Richard Rodney Bennett: Songs Before Sleep (Mezzo-Soprano): Mezzo-Soprano: Vocal

The four songs arranged here manifest composer Richard Rodney Bennett?s omnivorous musical sourcework. La belle Au Pied De La Tour was set by Poulenc in his Chansons Francaises. L?amour De Moi is an old Gallic tune that entered the French popular song canon with recordings in the 1970?s by several French singers. La Chaine was frequently sung by chanteuse Damia over the decades of her career from the early 1900?s onward. La Pauvre Mariée tells of the hardships of marriage but is set to a jolly gigue. Movements may be played separately.Composer performer and arranger Richard Rodney Bennett was internationally respected for his serious music and many award-winning film scores(Murder on the Orient Express Nicholas and Alexandra) as well as his works for children and his religious pieces. In addition this markedly versatile musician frequently performed as a jazz pianist and arranger.

Richard Rodney Bennett's Seven Country Dances arranged for Flute and Piano. Premiered by the oboist Nicholas Daniel and the Britten Sinfonia under Nicholas Cleobury's direction this suite of seven dances takes its melodies from a 17th-century English fiddle-tune collection Playford's Dancing Master. From celebratory to melancholy Bennett’s pieces weave new colour into ancient songs reminiscent of the early 20th century folk song masters.

Dream-Songs is a short cycle of settings of Walter De La Mere suitable for solo voice but ideal also for children's voices to sing in unison. Bennett's atmospheric music provides an imaginative foil to de la Mare's wonderful poems and a stimulating work for classroom study or concert performance.

Five wonderful songs for Unison Voices with Piano Accompaniment. The songs may be performed separately or as a cycle.

A collection of songs arranged for medium voice and piano. First performance was given 5 May 1994. Duration c.17 minutes.

Version for Bass-Baritone and Piano. The texts for the work were taken from the Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes.