ROSNER
Psalm XXIII.
1,4
The Leaving Light.
1,4
Three Elegiac Songs.
1,4
Minstrel to an Unquiet Lady.
2,4
Into Thy Hands.
1,4
A plaintive Harmony.
6
Songs of Lightness and Angels
1,4,6
1
Elizabeth Farnum (sop);
2
Jonathan Goodman (ten);
3
Dominic Inferrera (bar);
4
Margaret Kampmeier (pn);
5
Daniel Grabois (hn);
6
Jeffrey Grossman (hpd)
•
ALBANY 1353 (75:48)
ROSNER
Poseidon.
1,4
Of Songs and Sonnets.
1,6
To the Keen Stars.
1,4
Strictly Personals.
1,3,4
Five
1,4
1
Elizabeth Farnum (sop);
2
Jonathan Goodman (ten);
3
Dominic Inferrera (bar);
4
Margaret Kampmeier (pn);
5
Daniel Grabois (hn);
6
Jeffrey Grossman (hpd)
•
ALBANY 1354 (42:38)
Soprano Elizabeth Farnum and pianist Margaret Kampmeier start off this recorded concert with Arnold Rosner’s
Psalm XXIII
, performed with a quiet calmness. Unfortunately, Farnum has an occasional bit of excess vibrato on some of the notes she sings
forte
, but it does not spoil this beautiful piece, which evokes the comfort of a secure belief. In
The Leaving Light
, poet Michael Sussholz speaks of sunset dividing the children of the light from the brilliance of the night. Rosner’s music tells of the beauty of both. The
Three Elegiac Songs
are written to poems by three different authors.
Les Neiges d’Antun
(The Snows of Yesteryear) is by Francois Villon.
Ein Wort, Ein Satz
(A word, a Sentence) is by Gottfried Benn and the
Kaddish
is an ancient, traditional Jewish prayer. Farnum and Kampmeier perform them all beautifully. In
Minstrel to an Unquiet Lady
, Rosner and poet Florence Stevenson tell of the life of Lady Jane Grey with three ballads,
Welcome all You Lords, Edward Was a King
, and
The Road to Norfolk
, sung by the delightfully honeyed tenor voice of Jonathan Goodman. Rosner and Stevenson continue with soprano Farnum as Jane singing
Into Thy Hands,
which uses verses from the Gospel according to St. Luke.
A Plaintive Harmony
cleanses the palate with a horn serenade played by Daniel Grabois. In
Songs of Lightness and Angels
, Farnum sings of Mother Earth and the peace of our eventual return to it. Each of the three Finnish songs,
Maa
(The Earth) by Katri Vala,
Rauha
(Peace) by Eino Leino, and
Aamulla
(In the Morning) by Kirsi Kunnas are tuneful pieces that Farnum sings to the accompaniment of Kampmeier’s piano and Daniel Grabois’s horn.
In
Poseidon
, which opens the second disc, Rosner and Barbara Post remind us of the power of the sea. Having just seen pictures of the destruction wrought by Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast of the United States, the words “This, my most fervent hope, is drowned by the continuous beating of waves,” hits home. Farnum and Kampmeier paint a robust picture that evokes both fear and respect for the awesome power of the ocean. With
Of Songs and Sonnets
by John Milton we return to a peaceful place. Rosner uses the harpsichord to set his three scenes in the poet’s time.
Tell Me, Sweetest Nymph
is a beautiful dream sung by Farnum and played by Jeffrey Grossman. In
To Mr. H. Lawes on Publishing His Airs
, Rosner sets Milton’s words praising the music of Harry Lawes.
Presentation to the Father and Mother
gives parents credit for their well-brought up children. All are exquisitely played and sung. In Rosner’s setting of Shelley’s
To the Keen Stars
the lovelorn poet addresses his lover, Jane, who makes life worthwhile for him. I wonder why he has it sung by Farnum instead of Goodman, but she sings it passionately as an observer commenting on the stars, the moon, and the song in the night.
Strictly Personals
features words and music by Arnold Rosner. He writes as though reading personal advertisements in a local New York newspaper. The
Successful and Pretty
lady is no longer young but still looking desperately for a sugar daddy. The man who needs someone, anyone, to share his expenses in
Roommate Wanted
has failed as a stockbroker.
Carmensita de Morales
will tell you a hopeful fortune by reading palms, tarot cards, tea leaves, or anything else you choose. If you are desperate enough, you will call her. A wealthy retired Jewish doctor wants pleasant companionship for
The Silver Years
. He sounds like a nice man, but who knows what he really is like? We really know nothing from his intriguing ad. There have always been
Swinging Couples
who want new adventures and this is a musical invitation to jump into the unknown. The songs are thoroughly delightful but they remind us of the temptation to respond to personal advertisements in the newspaper or on the Internet that say they will let you indulge in all manner of earthly delights. It’s much safer to simply enjoy them as songs.
Five
is a poem written by Matthias Vanderwerf when he was five years old. I disagree that five is too young to be a star. Does no one remember Shirley Temple? Matthias is already a published poet whose lines have been set to music. That’s not bad for five, either. I think you are already working; Matthias, and I thoroughly enjoyed the song Arnold Rosner made of your poem. The sound is excellent on this disc and since the music is not available elsewhere on recordings, I suggest buying this CD for Rosner’s interesting compositions.
Maria Nockin
