Gerald English (1925-2019)

[Guest]

Tenor, Early Music specialist, teacher and mentor and member of Deller Consort. He was a fluent French-speaker and was known for his stylish performances of French Baroque reportoire. He was also champion of contemporary music in Australia (where he lived for many years before moving back to the UK), leading a resurgence of interest in the vocal music of Peggy Glanville-Hicks.

His performances of Early Music were and inspiration to me whilst I was a student in Melbourne.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=137&v=cAOl5PSqefc

NVV

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I always believed him to be Australian.

I saw him only once. He sang the part of the Evangelist in Bach's St John Passion at Leeds University in 1968. He outshone all the other soloists, though many of these were students.

I was doing A-level music at the time, and those of us who attended were delighted to find that all the chorales were printed (words and music) in the programme, and the audience was invited to join in at the appropriate times. A great idea, but not one I've experienced elsewhere.

[edashtav]

I heard Gerald English, live, once in Bournemouth singing a Britten Cantata with the BSO under Silvestri. I admired his clean lines and clear diction and recall that he was easier on the ear than Peter Pears.

[Richard Barrett]

easier on the ear than Peter Pears.

Setting the bar rather low there Ed!

I've only heard GE in recordings of contemporary music, in which he sang superbly. I don't think I've heard a better tenor in late 20th century repertoire.

[Bryn]

Setting the bar rather low there Ed!

I've only heard GE in recordings of contemporary music, in which he sang superbly. I don't think I've heard a better tenor in late 20th century repertoire.

Unfortunately, the BWV 60 from this disc has not made it to CD, though it has made it onto YouTube:

[Barbirollians]

Unfortunately, the BWV 60 from this disc has not made it to CD, though it has made it onto YouTube:

Sad news but may I recommend his live recording on ICAClassics with Herman Baumann and Barbirolli of the Britten Serenade probably my favourite recordingvof all.

[BBMmk2]

A great loss. I have quite a few of his recordings. RIP

[Nevilevelis]

Thank you all for your replies and a comments - really heartening.

NVV

[ardcarp]

I always believed him to be Australian

No, he left for Australia when he was mid-career.

I admired his clean lines and clear diction and recall that he was easier on the ear than Peter Pears.

I couldn't agree more. I heard him sing many times, but especially memorable was a Matthew Passion in Coventry Cathedral (when performing it in English was more usual) and his diction and unforced delivery was just astonishing. He had a few ups and downs in his life and career, but I've been lucky enough to know him personally since he came to spend his last years in the West Country. A sad loss, but he lived to a good age.

[Oakapple]

Maybe one for the Early Music section but while sorting through LPs today I came across Medieval Music - Gerald English with the Jaye Consort. I think this is a lovely introduction to music of that time, although it was recorded in 1967 so I wonder whether any advancements in scholarship and practice would change anything now. Still, I'm happy with it.

Does anyone know anything about the Jaye Consort? I cannot find anything on the internet about them after a quick search. They usually played viols.

[ardcarp]

Yes they were called the Jaye Consort of Viols and were, I suppose (but stand to be corrected) the first 'named' viol consort (in the same way that nowadays we have The Rose, Fretwork, Phantasm, etc). GE, as I mentioned upthread, was one of my favourite tenors, having a wonderfully straight and direct delivery...ideal for early music. I'm sure scholarship is always moving on, but IMO that LP captures the spirit as well as any. If your LP is the same as mine (surely it is?) the front cover has a great assortment of medieval instruments pictured on it.

[Oakapple]

Thanks, ardcarp, that's interesting. I'm listening to the LP even as I write and it is the same as yours with with 15 instruments on the front and a guide on the back. I agree with what you say about Gerald English: a pure tone with very little vibrato that I could always enjoy listening to.

[ardcarp]