McNeff: Four Tales from Beatrix Potter™ Light Music Chandos

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STEPHEN MCNEFF

(b. 1951)

Four Tales from Beatrix Potter™

Adapted by Adrian Mitchell

Orchestral Suites by Stephen McNeff

premiere recordings

The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck†

18:30

Overture

0:35

'Once upon a time. . .'

0:53

'Yes, I'll start with a duck story.'

1:41

'Mrs Rebeccah Puddle-Duck hurried up.'

1:30

''But I'm not used to flying.''

3:12

'Jemima landed clumsily. . .'

2:22

'Jemima Puddle-Duck came every afternoon. . .'

2:29

''Before you begin sitting on your eggs. . .''

2:15

''Come into the house. . .''

2:35

10.

'Pit pat paddle pat!'

0:59

The Tale of Peter Rabbit†

17:58

11.

Overture

0:35

12.

'Once upon a time'

1:42

13.

'Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail. . .'

1:26

14.

'Let us have a lettuce'

1:17

15.

'I loves all the animals'

3:35

16.

'Mr McGregor jumped up. . .'

0:52

17.

'Peter gave himself up for lost. . .'

2:20

18.

'Presently he came to a pond. . .'

2:18

19.

'''Listen'', said Peter. . .'

1:51

20.

'The green little berries'

2:02

The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin‡

20:11

21.

Overture

0:46

22.

'My story is about squirrels.'

1:42

23.

'The squirrels all lived in a wood. . .'

3:10

24.

'It was autumn. . .'*

3:15

25.

'They also took with them. . .'

1:10

26.

'The squirrels filled their little sacks. . .'

0:40

27.

'But Nutkin, who had no respect. . .'

0:57

28.

'On the third day. . .'

0:33

29.

''Oh, I've brought a present!. . .''

0:41

30.

'On the fourth day. . .'

0:46

31.

'''I take no interest in riddles''. . .'

1:23

32.

'On the sixth day. . .'

2:00

33.

'But Nutkin was in his waistcoat pocket!'

1:12

34.

'I'm a red squirrel'

1:55

The Tale of Samuel Whiskers‡

18:38

35.

Overture - 'Rollaway thin'

1:32

36.

'Once upon a time. . .'

1:19

37.

'Mrs Tabitha went up and down. . .'

1:31

38.

'We won't let you catch us Mama!'

0:22

39.

'Just at that moment. . .'

2:14

40.

'The two cats ran to look at the dough pan.'

1:52

41.

'Tom kitten did not want. . .'

2:02

42.

'Tom squeezed and squeezed. . .'

1:12

43.

'Anna Maria rushed upon Tom Kitten. . .'

0:41

44.

'Roly-poly pudding I sing'

2:47

45.

''Samuel! What's that?''

1:40

46.

'The dumpling had to be peeled off. . .'

1:27

75:37

Solo: Imelda Staunton narrator

Choral: BBC Singers *

Orchestra: BBC Concert Orchestra

Conductor: Clark Rundell

25 June 1002 (The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck and The Tale of Peter Rabbit)

25 & 27 January 2005 (The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin and The Tale of Samuel Whiskers)

16 March 2005 (narration)

Stephen McNeff provided thoroughly approachable incidental music and simple songs, evoking the countryside atmosphere and characterising the various animals with catchy themes – most particularly that for Jemima Puddle-Duck. For this recording McNeff has expanded his original setting for seven musicians into a lush orchestral tapestry, supporting Imelda Staunton’s narration in which she manages to depict the different animals with a varied ranges of voices that becomes a tour de force in the closing Tale of Samuel Whiskers. Her wholly friendly presentation should readily appeal to its intended audience.

Gramophone

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