Charles Villiers Stanford: The Revenge DF Urrows 2019-12-28 | Charles Villiers Stanford: The Revenge--A Ballad of the Fleet, Op. 24The Cecilian Singers (Hong Kong)conducted by David Francis UrrowsRecorded 24 April 1998
David Francis Urrows/ Concerto for Piano and Orchestra. III. Vivace e molto ritmico DF Urrows 2026-02-11 | A midi realization (with some mis-assigned sounds in the brass and percussion in the middle which I just can't figure out...) but it's not bad for a bunch of 0s and 1s with no musical talent. Photos are of Malta, where I first conceived of the work in 2023 as a symphonic poem, later changing my mind about it.
God be in my Head DF Urrows 2024-11-10 | This short anthem, sung here by the Harvard Ferris Choral Fellows, directed by Carson Cooman.
David Francis Urrows: Five Songs of Countee Cullen (1979) DF Urrows 2022-09-14 | David Francis Urrows: Five Songs of Countee Cullen (1979, original version).These five songs set poems of the great Harlem Renaissance poet, Countee Cullen (1903-46). Cullen's poetry was taught in my schools in New York, and I have always loved his fine sense of irony, as particularly displayed in his most famous and widely-anthologized poem, "Incident".In 1990 I revised these songs, in particular changing the ending of the last song to avoid the triumphalist tone heard here. But this is another recording salvaged from my damaged R/R tapes, and one of the few with me performing as accompanist. So, it should be the benchmark for how I conceived the work in my early 20s. This recording, with tenor Alistair Sutherland, was made after we gave the premiere of the whole work in April 1980 at the Faculty of Music, University of Edinburgh.
David Francis Urrows: String Quartet No. 1 (1978) DF Urrows 2022-09-02 | David Francis Urrows: String Quartet No. 1 (1978). The University of Edinburgh Faculty of Music Student Quartet. Recorded in Reid Hall, 15 April 1980.From original stereo R/R recording, the badly damaged tape was recovered and digitized in 2015. Right channel almost entirely missing, the two tracks mixed down to a monaural file, with minimal editing, noise cleaning, and normalization. It sounds like it was recorded in 19*20*, but I am lucky to have anything after more than 40 years. The work (in three movements) is dedicated to il mio caro maestro, Randall Thompson (1899-1984).
Otto Dresel (1826-90) Four Songs, composed in New York 1848-50 DF Urrows 2022-08-05 | Otto Dresel (1826-90) Four Songs, composed in New York 1848-50: 1. Nachruf (Schöner Mai, bist über Nacht wie ein Traum) (Wilhelm Osterwald)2. Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär' (Silesian folksong, tr. Therese Albertine Luise von Jacob-Robinson -- “Talvj”) 3. Lied (Fliege, Vogel, fliege, Falke) (Bohemian folksong, tr. Paul von Bohlen, 4. Prayer (Dearest Father, Lord above) (author unknown)Yuki Ip Po Ching, soprano, David Francis Urrows, piano. Recorded 2004.
Otto Dresel (1826-90): Piano Trio in A Minor (1848/rev. 1853) IV: Finale: Presto DF Urrows 2022-07-30 | Otto Dresel (1826-90): Piano Trio in A Minor (1848/rev. 1853) IV: Finale: PrestoDresel studied with Franz Liszt in Weimar in 1844, and with Mendelssohn in Leipzig in 1845-46. The Trio was almost certainly written partly under Mendelssohn’s guidance, and later praised by Franz Liszt in a March 1848 letter as “a remarkably distinguished work.” Dresel was mentored during his years at the Leipzig Conservatory by Robert Schumann, and also studied with Ignaz Moscheles. The Finale is notable for its 'Zigeunermusik' character, influenced by Schubert, Schumann, and above all, Liszt.
Otto Dresel (1826-90): Piano Trio in A Minor (1848/rev. 1853) III: Scherzo: Molto animato DF Urrows 2022-07-29 | Otto Dresel (1826-90): Piano Trio in A Minor (1848/rev. 1853) III: Scherzo: Molto animatoDresel studied with Franz Liszt in Weimar in 1844, and with Mendelssohn in Leipzig in 1845-46. The Trio was almost certainly written partly under Mendelssohn’s guidance, and later praised by Franz Liszt in a March 1848 letter as “a remarkably distinguished work.” Dresel was mentored during his years at the Leipzig Conservatory by Robert Schumann, and also studied with Ignaz Moscheles.
