No recent act of wanton destruction in the natural world has seared and shocked the popular psyche more than the criminal felling of the Sycamore Gap tree in 2023. Standing for over a century in a dip near Hadrian’s Wall in north-east England, the tree not only captured the imagination of cinematographers, but thousands of ordinary people.
What is it about trees? Maybe because they are symbols not only of stability and protection but of growth, their loss signals a corresponding loss of innocence and hope. Speaking of innocence and hope, trees are also for trysts and can harbour fond, youthful memories. Perhaps it was with thoughts such as these that The Gesualdo Six constructed the program for their latest album in which trees, birds and innocence all have their place.
At the centre of this musical garden is The Wishing Tree by Joby Talbot, composer of the popular Path of Miracles. Juxtaposing a nervous, rapid-fire minimalism with some smoother melodic tendrils, the music brilliantly transmits the hope-filled message of Kathleen Jamie’s poetry: “look, I’m still alive – in fact, in bud”.
In keeping with the group’s ancient and modern aesthetic, other arboreal references include Vaughan Williams’ classic take on Bushes and Briars and a multi-textured arrangement of The Oak and the Ash by Gordon Langford. These are balanced by Alison Willis’ accomplished setting of The Wind’s Warning by composer-poet Ivor Gurney. Gentle susurrations scatter the “bright leaves of life’s torn tree” warning the listener of lost opportunities. Summer Shower by Christen Taylor Holmes is quietly evocative of Emily Dickinson’s verse, where rain first alights on the leaf of an apple tree.
Around the trees fly The lark in the clear air in a touching arrangement by composer James Whitbourn sadly taken by cancer in 2024 and Stanford’s classic The blue bird sung with exquisite poise, graced by solo tenor Joseph Wicks.
The world of the madrigal pays homage to swans who are said to sing only as they die. Arcadelt’s Il bianco e dolce cigno with its sensual undertone contrasts with Gibbons’ plangent The Silver Swan, sung at a low pitch to emphasise its grave subject matter. In a happier vein, Josquin’s chirping cricket, El grillo and Byrd’s This Sweet and Merry Month of May are dispatched with an appropriately light touch.
Unusually for The Gesualdo Six, there is only one religious piece on this album. David Bednall’s Put out into the deep recounts the miraculous catch of fish made by Jesus’ disciples. Embedding plainchant within a multi-voice texture adds nuanced interest to the score.
Childhood innocence is recalled in Owain Park’s Fantasia on English Children’s Songs and Poulenc’s Petites voix; the former skillful, and the latter artfully naïve. This enchanting journey concludes with Robert Burns’s My love is like a red, red rose, its traditional melody including a touching solo sung by baritone Michael Craddock, a founding member of the G6 who takes his leave from the group.
Distinguished by a thoughtful blend of excellent music, poetry and classic folk elements, not to mention top-drawer singing, you will want to linger in this musical garden.
Title: Wishing Tree
Works: Music by Josquin, Stanford, Talbot et al.
Performers: The Gesualdo Six/Owain Park
Label: Hyperion CDA68480
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