NICHOLAS WHITE

" 'Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.' This verse from Matthew 18:3 seems the unspoken inspiration for the remarkable Songs of Innocence by English poet William Blake (1757-1827), as heard here in inspired settings and performances by The Raven Consort... These eighteen Songs of Innocence (which some scholars believe were intended to be sung) are appropriately varied in expression and vocal texture in the settings we have here, while the performances of the singers and instrumentalists of The Raven consort do much to capture the essence of what each poem strives to tell us."

Phil Muse, Atlanta Audio Society [July 2022]

The Raven Consort was formed in 2013 to give the first performance of Nicholas White’s The Raven, which was commissioned by Dumbarton Concerts, Washington, D.C. Since then, the group has performed and premiered many other works by White, with multiple performances of The Raven having been given across the Northeast region of the United States, as well as performances of his On Dreams Alone, My Mother’s Shadow, Kyrie on a Theme of Albinoni, From Earth to Heaven and In Sure and Certain Hope, among others.

Nicholas White’s musical career has evolved over three decades living and working in the United States. He is a Grammy-nominated composer and conductor, as well as a versatile organist, pianist and singer. In 2011, Nicholas was appointed to the post of Director of Chapel Music and Organist at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire, where he finds time to compose during breaks in the school’s academic schedule. Previously, White has held positions at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in New York City, and at the Washington National Cathedral. He has held teaching and conducting posts with Boston Cecilia, Chorus Angelicus and Gaudeamus, Tiffany Consort, Woodley Ensemble and American University. White initially sang as a treble chorister in his native England, and went on to become an organ scholar of Clare College, Cambridge. He has received numerous commissions from choirs and musical organizations from around the world, and has amassed a large, distinguished catalog of compositions for a wide variety of ensembles and genres.

[ www.NicholasWhiteMusic.com ]
 
  CD1
NICHOLAS WHITE (b.1967)
SONGS OF INNOCENCE (2020)
Text: William Blake (1757-1827)
I. Piping
II. The Shepherd
III. The Echoing Green
IV. Little Lamb
V. Heaven’s Light
VI. The Blossom
VII. The Chimney-Sweeper
VIII. Lost and Found
IX. Laughing Song
X. A Cradle Song
XI. The Divine Image
XII. Holy Thursday
XIII. Night
XIV. Spring
XV. Nurse’s Song
XVI. Infant Joy
XVII. A Dream Song
XVIII. Sorrow and Piping
 
CD2
THE RAVEN (2013)
Text: Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)
I. Darkness
II. A Visitor
III. Lenore I
IV. Nevermore
V. Lamp-light
VI. Lenore II
VII. Prophet
VIII. Shadow

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Published by Nicholas White Music [ www.nicholaswhitemusic.com ].
 
Recorded 26-29 July 2021 at The Oates Performing Arts Building, St. Paul’s School, Concord, New Hampshire. A Candlewood Digital high resolution Natural Presence recording: Produced, engineered, edited and mastered by Richard Price.
 



MSR Classics