Danyel: If I could shut the gate

Anthony Rooley writes: ‘Even in 1926, when Peter Warlock published his brief essay on the English Lute Songs, John Danyel was singled out as being perhaps the finest lute-song composer (John Dowland not excepted) by perceptive Warlock. Nobody believed him then, and not much has changed now – but I agree with Warlock. John Danyel composed some of the finest songs in the English language, but he has left us too little for him to be judged a ‘great master’! Just one slim volume of songs and a few exceedingly difficult lute solos in manuscript.

‘After I had completed the complete Dowland recordings in 1976/77, I was eager to be sure Danyel was made available too. I had discovered that his one book was designed not so much as a “song-cycle”, but as a “song-story”, carefully structured and sequenced. The craftsmanship is obvious from the start, but the extraordinary level of artistry in song achieved by Danyel is most apparent in the two “song-cycles” within the larger story: “Grief keep within” and “Can doleful notes?”. As Warlock observed, there is simply nothing to compare with these two works, in the entire Lute Song output. Danyel’s ability to create a large-scale architecture, both musically and emotionally, with the simplest of means is remarkable. He and Dowland were good friends; there was no enmity between them – only respect. I hope this reissue will find new Danyel converts!’

This important recording receives its first international CD issue, which includes a new introductory note by Anthony Rooley, the original liner notes and full song texts.

This collection of songs is based on the theme of the courting of Daphne of Apollo and Anthony Rooley has suggested that it can be regarded as the first song-cycle in England.

This captivating recording was produced by Sting.