SIR CHARLES VILLIERS STANFORD
(1852-1924)
Songs of the Fleet, Op. 117*
26:04
for Baritone Solo, Chorus and Orchestra
1.
I
Sailing at Dawn. Andante molto tranquillo
5:20
2.
II
The Song of the Sou'Wester. Allegro non troppo, ma con fuoco
3:12
3.
III
The Middle-Watch. Andante molto tranquillo
7:42
4.
IV
The Little Admiral. Allegro vivace - Poco meno mosso -
3:41
5.
V
Fare Well. Quasi adagio - Poco più mosso -
6:09
The Revenge: A Ballad of the Fleet, Op. 24
25:17
for Chorus and Orchestra
6.
I
At Flores in the Azores. Allegro giusto e pesante -
4:10
Then spake Sir Richard Grenville -
So Lord Howard pass'd away. Un poco più lento -
7.
IV
He had only a hundred seamen: Andante sostenuto -
1:35
'Shall we fight or shall we fly?. . .' Poco più mosso -
And Sir Richard said again. Tempo I (Allegro giusto) -
8.
V
Sir Richard spoke and he laugh'd. Allegretto con moto -
6:05
Thousands of their soldiers look'd down -
And while now the great San Philip. Adagio molto -
And the battle-thunder broke. Allegro con fuoco -
But anon the great Sn Philip -
And the sun went down -
Ship after ship, the whole night long.
Allegro con fuoco -
For he said: 'Fight on! fight on! Con fuoco -
9.
XI
And the night went down.
4:47
Allegro tranquillo ma con moto -
And we had not fought them in vain. Più mosso -
But Sir Richard cried in his English pride.
Allegro giusto -
And the gunner said: 'Ay, ay'. Andante sostenuto -
And the lion there lay dying. Adagio molto -
10.
XIII
And the stately Spanish men. Allegretto maestoso -
4:43
But he rose upon their decks. Allegro giusto -
'I have fought for Queen and Faith. . .' Molto maestoso -
'. . .With a joyful spirit I Sir Richard Grenville die!'
Più lento -
And they stared at the dead -
11.
But they sank his body with honour down.
3:56
Allegretto maestoso -
When a wind from the lands. Allegro moderato -
Till it smote on their hulls. Più allegro e con fuoco -
And the little Revenge herself went down.
Molto moderato e tranquillo
Songs of the Sea, Op. 91*
18:00
for Baritone, Chorus and Orchestra
12.
1
Drake's Drum. Tempo di marcia moderato -
3:12
13.
2
Outward bound. Andante espressivo
3:14
14.
3
Devon, O Devon, in wind and rain. Allegro molto
1:44
15.
4
Homeward bound. Andante tranquillo - Più lento
6:41
16.
5
The Old Superb. Allegro molto - Presto
3:06
Solo: Gerald Finley baritone*
Choral: BBC National Chorus of Wales
Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Conductor: Richard Hickox