“What felicity it is to hear a tune again
which has made me happy.”
(Jane Austen ‘Emma’)
It
is, of course, fashionable at present to quote Jane Austen –
but it is appropriate here; music was ‘an innocent diversion’
in her life and writings. Among her music books at Chawton names
like Stephen Storace, Charles Dibdin, Arne, Shield, Linley and
other songsters appear. It is not inconceivable that, had Jane
inhabited a 20th century drawing room, the name of
John Jeffreys would feature amongst the music. His is a gentle
voice – reflective – flowing as serenely as the Severn on the
covering booklet - although the occasional song in this collection
might disturb the waters as does the bore.
This
is the fifth disc of Jeffreys’ songs – most of which were
resurrected from oblivion in the 1960s before which he destroyed
almost all his work. And on this collection there are eight
given a first performance. Jeffreys’ music like that of Warlock
bridges the Elizabethan and the early 20th Century
– setting such 17th century lyrics as ‘Passing
By’ and ‘Jillian of Berry’ as well as Shakespeare, Gurney,
Wilfrid Wilson Gibson and other ‘Georgians’ yet retaining
a uniquely individual voice. So acute is his sensitivity to
the poems, that he has set several twice, thrice and even
four times.
This
is music for a quiet evening – in contemplation of some of the
less complex emotions aroused by things fine and beautiful –
all beautifully sung by James Gilchrist with Anna Tilbrook accompanying.
Colin Scott-Sutherland
James Gilchrist (tenor)
