DCD34259-CD

Erik Chisholm: Songs

Erik Chisholm made his home as a musician in South Africa but it was in the Gaelic folk tunes of his native Scotland that he found lifelong inspiration for his songs.

Modern yet instantly accessible and engaging, and revelling in the Scots language, their apparent simplicity belies the composer’s sophisticated craftsmanship.

The master of twentieth-century song, Iain Burnside, and three of the brightest stars in the rmament of Scottish singers bring out the individual characters of these pieces, by turns haunting, tender and irreverent, making of each one a uniquely coloured little jewel.

Many of this collection are beautiful, plaintive songs ... it’s impossible not to be intrigued by a musician who carved out a highly individual career for himself, not only as a composer but also as a performer ... [Chisholm]'s simple eloquence touches the heart and the fragile delicacy of Mhairi Lawson’s singing is just right ... Voices and piano register with ideal clarity and the balance between each singer and the piano is expertly achieved. As usual, the standard of Delphian’s documentation is extremely high. John Purser is a Chisholm expert and his booklet essay is as enjoyable to read as it is informative ... Erik Chisholm’s songs deserves to be much better known. This excellent and important disc should win them many new admirers"


MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL
read the full review here

"A fine showcase for the Glaswegian-born composer ... excellent performances"

'The 36 songs collected here in strong and sensitive performances play for just 68 minutes. They are eclectically characterful musical slivers, many of them are indebted to Scottish traditional music, all are imbued with an independent, sometimes musically spicy spirit and the best are jocular in tone ...'

Release Date: 25 June 2021
Catalogue Number: DCD34259
Recorded on 31 August & 1–2 September 2020 in The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Producer/Engineer: Paul Baxter
24-bit digital editing: Paul Baxter
24-bit digital mastering: Paul Baxter
Piano: Steinway, Model D, serial no. 599478 (2015)
Piano technician: Norman Motion
Design: Drew Padrutt
Booklet editor: Henry Howard
Cover image: Ernest William Haslehust (1866–1949), Forth Bridge and Coast of Fife, colour lithograph from John Geddie, The Shores of Fife (1922). Bridgeman Images
Session photography : Stephen Dewar
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