Otto Dresel (1826-90): Piano Trio in A Minor (1848/rev. 1853) II: Andante affetuoso DF Urrows 2022-07-29 | Otto Dresel (1826-90): Piano Trio in A Minor (1848/rev. 1853) II: Andante affetuosoDresel studied with Franz Liszt in Weimar in 1844, and with Mendelssohn in Leipzig in 1845-46. The Trio was almost certainly written partly under Mendelssohn’s guidance, and later praised by Franz Liszt in a March 1848 letter as “a remarkably distinguished work.” Dresel was also mentored during his years at the Leipzig Conservatory by Robert Schumann, and in this (second) movement of the Trio, there is a quotation from the Schumann Piano Concerto in A Minor.
Otto Dresel (1826-90): Piano Trio in A Minor (1848/rev. 1853) I: Allegro con fuoco ed energia DF Urrows 2022-07-28 | Otto Dresel (1826-90): Piano Trio in A Minor (1848: rev. 1853): 1. Allegro con fuoco ed energiaDresel studied with Franz Liszt in Weimar in 1844, and with Mendelssohn in Leipzig in 1845-46. The Trio was almost certainly written partly under Mendelssohn’s guidance, and later praised by Franz Liszt in a March 1848 letter as “a remarkably distinguished work.” The earliest recorded performance was given in London in June 1852, with Joseph Joachim (vln) and Hildebrand Romberg (vc). A later, revised version (written after a fire, which destroyed the original performing parts) was first heard in Boston in March 1853, and is the version performed here. Dresel also composed a companion Piano Quartet in F Major around the same time.
Otto Dresel (1826-90): Six Two-Part Songs of Mendelssohn. No. 1, Ich wollt’ meine Liebe. DF Urrows 2022-07-26 | Otto Dresel (1826-90): Six Two-Part Songs of Felix Mendelssohn (Op. 63) arranged for piano solo. No. 1, Ich wollt’ meine Liebe [I would that my Love]. Dresel studied with Liszt in Weimar in 1844, and with Mendelssohn in Leipzig in 1845/1846. These six transcriptions reflect the influence of both teachers, and the whole publication (Boston: Oliver Ditson, 1854) creates an additional set of ‘songs without words’.
Otto Dresel (1826-90): Präludium, Op. 5, no.2, and Phantasiestück, Op. 5, no. 3 DF Urrows 2022-07-25 | Otto Dresel (1826-90): Präludium, Op. 5, no.2, and Phantasiestück, Op. 5, no. 3 (from Vier Klavierstücke, Op. 5, pub. 1860; this performance from the revised edition of 1863.) Helen Cha Hoi Lun, piano.
Otto Dresel: Theme and Variations (1855, revised version) DF Urrows 2022-07-24 | Otto Dresel (1826-90), Theme and Variations for piano solo (1855, revised versions). Helen Cha Hoi Lun, piano.
Otto Dresel: Polka (pub. 1854) Helen Cha Hoi Lun, piano DF Urrows 2022-07-24 | Otto Dresel (1826-90), German-American composer, student of Liszt, Mendelssohn, Schumann, and Moscheles. The Polka was written in 1853 or 1854 in Newport, RI, for his student, Laura Gibbs, who later married a French nobleman and was a great patroness of the arts in New York up to her death in 1902.
Ludwig van Beethoven: Choral Fantasy, Op. 80 DF Urrows 2022-06-21 | Ludwig van Beethoven: Choral Fantasy, Op. 80. Amy Sze, piano, The Cecilian Singers (Hong Kong), conducted by David Francis Urrows. Recorded April 1998, at Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall.
Condoléance et reproche from Paroles pour musique (peut-être), by David Francis Urrows DF Urrows 2022-05-22 | "Condoléance et reproche" (Condolence and Reproach) is the third duet from my Paroles pour musique (peut-être), composed in 2013. In this little 3-minute drama, a gentleman offers his sympathy to a lady who has lost a lawsuit, while (the same?) lady castigates a gentleman for ignoring her and threatens him with an after-life visit. All texts from this hilarious (but real) "Clifton’s Manual of Conversation (English-French) with models of letters for the use of travelers and students" (Paris, Garnier, 1863.) The fourth duet, Une dentiste (A Visit to the Dentist) can be found on my YouTube site as well (with video.)
