Album
About the album
'Echoes of Our Island' is a selection of classical twentieth century songs on the theme of nature, written by some of the most influential English composers. The songs explore humans' connection with the natural world and the depiction of beautiful landscapes, whilst also addressing subjects such as the passage of time.
For their Final Project, Bianca and Maria have recorded their album titled 'Echoes of Our Island', with the help of recording engineer and producer Nicholas Paul. The album will be released on Spotify, YouTube, and other streaming platforms later this spring. The album features some of their favourite songs, including a first recording of Elizabeth's Poston 'The Lake Isle of Innisfree'.
For the album tracklist, click here:
About the performers
Maria Willsher and Bianca Vancea have been collaborating since 2021 and they regularly perform as a duo. They are both in their final year of undergraduate study at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and are planning on continuing their collaboration after graduation.
In April 2022, they performed a selection of John Ireland songs and they both found they really enjoy working on them. The unique characteristics of twentieth century music makes it fun to perform, so Maria and Bianca went on to further explore the repertoire.
In May 2024, they performed in the final of the Edward Brooks English Song Prize and Maria was awarded Second Prize, whilst Bianca was awarded the Accompanist Prize.
Tracks
The Land of Lost Content, No. 1: The Lent Lily - John Ireland
The Lake Isle of Innisfree - Elizabeth Poston
The Woodpigeon
The Starling
The Yellowhammer
The Wren
The Owl
Two Nursery Rhymes - Arthur Bliss
The Ragwort
The Dandelion
On This Island - Benjamin Britten
Let the Florid Music Praise
Now the Leaves are Falling Fast
Seascape
Nocturne
As it is, Plenty
John Ireland is known for developing his own variety of English Impressionism, his music predominantly inspired by Debussy, Ravel, Stravinsky and Bartók. His compositional approach is characterised by a complex harmonic style and characterful accompaniment. Having studied piano and composition at the Royal College of Music, he later returned as a teacher himself in 1923; among his pupils there was Benjamin Britten, who claimed he found his teaching unremarkable. Ireland preferred chamber music, song, and piano music to larger orchestral ensembles, hence his works are often intensely personal in style. He was strongly inspired by his surroundings, harbouring a great love of rural English landscapes, which is reflected in his works. Despite being briefly married to a young woman in his 40s, Ireland was a closeted homosexual, indications of which are scattered throughout his vocal repertoire.
'Earth’s Call' (subtitled ‘A Sylvan Rhapsody’) was published in 1918. Harold Monro’s poem was published in a set called “Week-End”, the seventh verse of ten. The set as a whole describes a couple escaping the bustle of London for a tranquil weekend in the countryside. The urgency to relish fleeting moments is evident in 'Earth’s Call' in particular, as are the homosexual implications of the pair finding freedom in their seclusion, an understanding of which both Monro and Ireland shared. Ireland uses frantic oscillating sextuplets in the accompaniment to reflect the wilderness, transitioning into a middle section characterised by indulgent chords which profoundly display his appreciation for nature and the liberty it brings.
John Ireland is known for developing his own variety of English Impressionism, his music predominantly inspired by Debussy, Ravel, Stravinsky and Bartók. His compositional approach is characterised by a complex harmonic style and characterful accompaniment. Having studied piano and composition at the Royal College of Music, he later returned as a teacher himself in 1923; among his pupils there was Benjamin Britten, who claimed he found his teaching unremarkable. Ireland preferred chamber music, song, and piano music to larger orchestral ensembles, hence his works are often intensely personal in style. He was strongly inspired by his surroundings, harbouring a great love of rural English landscapes, which is reflected in his works. Despite being briefly married to a young woman in his 40s, Ireland was a closeted homosexual, indications of which are scattered throughout his vocal repertoire.
‘The Lent Lily’ is the first song from the set ‘The Land of Lost Content’ published in 1921. A. E. Housman's poem, similarly to 'Earth's Call', reflects a desire to capture a moment before it dies away. It discusses the various flowers that spring yields, celebrating the daffodil (the lent lily) the most - as it has such a brief lifespan that one must strive to fully appreciate its beauty before it dies away.