Peter Pears sings two songs by Frank Bridge

Peter Pears accompanied by Benjamin Britten perform two songs by Britten's teacher Frank Bridge: 'Go not, happy day' and 'Love went a-riding'

When the 10" LP was released in 1956, the reviewer of Gramophone wrote:
"A well-chosen anthology of British twentieth-century song, very well performed. The recital opens and closes with a composition of Frank Bridge: Britten pays tribute to his admired teacher. In 'Go not, happy day' (words by Tennyson) and 'Love went a-riding' (words by Mary Coleridge) both pianist and singer are buoyant and bright.

The full text of the poems is:

Go not, happy day,
From the shining fields,
Go not, happy day,
Till the maiden yields.
Rosy is the West,
Rosy is the South,
Roses are her cheeks,
And a rose her mouth
When the happy Yes
Falters from her lips,
Pass and blush the news
Over glowing ships;
Over blowing seas,
Over seas at rest,
Pass the happy news,
Blush it thro' the West;
Till the red man dance
By his red cedar-tree,
And the red man's babe
Leap, beyond the sea.
Blush from West to East,
Blush from East to West,
Till the West is East,
Blush it thro' the West.
Rosy is the West,
Rosy is the South,
Roses are her cheeks,
And a rose her mouth.

(Alfred, Lord Tennyson)

Love went a-riding over the earth,
On Pegasus he rode . . .
The flowers before him sprang to birth,
And the frozen rivers flowed.

Than all the youths and the maidens cried,
"Stay here with us, King of Kings!"
But Love said, "No! for the horse I ride,
For the horse I ride has wings."

(Mary Coleridge)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Frank Bridge
• Peter Pears
• Benjamin Britten
• paulprocopolis

[operamutti]

Great pieces, great interpretation. I had forgotten these.

Thanks for reminding me!

[ericbrockway]

Very nice to hear these songs again! I have cherished this disc for many years. Peter Pears was in his prime, and he was so lucky to work with the very best accompanist ever. One of their last discs with Schubert songs is also very dear to me. Pears' voice is no longer in top condition, but the Schubert songs still admirably well sung, with unrivalled accompaniment by Britten in e.g. 'Auf dem Wasser zu singen'. Gerald Moore once said about B's accompanying: Any pianist would go on his knees!

[berlinzerberus]

..very nice the famous timbre of peter pears,especially in the first song of course well accompanied by britten.i like those 'English coloured' songs,also the pure traditionals very much,I like Great Britain as a country very much!

God save the Queen :-)

[JanetteHeffernan]

That could only be Ben and Peter!