Of the albums of
folk
songs recorded in the 1950s and 1960s by
classically
trained baritone
John Langstaff
, this one blends most seamlessly his
classical
and
traditional
talents and inclinations. Consisting mostly of
songs arranged for voice and piano by the composer
John Powell
, this album was originally issued in 1961 under
Powell
's name and with the composer accompanying
Langstaff
at the piano; for the CD reissue, pianist
Judith Gordon
added a new recording of three more of
's
song settings for piano alone. The first five tracks were published as
"Five Virginia Folk Songs, Op. 34,"
and on the first two (
"Bonnie Wee Thing"
"Pretty Sally"
)
seems to be pushing the upper limit of his range a bit, making some passages sound somewhat strained. But he is clearly enjoying himself on the
children's
songs that follow (even the gruesome
"There Was a Man in Our Town"
), and on all of them
's piano parts are both brilliantly written and beautifully played. The three piano miniatures that end the program are a bit slight, but certainly charming enough. Recommended. ~ Rick Anderson