Benjamin Britten

15/04/2009
Joel Kasow
Culture Kiosque (US)

While Britten’s folksong arrangements are considered by many to be a secondary part of his composing career, the truth is far different. We must not forgot that Britten was also an exceptional pianist and accompanist, with Peter Pears as major inspiration, and these arrangements were made for concert use by the pair. And the piano parts are often far more complex rhythmically and harmonically then would be the case for folksongs in their native habitat. And though older listeners will recall the older pair, Steve Davislim and Simone Young make a convincing case for listening to these not so simple songs with the same attention given to a lied or mélodie.