If you Go Down to the Wood Today

[steepholm]

Chris Wood has a new album out, and I'd like to make two recommendations from it.

First, here's his setting of Housman's poem about Victoria's Golden Jubilee, "1887" - a work that's not as straightforwardly patriotic as may first appear. I mention it here particularly, though, because my brother worked on the setting with him, and accompanies him on the track.

Also, there's "Shallow End", which I heard him perform live a couple of years ago, and loved. It's just as good now.

Comments

[lilliburlero.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm not the better for listening to the Housman setting (floods, I tell you, floods) but I should know my own susceptibilities by now. It's a very sly poem, isn't it? Taking the military sentimentality and, um, weaponising it against imperialism.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

That's very well put. Yes, exactly so.