Ivor Gurney - Down by the Salley Gardens (Anthony Rolfe Johnson)

[nVeeNetworkHD]

SCREW YOU

[nVeeNetworkHD]

SAD PEOPLE

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YOU SUCK

[nVeeNetworkHD]

Worst song ever.

[jd7x7jd]

Thank you, this is a real gem. Wonderful singing, and a pianist who actually knows how to accompany. Perfect. :)

[walshamite]

From the first note he sings, this is just gorgeous. Gurney's tune was not known to me, and is deliciously plaintive.

[Nastyswimmer]

"Down by the Salley Gardens" - words by W B Yeates, from an Irish love song, "You Rambling Boys of Pleasure", which tells of a man whose girl left him for money. A salley garden is a field of willows (sallows) grown for basket making, and willow, of course, is a metaphor for sorrow.

[miremystic]

had no idea about his departure... so sorry to learn about it.... Only a truthful, clean soul could sing this way. Rest in peace and thank you so much for the gift of your voice and your wonderful singing taste, Anthony! We have the recordings you left us and, in this way, you'll still be with us.

[treeshanklondon]

This, to me, is so much more moving than the Britten.

[Singapom888]

Simply stunningly beautiful.

[hswatnik]

rip ar johnson-

[bartoma2]

I am simply broken hearted to hear of this wonderful man's death... God bless his sould and give all that love his memory peace and comfort...

[Tyley61]

A stunning performance of a beautiful song. Cannot be surpassed. RIP

[Singingjacobus]

Thanks for the music.

Anthony Rolfe Johnson (5 November 1940–21 July 2010)

Rest in peace.

[johncherith]

In the knowledge that dear Tony died this morning - this just makes me weep - so utterly beautiful! RIP lovely man.

[drtmuir]

@johncherith Incredibly sad, I am so sorry. Lovely man, indeed, and incredibly versatile singer. So soon after Langridge and Mackerras, a real blow to music.

[OliSheff]

The Britten is far superior.

[robwad1]

Now Now...It's only music, beautiful, inspirational, informative. Whatever perception we have. It IS allowed to speak of "otherness". It is a thought, and we have our own hopefully educated choices to make about how it may effect our reality. This is much more easilly achieved when extending empathy and respect to all others,"old and young alike"... maybe oneday we all shall meet in some Sally Garden we shall walk across that grass and shake hands like old and and once foolish friends.

[miremystic]

'......... but I was young and foolish.........'

[miremystic]

Maybe in a few years time you'll look back and see how wrong you where........ only maybe.

[robwad1]

Maybe we should be more gentle with this guy. Like so many these days, he has obviously been brought up in a world devoid of the beauty which feeds us and informs our ethics. Sadly it seems to me my dear friend that in this century we are a dying breed.

[miremystic]

Exactly! Well said....

[elyzhium]

I also suggest these other two albums, sang by A. Rolfe-Johnson:

- The English Song Series 3.

Songs by Vaughan Williams.

Edited by Naxos (First issued on Collins Classics, 1996).

Anthony Rolfe-Johnson, tenor; Simon Keenlyside, baritone; Graham Johnson, piano

- The Hyperion Schubert Edition 6.

Lieder by Schubert. Hyperion Records Limited, 1990.

Anthony Rolfe-Johnson, tenor; Graham Johnson, piano

They really are some other jewels to enjoy!

[elyzhium]

This song is in an album called "Songs of Travel", edited by Carlton Classics, 1993. With songs by Vaughan Williams, Butterworth, Ireland, Gurney and Warlock.

Anthony Rolfe-Johnson, tenor; David Willison, piano.

I really recommend it!

[reneeandpav83]

Thanks for this. Do you know who is playing the piano?

[whiteocean78]

Hi!  David Willison played the piano. :)

[reneeandpav83]

What recording is this from? And who's playing? Beautiful.

[elyzhium]

It's in an album called "Songs of Travel" and it has songs by Vaughan Williams, Butterworth, Ireland, Gurney, Warlock, Quilter (I found it in London edited by Virgin, ages ago...). The WHOLE CD is just gorgeous, there are quite a few more songs as beautilful and as incredibly performed as this one. British Art Songs are marvellous and Anthony Rolfe Johson a great tenor, who sings with incredible musicality and sensibility. One of my favourite tenors, together with Wunderlich and Kurt Streit.

[sylphaen]

There are so many beautiful songs that I have been fortunate enough to find through youtube, but it's not often that I tearfully place my hand over my chest in an effort to contain my emotion. It's truly the deceptively simple songs that hit the hardest.

[stoneagepunk]

I was actually looking for monteverdi's l'orfeo, his singing in that is fantastic!! It's really is sad that he is ill and unable to perform now.

[olialto7]

Ahhhh! Beautiful, nearly brought tears to my eyes. Does anyone realise that Anthony Rolfe Johnson has Alzheimer's Disease now? He can no longer perform. I find it very sad that I'll never hear him perform live.

[SixBellsChime]

Really?! I wondered what had happened, at some point he just kind of disappeared. That is horrible. I was a student of his at Aldeburgh in the late 80s. Such a unique, ingenious artist. A British Fritz Wunderlich. And a fantastic teacher and such a kind and generous gentleman. God bless him.

[olialto7]

You were certainly lucky to have made his aquaintance, I don't think I've ever heard another tenor sing like him, or another singer at all, for that matter. Apparently one of his last performances was of the Matthew Passion as Evangelist.

[dcwash1]

This is the saddest news I have heard in a long time. I have never been privilege to see Mr Johnson in person but over 30 years ago I hear a recording of the Songs of Travel and to this day I have never heard a better tenor than Mr Johnson. I pray that he is getting great care and his voice will live on for generations to come!

[olialto7]

I was told by a singer just last year at a music summer school. All has gone very quiet on the Rolfe Johnson front though. I haven't heard him mentioned for a long time in the classical music world.

[eduardoromera]

This is a great tenor and the song is a pleasure to hear it. Bravo RJ!!!

[songblam]

Superb, just beautiful. Bravo Gurney and Johnson...

[amballa]

The best singer ever! I love ARJ!

[scolas1]

Thank you for posting this. Gurney's sensitive setting of Yeats's lovely poem deserves a wider audience. Anthony Rolfe Johnson's light tenor voice, perfect diction and flawless tone combine to make this a very fine recording. The well-chosen photos for the video further enhance this excellent posting.

[OperaLover84]

Gorgeous -- I love his tone so much!