BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY OF NORTHERN IRELAND 1966 1967 SIXTH RECITAL under the auspices of THE QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST JOHN SHIRLEY-QUIRK BARITONE MARTIN ISEPP PIANOFORTE SIR WILLIAM WHITLA HALL Queen's University, Belfast MONDAY, 6th FEBRUARY, 1967 at 7.45 p.m.

Four Canzonets Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) The sailor's song The wanderer Piercing eyes O tuneful voice During Haydn's visits to England he was much sought after by the social and intellectual world. Among his hosts was the famous surgeon, John Hunter (after whom the various Hunterian bene- factions of the Royal College of Surgeons are named); Anne Hunter, his wife, was a very minor poet, who collected and wrote English verses for Haydn to set, fourteen in all. Some of the results are well worth knowing. The second song was known in the nineteenth century as "Bonaparte, or the wandered in Egypt". An die ferne Geliebt Op 98 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Auf dem Hügel sitz' ich spähend From this hill I look across the mountains and send my songs to my beloved. May the music bridge the distance between us. Wo die Berge so blau Where the mountains rise high, there dwells my love. Would I were there. Leichte Segler Ye brooks, birds, clouds and breezes, carry my kisses and my sighs to my beloved. Diese Wolken in die Höhen These gentle winds will toy with her tresses, this brook will mirror her form. Es kehret der Maien, es blühet die Au Spring has returned with her flowers and blue skies. The swallows joyfully make their nests, only we remain sadly parted. Nimm sie hin denn, diese Lieder Accept these songs, my love, and when you sing them to your lute, they shall lessen the distance of space and time.

Songs Des sängers Habe, D 832 (Schlechta, 1815) Life may do its worst, if only it leaves the minstrel his lyre; after his death this is to take the place of a tombstone that his ghost may continue to pluck music from its strings. Franz Schubert (1797-1828) An die Leyer, D 737 (Bruchmann. 1822) I would sing of the classical heroes, Heracles or the sons of Atreus. I strike a chord, but my song always turns out a love-song. Come once again, something impressive about the battle-fields of Troy. No! The melodies melt under your eyes. An den Mond, D 296 (Goethe. 1815) Schubert set three separate poems with this title, and he set these words of Goethe twice; this is the second of the two. The poet, wandering in the moonlight, reminiscent. He is grateful for the moon's light, but the stream reminds him of the days that have gone. The only happiness possible for him now would be the sympathetic presence of a friend who could sym- pathise with his mood. Wilkommen und Abschied, D 767 (Schulze. 1825) The absence and welcome on return are of little importance to this poem; its hero is on horseback and the accom- paniment to the horses rhythm sets the pace of this lively outburst. Songs of Travel INTERVAL The vagabond Let beauty awake The roadside fire Youth and love Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) In dreams The infinite shining heavens Whither must I wander? Bright is the ring of words I have trod the upward and the downward slope

(Robert Louis Stevenson. These songs were published at various times, 1905, 1907, 1912 and the last one posthumously in 1960. It was intended that this last song should not be sung unless the whole cycle were given.) Don Quichotte à Dulcinée Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) (Paul Morand. These songs, written in 1932 were intended for a film of Don Quixotte to be played by Chaliapine; the music for this was subsequently written by Ibert.) Chanson romanesque Were you to tell me that the turning of the earth offended you, I should send Sancha to stop it. Were you to tell me that you were tired of the countless stars in the sky, I should at one stroke deplete the night. Were you to tell me that this empty space dis- pleased you, a God-like knight, with my lance I should puncture stars in the wind. But were you to tell me that my blood is more my own than yours, I should pale at the reproach and die, still blessing you. Ah, Dulcinea! Chanson épique Great St. Michael who givest me leisure to see my lady and to hear her voice, great St. Michael who deignest to chose me for her solace and defence, great St. Michael have the grace to descend in company with St. George on the altar of the blue-robed Virgin. With a ray of heaven bless my blade and her who is heaven's equal in purity, in piety, in modesty and in chastity, even my lady, that angel who keeps vigil on my vigil, even my lady who resem- bles you, oh blue-robed Madonna. Amen. Chason à boire Death to the bastard, noble lady, who says that love and wine cast my soul into gloom. I drink to joy! Joy is the goal I aim at whe, whe, whe, when I, I, I, have drunk. Death, my dark mistress, to that jealous whiner who swears ever to be the kind of lily-livered lover who waters his drink.

NEXT CONCERTS: Monday, February 13th Beethoven Serge Nigg Debussy Ravel CHRISTIAN FERRAS, Violin JEAN-CLAUDE AMBROSINI, Pianoforte J. S. Bach Handel Nadermann Mozart Godefroid Thursday, February 23rd Fauré Cabezon Ferrandière M. Albeniz Beethoven Pierné J. Guridi Sonato in F major, Op 24 (Spring) Sonata for unaccompanied violin (First British performance) Sonata in G minor Albeniz G. Walters G. Salzedo Pièce en forme de Habañera Tzigane MARISA ROBLES, Harp Two preludes Variations Sonatina Variations and Rondo Pastorale Concert study Impromptu Pavanne and variations Dance of the dwarfs Sonata Variations on a Swiss air Impromptu caprice Three Basque melodies Viejo Zorziko Malagueña Little suite Song in the night