Christopher Maltman - The Soldier: From Severn To Somme on CD

Description

From a programme devised by Christopher Maltman whilst studying at the Royal Academy of Music, this diverse collection of songs forms a coherent but flexible narrative that produces a touching memoire to all those affected by war. One composer chosen for the record, George Butterworth, was a casualty of the First World War: in September 1915 he went to the trenches and was killed, aged 31, in the Battle of the Somme on 5th August 1916. The use of his composition, 'A Shropshire Lad', is touching in this instance. It gives the listener a more sensitive perspective of the loss in World War One, almost allowing the listener to see the faces of those who passed away, most of whom were young men from various parts of the country.