Est 1923

Beethoven Folksong Arrangements

Beethoven visits the British Isles for some engagingly performed folksongs

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Ludwig van Beethoven

Genre:

Vocal

Label: Berlin Classics

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 0

Mastering:

Stereo

Catalogue Number: 0016392BC

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
(25) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 16, Hide not thy anguish Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(20) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 17, Come, Darby dear Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 20, To the Blackbird Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 23, The Old Strain Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(20) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 16, O might I but my Patrick love Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 13, Helpless Woman Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(20) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 20, Thy ship must sail Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 25, The Parting Kiss Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 17, The Dairy House Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(25) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 13, Musing on the roaring ocean Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 15, When mortals all to rest retire Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(20) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 2, No riches from his scanty store Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(25) Scottish Songs, Movement: No. 6, Dim, dim is my eye Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 6, The Maids of Mona Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(25) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 11, Thou emblem of faith Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 4, Love without Hope Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(20) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 6, Sad and luckless was the season Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 19, The Vale of Clwyd Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(20) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 18, No more, my Mary Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 7, Oh let the night my blushes hide Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 18, Sweet Richard Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
(20) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 4, Since greybeards inform us Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Alida Schat, Violin
Bart van Oort, Fortepiano
Jaap ter Linden, Cello
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Lynne Dawson, Soprano
In 1809, after persistent persuasion from the Scottish publisher George Thomson, Beethoven finally agreed to his commission to write accompaniments for a number of Scottish, Welsh and Irish folksongs. The initial project was for 43 but by 1820 the number had risen to 170, for which the composer had not only to provide accompaniments (for piano trio) but also preludes and postludes – often very felicitous, especially the close of “The Fair Maid of Mona”. But the task was far from straightforward, for texts were often not included (Thomson explained to Beethoven that they “were still in the head of the poet”). Indeed, often Thomson sought new texts for old songs by using the lyrics of Robert Burns, Lord Byron and, in many of the songs included here, William Smyth, a professor of history from Cambridge, who proved well up to the task.

Beethoven was well paid for his work and gave of his best, providing the perfect degree of simplicity and an excellent balance between the members of the trio of accompanists well reflected here in their sympathetic intimacy of approach. Lynn Dawson, too, proves an ideal vocalist, singing with the utmost freshness and a natural feeling for line and words. The opening “Hide not thy anguish” is winningly lyrical but she also catches nimbly the jauntiness of “O might I but my Patrick love”, the folksy, swinging charm of “The Dairy House” and the gentle melancholy of “The Parting Kiss”.

Curiously, the title-song of the recital,“Musing on the roaring ocean”, is surprisingly restrained (and brief); but the following “When mortals all to rest retire” is eloquently touching. “Sad and luckless was the season” recalls “The last rose of summer” and the rich Irish melody of “No riches from his scanty store” hints at a more famous Scottish song. But the only Scottish poem included, “Dim, dim is my eye”, hardly seems Scottish at all, charming as it is. Never mind – overall this is a feast of engaging melody, admirably presented, naturally recorded and satisfactorily documented.

Beethoven Folksong Arrangements

(25) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 16, Hide not thy anguish

(20) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 17, Come, Darby dear

(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 20, To the Blackbird

(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 23, The Old Strain

(20) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 16, O might I but my Patrick love

(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 13, Helpless Woman

(20) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 20, Thy ship must sail

(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 25, The Parting Kiss

(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 17, The Dairy House

(25) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 13, Musing on the roaring ocean

(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 15, When mortals all to rest retire

(20) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 2, No riches from his scanty store

(25) Scottish Songs, Movement: No. 6, Dim, dim is my eye

(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 6, The Maids of Mona

(25) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 11, Thou emblem of faith

(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 4, Love without Hope

(20) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 6, Sad and luckless was the season

(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 19, The Vale of Clwyd

(20) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 18, No more, my Mary

(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 7, Oh let the night my blushes hide

(26) Welsh Songs, Movement: No. 18, Sweet Richard

(20) Irish Songs, Movement: No. 4, Since greybeards inform us

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