setting ‘Ferry me across the water’.
Cloudsby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1953; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 2 Minutes 8 Secs. Language: English
2.
Early in the morningby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1955; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 2 Minutes 0 Secs. Language: English
3.
The Serpentby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1972; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 2 Minutes 6 Secs. Language: English
4.
Now Sleeps the Crimson Petalby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1963; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 4 Minutes 19 Secs. Language: English
5.
I Strolled Across an Empty Fieldby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1959; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 1 Minutes 6 Secs. Language: English
6.
To a Young Girlby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1951; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 1 Minutes 33 Secs. Language: English
7.
For Poulencby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1963; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 2 Minutes 33 Secs. Language: English
8.
Little Elegyby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1949; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 1 Minutes 18 Secs. Language: English
9.
Alleluiaby Ned Rorem Performer:
Malcolm Martineau (Piano),
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1946; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 2 Minutes 49 Secs. Language: Latin
10.
Look down, fair moonby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1957; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 1 Minutes 16 Secs. Language: English
11.
O you whom I often and silently comeby Ned Rorem Performer:
Malcolm Martineau (Piano),
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1957; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 0 Minutes 32 Secs. Language: English
12.
I Will Always Love Youby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 2 Minutes 23 Secs. Language: English
13.
The tulip treeby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1953; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 1 Minutes 32 Secs. Language: English
14.
I am Roseby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1955; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 0 Minutes 27 Secs. Language: English
15.
The Lordly Hudsonby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1947; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 2 Minutes 23 Secs. Language: English
16.
Far-Far-Awayby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1963; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 1 Minutes 49 Secs. Language: English
17.
For Susanby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1953; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 1 Minutes 9 Secs. Language: English
18.
A journeyby Ned Rorem Performer:
Malcolm Martineau (Piano),
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1974; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 1 Minutes 26 Secs. Language: English
19.
Loveby Ned Rorem Performer:
Malcolm Martineau (Piano),
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1953; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 1 Minutes 48 Secs. Language: English
20.
Orchidsby Ned Rorem Performer:
Malcolm Martineau (Piano),
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1959; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 2 Minutes 9 Secs. Language: English
21.
Stopping by woods on a snowy eveningby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 1 Minutes 53 Secs. Language: English
22.
Do I love you more than a day?by Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1962-1963; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 1 Minutes 34 Secs. Language: English
23.
That shadow, my likenessby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1963; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 1 Minutes 50 Secs. Language: English
24.
Santa Fe Songs (12): no 4, Sonnetby Ned Rorem Performer:
Malcolm Martineau (Piano),
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Sebastian Gottschick (Viola),
Christiane Plath (Violin),
Friedeman Ludwig (Cello)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ensemble Oriol
Period: 20th Century Written: 1980; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 1 Minutes 59 Secs. Language: English
25.
Santa Fe Songs (12): no 2, Opus 101by Ned Rorem Performer:
Christiane Plath (Violin),
Sebastian Gottschick (Viola),
Friedeman Ludwig (Cello),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano),
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ensemble Oriol
Period: 20th Century Written: 1980; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 2 Minutes 54 Secs. Language: English
26.
Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair [after Stephen Foster]by Ned Rorem Performer:
Malcolm Martineau (Piano),
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano)
Period: 20th Century Written: USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 2 Minutes 38 Secs. Language: English
27.
Poèmes (6) pour le paix: no 2, Odeby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1953; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 1 Minutes 39 Secs. Language: French
28.
Santa Fe Songs (12): no 8, The Wintry Mindby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1980; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 2 Minutes 34 Secs. Language: English
29.
Poems of love and the rain: Do not love too longby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1962; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 1 Minutes 23 Secs. Language: English
30.
Sometimes with the one I loveby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1957; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 1 Minutes 33 Secs. Language: English
31.
Nantucket Songs (10): no 9, Ferry me across the waterby Ned Rorem Performer:
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano)
Period: 20th Century Written: 1978-1979; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 1 Minutes 34 Secs. Language: English
32.
Santa Fe Songs (12): no 12, The Sowersby Ned Rorem Performer:
Friedeman Ludwig (Cello),
Susan Graham (Mezzo Soprano),
Malcolm Martineau (Piano),
Christiane Plath (Violin),
Sebastian Gottschick (Viola)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ensemble Oriol
Period: 20th Century Written: 1980; USA Date of Recording: 09/1999 Venue: Teldec Studio, Berlin, Germany Length: 1 Minutes 45 Secs. Language: English
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: ( 1 Customer Review )
EngagingNovember 4, 2014By Carol K. (New York, NY)See All My Reviews"This may be the loveliest of all Susan Graham's lovely recordings. It draws you in as if she were in the room with you. You want to listen to it over and over."Report Abuse
