Julian Lloyd Webber, Unexpected Songs - 59m 53s

Tracks & Durations

1. Lady of D'Arbanville	3:46
2. Oblivion	3:46
3. Marble Halls	3:04
4. Prelude in E minor	2:21
5. In Haven (Capri) from Sea Pictures	1:50
6. Chant Hindu	3:06
7. Trees	1:59
8. L'Heure exquise	3:53
9. Kashmiri Love Song	3:22
10. Koyal (Songbird)	2:56
11. Sicilienne	3:49
12. Hushabye Mountain from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang	2:54
13. Music when soft voices die	1:57
14. Serenede	3:47
15. The Lea Rig	2:11
16. African Crib Carol	2:32
17. In Trutina from Carmina Burana	3:39
18. A Gift of a Thistle from Braveheart	3:13
19. To a Wild Rose	2:19
20. Unexpected Song from Song and Dance	3:18

Note: The information about this album is acquired from the publicly available resources and we are not responsible for their accuracy.

Review

This is music to dream by. Designed to bring out the singing quality of the cello, the program comprises folk music of many lands, art songs, arias from opera and operetta, and instrumental pieces. All of the 20 numbers except Fauré's "Sicilienne," which the composer himself transcribed for cello, are arrangements. All are slow, lyrical, similar in mood and very repetitious, both motivically and strophically. The dynamics, except for an occasional mild build-up, are subdued; every piece ends in a fade-out. Contrast is limited to instrumental colors, including electronics, and idiomatic rhythms. Julian Lloyd Webber is a fine cellist; his style and temperament seem eminently well suited to this music. His tone is beguilingly sweet and flawlessly pure, but, staying mostly in the middle range of the cello, it lacks nuance and inflection. The intensity of his vibrato varies only in one piece, where he puts swells on all the long notes: Schubert's famous "Serenade," whose simple melody hardly calls for it. He is mightily abetted by some splendid partners, most notably harpist Catrin Finch and pianist John Lenehan, both of whom made several of the arrangements. The record's title comes from the closing number, part of a piece written for the cellist by his brother, Andrew Lloyd Webber, performed here as a song. --Edith EislerWith an overall calming and relaxing theme, and the repertoire ranging from the core classical to interpretations of contemporary writers, Unexpected Songs, his 40th album, will appeal to a wide audience. The title track is composed by his brother, Andrew, and part of the musical Song And Dance and features a special vocal guest appearance by multi-platinum recording artist Michael Ball. Another highlight is the cello arrangement of 'Koyal (Songbird)', originally by producer / songwriter / DJ and orchestral composer Nitin Sawhney, who established himself as one of the UK's leading scorers for film and television. Catrin Finch, the 'Queen of Harps' joins him on several tracks, providing an enchanting accompaniment.Widely Regarded as One of the Most Creative Musicians of his Generation, Julian Lloyd Webber Has Collaborated with an Extraordinary Array of Musicians from Yehudi Menuhin, Lorin Maazel and Neville Marriner to Stephane Grappelli, Elton John and Cleo Laine. On this Release from EMI Classics He Presents an Album of `unexpected Songs', a Collection of Favorites Ranging from Core Classical Works by Chopin, Elgar, Faure to More Contemporary Pieces Such as Cat Stevens' "lady D'arbanville". He is Joined on this Recording by the Harpist Catrin Finch and Pianist John Lenehan. The Title Track is Composed by his Brother, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, and is from the Musical `song and Dance' the Dance Numbers from which Originated from an Album He Had Written for Julian. The Song features a Guest Appearance from Britain's Leading Musical Theatre Star, and Multi-platinum Recording Artist, Michael Ball.

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