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Track(s) taken from CDA66801/2

If thou art sleeping, maiden

composer
1872/3; also set to French words as Viens, les gazons sont verts
author of text

Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor), Graham Johnson (piano)
Recording details: July 1993
St Paul's Church, New Southgate, London, United Kingdom
Produced by Arthur Johnson
Engineered by Keith Warren
Release date: October 1993
Total duration: 1 minutes 11 seconds

Cover artwork: Lord Byron and the maid of Athens. Sir William Allen (1782-1850)
Roy Miles Gallery, 29 Bruton Steet, London W1
 

Reviews

‘Exemplary … enchanting … ravishingly sung’ (The Daily Telegraph)

‘Superb … perfection … best of the year’ (The Sunday Times)

«Uniformement exquis» (Répertoire, France)

«C'est remarquable. Un coffret qui devient un événement» (Compact, France)

'Un stupendo doble compacto' (CD Compact, Spain)
If thou art sleeping, maiden is a Longfellow setting long obscured by its French double Viens, les gazons sont verts. This has long been one of Gounod’s most popular songs and it is no small pleasure to reclaim it as part of the English song repertory. These songs form almost as important a part of our song heritage as the canzonets of that other distinguished visitor, Haydn. It is high time that the English Gounod is gathered together in printed form. The querulous shade of Mrs Weldon deserves our acknowledgement and gratitude; thanks to her machinations in the 1870s, French song’s temporary loss is English song’s recoverable gain.

from notes by Graham Johnson © 1993

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