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| Caroline Taylor (Photo: Alia Thomas) |
It never fails to amaze me how much good music fails to become common knowledge even when available in good modern editions. Solomon’s Knot’s espousal of the work of 17th century composer George Jeffreys [see my review of their recent concert at Wigmore Hall] despite his English sacred music being available in Musica Britannica volume 105 (published in 2021) is a case in point.
Musica Britannica volume 56, somewhat laconically titled Songs, 1860-1900 and edited by composer Geoffrey Bush was published in 1989. Yet a new recording project is set to mine it for still unrecorded songs.
Soprano Caroline Taylor and pianist George Ireland received a Musica Britannica Recording Award last year for the planned recording, Tea for Two: Spring Songs which will include songs by Sullivan, Alexander Mackenzie, Arthur Goring Thomas, Frederick Cowen, Maude Valérie White, Liza Lehmann and Hamish MacCunn, all culled from Musica Britannica volume 56. The selection includes 12 songs (of 18 in total) that do not seem to have been recorded before.
On Sunday 15 March 2026, Caroline Taylor and George Ireland will begin their journey of recording the album with a concert at St Columba’s Church, Knightsbridge. Further information from the church website. During April, Caroline Taylor will be singing in Verdi’s La Traviata with Hurn Court Opera.
The disc is due for release in 2027, so watch this space.
