« In this recording of many of my favourite songs and arias, I have organized the selections to provide a varied listening experience rather than to catalogue them chronologically.

« The three examples by Roger Quilter are typical of his large output of lush romantic songs, always popular in spite of occasional carpings by academics that they were too saccharin. Lyrics for Quilter’s My Life’s Delight, the title piece for this disc, were written by Thomas Campion, while his most popular song, Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal, is a setting of words by Lord Tennyson. The source of the words for Fair House of Joy is unknown, but many a singer can relate to the first line « Fain would I change that note… »!

-Albert Greer
Albert Greer is one of Canada’s finest oratorio, concert and recital tenors. In a career spanning over thirty years, Mr. Greer has sung most of the oratorio repertoire with major orchestras and choirs across Canada.

Karen Rymal is well-known as an organ recitalist, accompanist, vocal technician and teacher. Winner of several prizes for composition and published by Warner-Chappell Music Canada Ltd,. her works have been performed by various choral groups and soloists.

R. QUILTER

1. My Life’s Delight

2. Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal

3. Fair House of Joy

G.F. HANDEL

4. Ombra mai fu (Xerxes)

W.A. MOZART

5. Il Mio Tesoro (Don Giovanni)

JOHN BECKWITH

6. Five Lyrics of the T’ang Dynasty

HEALEY WILLAN

7. Music When Soft Voices Die

G. HURST

8. Music when Soft Voices Die

R. VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

9. Silent Noon

E. LALO

10. Vainement, ma bien-aimée

C. GOUNOD

11. Salut demeure, chaste et pure!

F. BRIDGE

12. E’en as a Lovely Flower

G. FINZI

13. As I lay in the Early Sun

14. Since We Loved

F. MENDELSSOHN

15. Recit: Ye people rend your hearts

A. GREER

16. I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes

K. RYMAL

17. The Butterfly

B. BRITTEN

18. Ca’the Yowes

19. The Minstrel Boy

M. KENNEDY-FRASER

20. Eriskay Move Lilt

21. The Reiving Ship

S. ROMBERG

22. Will You Remember?