JOHN IRELAND’S MUSIC

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27395, 7 July 1954, Page 3

JOHN IRELAND’S MUSIC

SONG RECITAL IN 'COLLEGE HALL

The second recital in the John Ireland music festival sponsored by the music department of Canterbury University College, was given yesterday in the College Hall. Five brackets of songs were sung by Anita Ritchie and Winston Sharp, accompanied at the piano by Vernon Griffiths. Ireland’s genius in catching the atmosphere of a poem was amply demonstrated. The piano accompaniment sets the mood: sometimes humorous, as in “An Aside,” sometimes graphic, blit never out of sympathy with the poet’s thought. In the “Lent Lily,” with words by A. E. Housman, the composer unobtrusively darkens the piano texture to produce a sombre picture. The piano figuration always adds meaning to the voice part, either by its rhythm or its melodic lines, or both. The belllike figure in “The Journey,” and the ceaseless urging forward in “The Encounter,” are excellent examples of Ireland’s imaginative treatment of the keyboard. His metrical sense and feeling for word rhythm is perfect. His accentuation of the key word in a phrase produces an effortless flow of melody. The three song cycles, “Songs of a Wayfarer,” “The Land of Lost Content,” and “Five Sixteenth-century Poems” were sung in chronological order. It was most interesting to study the composer’s artistic development as shown in these examples. Outstanding of the other songs were “The Bells of San Marie,” “The Three Ravens,” “Love Ls a Sickness,” and “My True Love Hath My Heart.” The only reason why Ireland’s songs are not better known is that they demand a degree of musicianship in comprehension and technique which is unusual in the song forms. Both soloists sang splendidly. With perfect assurance, each negotiated the many difficulties to present a.memorable performance. Dr. Griffiths once again contributed largely to their success.

Those who were fortunate enough to hear yesterday’s performance may hear Mr Sharp and Dr. Griffiths again on Friday, when, with May Hannan, Francis Anderson, and Althea HarleySlack (piano trio), they will give the next recital of the Ireland festival. —P.G.Z.