The wonderful English counter-tenor Alfred Deller, occupies a unique place in music of the 20th century. He not only was an exquisite musician with a beautiful and expressive instrument, but he was a major figure in the early years of bringing attention to early music performance practice and was largely responsible for its growth and popularization in the 50's, 60's and beyond.
He was largely self taught and in 1950, he formed his own vocal and instrumental ensemble, the Deller Consort. He sang the premiere in Britten's A Mid Summer Night's Dream at the Alderborough Festival.
Listen to this brilliant musician's technique, the imagination of sound and colors, phrasing, diction and extraordinary ability to communicate!
HAVE YOU SEEN BUT A WHITE LILLY GROW (Anonymous)
Text by Ben Johnson 1572-1637
Have you seen but a white lily grow before rude hands have touched it?
Have you marked but the fall of the snow
Before the soil hath smutched it?
Have you felt the wool of beaver,
Or swans' down ever?
Or have smelt o' the bud o' the brier,
Or the nard of the fire?
Or have tasted the bag of the bee?
O so white, O so soft, O so sweet is she!
Have you seen but a white lily grow before rude hands have touched it?
Have you marked but the fall of the snow
Before the soil hath smutched it?
Have you felt the wool of beaver,
Or swans' down ever?
Or have smelt o' the bud o' the brier,
Or the nard of the fire?
Or have tasted the bag of the bee?
O so white, O so soft, O so sweet is she!
Below are snippets of a performance of MUSIC FOR A WHILE (Purcell) with a wonderful interview with Michael Tippett who helped launch Deller's career.
FROM ROSY BOWERS (Purcell)
SWEETER THAN ROSES (Purcell)
I ATTEMPT FROM LOVE'S SICKNESS (Purcell)
The Three Ravens: This is one of my most favorite performances of a strophic song!
