The Master Singers: (formerly the Madrigalists)

              The MASTER SINGERS
 (
formerly The Madrigalists
)


Figure





THE MASTER SINGERS
 (
formerly The Madrigalists
)



CONCERT — RADIO




TELEVISION — RECORDING




MARGARET DODD — Soprano


MARTHA WILSON — Soprano


WALTER PRESTON — Baritone


ELEANOR WALDON — Alto


EUGENE MOTT — Tenor


LIONEL MARCOUX — Bass




REPRESENTATIVE PROGRAM
1.  LATIN MOTETS



Haec Dies


William Byrd




Sicut Cervus


G. P. da Palestrina




Ave Verum Corpus


William Byrd




Psallite Domino


William Byrd






2.  ITALIAN MADRIGALS AND FRENCH CHANSONS





Ecco mormorar l'onde


C. Monteverdi




O vilanella


Claude Le Jeune




*Gia torna


Luca Marenzio




Au joli bois


Claudin de Sermisy




Muscien qui chantez
INTERMISSION
Josquin Des Pres





3.  ENGLISH MADRIGALS





Sing We And Chant It


Thomas Morley




Weep, O Mine Eyes


John Bennet




Thus Saith My Cloris Bright


John Wilbye




Through Amaryllis Dance in Green


William Byrd







4.  ENGLISH FOLK SONGS





Gossip Joan


(
arr.
) 
G. Shaw




The Dark-eyed Sailor


(
arr.
) 
V. Williams




With Jockey to the Fair


(
arr.
) 
Bullock




Just as the Tide Was Flowing
INTERMISSION
(
arr.
) 
V. Williams





5.  AMERICAN MUSIC A REVOLUTIONARY TUNE, AND WHITE SPIRITUALS





**Chester


William Billings




Poor Way-faring Stranger


(
arr.
) 
Jameson




The Hebrew Children


(
arr.
) 
Buchanan




Jesus Born in Bethlea


(
arr.
) 
Buchanan







6.  AMERICAN FOLK SONGS





El-a-noy (Illinois)


(
arr.
) 
Lief




Bangam and the Boar (Virginia)


(
arr.
) 
Lief




Leather Wing Bat (Vermont)


(
arr.
) 
Lief




Tarry Rinkum Rarey (Arkansas)


(
arr.
) 
Powell






* 
Recorded by Musicraft, Album entitled, 
Vocal Music of the Renaissance.




** 
Recorded by Columbia Records, Master-works Album entitled, 
Psalms and Fugueing Tunes.




O
UT
 of the long past — from the Continent of the Renaissance, from Elizabethan England and from Colonial America is reborn a new musical thrill for us today.




In that era of culture, singing was not only a pastime among the well-bred, but was one of the essential social graces.  This is exemplified by a glimpse at the typical after-dinner entertainment of the time.  The guests, in the baronial halls, to whom the hostess distributed part-books, habitually gathered about a table to share in the enjoyment of singing these part songs, which reached their zenith in the development of motets, madrigals and chansons.




That music and the charming folk melodies of America are re-created for your enjoyment through the superb interpretations of THE MASTER SINGERS.  Informally seated about a table, they present these same melodies in all the fulness of their beauty.




Two triumphant tours this year throughout the East, South, North and Middle West have demonstrated to THE MASTER SINGERS that there is a definite trend toward a capella singing among choral groups, with a consequent revival of interest in part-singing of centuries ago.  THE MASTER SINGERS, six AMERICAN artists, who stand at the forefront of their art today, offer you this new thrill.




The high esteem in which they are held is further attested by the fact that their album of recordings, entitled 
Vocal Music of the Renaissance,
 has been selected by the Carnegie Foundation for inclusion in its College Music Set.  THE MASTER SINGERS also recorded an album of the works of William Billings, the most outstanding of our American composers during the Revolutionary period, for Columbia Records.  The group has appeared extensively on radio and television.




The change in name — from THE MADRIGALISTS to THE MASTER SINGERS — resulted from increased popularity of and public demand for native American folk music.  Recently the group has enjoyed great success in this field.  It has an interesting and unusual repertoire, which is being steadily augmented by tireless research.  Its enviable reputation for interpreting the madrigals and motets, however, is zealously maintained.




CONCERT MANAGEMENT WILLARDO MATTHEWS — 333 EAST 43rd STREET, N. Y. C. — MURRAY HILL 4–0754





CONCERT PRESS REVIEWS



* * * A cohesive organization which sings with the accuracy and balance of the finest chamber musical ensemble— * * * past masters in the art of this most difficult idiom of part singing.  * * * sincerity and spontaneity and an excellence in voice blending.  * * * One of the most worth while events of the season.


ALBANY TIMES UNION, 
Albany, N. Y.




* * * There was some very moving music on this program, and it was sung with warmth and musicianly expressiveness.


ATHENS, GA.




* * * Unusual group of singers made such favorable impression with their repertoire, and the skill and beauty of their singing that the Committee has re-engaged them for this winter's concert.


THE LAKEVILLE JOURNAL, 
Lakeville, Conn.




* * * We would welcome this group back at any time.  Their program was finely varied and sung with an enthusiasm that won the audience from the start.  The quality of the voices was pleasing.  The music was all such a part of them that, with even less apparent direction than is to be discovered usually in such a group of singers, there was excellent ensemble.  Particularly to be lauded was their diction, which was not merely crystal clear but musically agreeable.  The audience followed every word.  The group sang this program with honest delight.


NEWS TRIBUNE, 
Oberlin, Ohio




* * * This is a finely trained group, whose voices are perfectly blended and balanced for polyphonic singing.  They are thoroughly schooled in the madrigal style and completely at home in the flexible give and take which the style demands.  They sing like true devotees and, as a consequence, their work is both pleasureable and convincing.  They are equally at home in the older Latin compositions of the convential repertoire and the newer American works of the more primitive type.  The beauty and expressiveness of the unaccompanied voice was artistically demonstrated by this sincere and devoted group of artists.


EVENING DAY, 
New London, Conn.





PRESS REVIEWS OF RECORDINGS



It is with added pleasure that one listens to the satisfactory readings here.  There is clarity and tonal balance to spare in these interpretations.


WORLD-TELEGRAM, 
New York




One hopes their destinguished debut is the prelude to more.


SUNDAY OREGONIAN, 
Portland, Oregon




This group does exceptionally clear and neat work.  They achieve their purpose, which is to make these long forgotten songs known again — and the work of the forerunners of modern music appreciated.


WASHINGTON POST




These singers voice motets, chansons, and madrigals with a fine sincerity and regard for style, and an obvious enthusiasm for this beautiful music.


SCRIBNER'S




These records offer an interesting program sung with much success … Expert blending of voices and commendable style marks the performance.


MUSICAL LEADER




They contribute forthright a capella interpretations and make it pleasant to meet another of those remarkable early Yankees whose talents were far ranging and versatile.


N. Y. TIMES




* * * Excellent performance, * * * Enunciation beyond reproach and an accurate adherence to pitch.  * * * Set valuable to recorded Americana.


RECORD SUPPLEMENT




* * * Performances are excellent in discipline and spirit.


N. Y. SUN




* * * They have a directness and honesty which makes the Billings collection of more than historical interest.


CHARLESTON MAIL, 
Charleston, W. Va.




* * * These charming tunes are sung with such freshness and vitality, that there should be great demand for this unique album set.


BOSTON POST, 
Boston, Mass.




CONCERT MANAGEMENT WILLARD MATTHEWS 333 EAST 43rd STREET, N. Y. C. MURRAY HILL 4–0754