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An Aldeburgh Anthology – February 21, 1982 | Great Hall, Hart House, University of Toronto
Songs to illustrate the history of Aldeburgh and its festival

date: February 21, 1982

For its initial concert, the Aldeburgh Connection engaged Canadian singers who had attended the Britten-Pears School for Advanced Musical Studies, the summer programme in Aldeburgh where the Artistic Directors first met.  The songs, mostly from the English repertoire, were favourites at the school and of its founders, Peter Pears and Benjamin Britten.  The second half was entirely of music by Britten.  Narrative fragments described the setting of the Aldeburgh Festival and some of its history.  The concert was recorded and broadcast by CJRT Radio, Toronto’s classical music station.

Song Artist Composer Poet
Sweet was the song the Virgin sang Robbin, Catherine, mezzo; Ubukata, Bruce, piano Attey, John anon.
Sound the trumpet (Six Duets) Marsh, Lois, soprano; Robbin, Catherine, mezzo; Ubukata, Bruce, piano Purcell, Henry, real. Britten, Benjamin Tate, Nahum ?
Saul and the Witch at Endor Marsh, Lois, soprano; McLean, James, tenor; Neff, Daniel, baritone; Ralls, Stephen, piano Purcell, Henry, real. Britten, Benjamin anon., after Samuel I 28
Im Frühling, D882 Robbin, Catherine, mezzo; Ralls, Stephen, piano Schubert, Franz Schulze, Ernst
Auflösung, D807 McLean, James, tenor; Ralls, Stephen, piano Schubert, Franz Mayrhofer, Johann
Licht und Liebe, D352 Marsh, Lois, soprano; McLean, James, tenor; Ubukata, Bruce, piano Schubert, Franz Collin, Matthäus von
Rondo in A, D951 Ralls, Stephen / Ubukata, Bruce, piano Schubert, Franz n/a
Go not, happy day Neff, Daniel, baritone; Ubukata, Bruce, piano Bridge, Frank Tennyson, Alfred, Lord
With rue my heart is laden (Bredon Hill and other songs) Neff, Daniel, baritone; Ubukata, Bruce, piano Butterworth, George Housman, Alfred Edward
Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac, Op.51 Robbin, Catherine, mezzo; McLean, James, tenor; Ralls, Stephen, piano Britten, Benjamin Chester Miracle Play
INTERMISSION
A Song of Enchantment (Tit for Tat) Neff, Daniel, baritone; Ubukata, Bruce, piano Britten, Benjamin Mare, Walter de la
The Choirmaster’s Burial (or The Tenor Man’s Story), Op.52/5 (Winter Words) McLean, James, tenor; Ubukata, Bruce, piano Britten, Benjamin Hardy, Thomas
The Plough Boy McLean, James, tenor; Ralls, Stephen, piano Shield, William, arr. Britten, Benjamin anon.
The trees they grow so high Robbin, Catherine, mezzo; Ubukata, Bruce, piano Somerset folksong, arr. Britten, Benjamin anon.
Afton Water, Op.92/5 (A Birthday Hansel) Marsh, Lois, soprano; Ralls, Stephen, piano Britten, Benjamin Burns, Robert
My Hoggie, Op.92/4 (A Birthday Hansel) Marsh, Lois, soprano; Ralls, Stephen, piano Britten, Benjamin Burns, Robert
Tiny’s Song (Paul Bunyan) Marsh, Lois, soprano; McLean, James, tenor; Neff, Daniel, baritone; Ralls, Stephen, piano Britten, Benjamin Auden, Wystan Hugh
Tell me the truth about love (Cabaret Songs) Neff, Daniel, baritone; Ubukata, Bruce, piano Britten, Benjamin Auden, Wystan Hugh
Funeral Blues (Cabaret Songs) Robbin, Catherine, mezzo; Ralls, Stephen, piano Britten, Benjamin Auden, Wystan Hugh
Johnny (Cabaret Songs) Marsh, Lois, soprano; Ralls, Stephen, piano Britten, Benjamin Auden, Wystan Hugh
Calypso (Cabaret Songs) Marsh, Lois, soprano; Robbin, Catherine, mezzo; McLean, James, tenor; Neff, Daniel, baritone; Ralls, Stephen / Ubukata, Bruce, piano Britten, Benjamin Auden, Wystan Hugh
Oliver Cromwell – ENCORE Marsh, Lois, soprano; Robbin, Catherine, mezzo; McLean, James, tenor; Neff, Daniel, baritone; Ubukata, Bruce, piano Suffolk folksong, arr. Britten, Benjamin anon.