Kenneth Leighton: Martyrs, for organ duet (1976) DF Urrows 2022-05-21 | Kenneth Leighton: Martyrs, Op. 73, for organ duet. Andrew J. Dean and David Francis Urrows, organists. Recorded on Casavant, Op. 2000, at Marsh Chapel, Boston University, April 1986. (Around 4 people came to our recital. We played anyway out of dedication to our teacher, KL, who was a great influence on both of us at Edinburgh.)
Ricordanza dellUmbria (1987) DF Urrows 2022-03-18 | Ricordanza dell'Umbria, for solo piano by David Francis Urrows
David Francis Urrows: Prelude and a Psalm of Francis Thompson (2007) DF Urrows 2021-07-11 | Prelude and a Psalm of Francis Thompson (2007) for mixed voices, strings, timpani, and organ. This is my setting of the poem, "The City of God", published after Thompson's death, and contains the famous lines about "the many-splendoured thing." Composed on commission for the Hong Kong Bach Choir, who gave this performance.
David Francis Urrows: Exaltabo te (2005) fourth movement, Convertisti planctum meum. DF Urrows 2021-06-27 | The fourth and final movement of my sinfonia sacra, Exaltabo te, "Convertisti planctum meum". Hong Kong Baptist University Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by Johnny Poon Ming-lun. Recorded 2006.
David Francis Urrows: Exaltabo te (2005), third movement, Aperiam in parabola. DF Urrows 2021-06-21 | The third movement of my 'sinfonia sacra', Exaltabo te: "Aperiam in parabola." Hong Kong Baptist University Mens' Chorus and Orchestra, recorded 2006.
David Francis Urrows: Exaltabo te (2005), second movement, Avertisti faciem tuam. DF Urrows 2021-06-13 | The second movement of my four-movement 'sinfonia sacra', Exaltabo te: Avertisti faciem tuam, for soprano solo, women's voice, solo 'cello, and strings.
David Francis Urrows: Exaltabo te (Sinfonia sacra) I (2005) DF Urrows 2021-06-06 | The first movement of my Exaltabo te (Sinfonia sacra) for soprano and baritone soli, chorus, and orchestra, composed in 2005. Hong Kong Baptist University Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by Johnny Poon Ming-lun. Recorded at the Hong Kong Cultural Center Concert Hall, 1 December 2006.
Richard Purvis: Fanfare DF Urrows 2021-05-15 | "Fanfare" from A Trio of Contrasts (1964). David Francis Urrows, organ, recorded November 1996 on the IV/93 Rieger organ, Cultural Centre Concert Hall, Hong Kong.
David Francis Urrows: “Evensong”, from Three Vailima Episodes (1984). DF Urrows 2021-05-09 | The last (third) movement of my work for soprano and string orchestra, on poems by the poet and novelist, Robert Louis Stevenson. Recorded at Boston University, April 1986.
David Francis Urrows: Birds of Passage, for mixed voices and piano (2002) DF Urrows 2021-05-02 | Birds of Passage (or, Three Songs from 'Birds of Passage') sets three poems by the 19th C. American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: 1. Daylight and Moonlight, 2. Snow-Flakes, and 3. A Day of Sunshine. They were written for the Ragazzi Boys Chorus. The first movement is for S/A, the second for SA/TB (not singing at the same time), and the third movement for SATB. In this performance (the premiere) Snow-Flakes was rearranged for TB (only). This performance was accompanied by a son et lumière adjunct at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco, thus the choice of texts dealing with different aspects of light.
Three Songs of William Butler Yeats (1978-84) DF Urrows 2021-04-25 | My Three Songs of William Butler Yeats were written in 1978 (nos. 1 and 3) and 1984 (No. 2). 1. Brown Penny, 2. The Curlew, 3. The Cloths of Heaven. Only the first gets heard these days, and the other two are almost entirely unknown. Delicate, sensitive reading of these works, there is a more energetic performance of 'Brown Penny' elsewhere on my YouTube page. Recorded in Boston in 1985.
David Francis Urrows: Toccata, for mixed voices and piano, 4-hands (1982) DF Urrows 2021-04-18 | 'Toccata' is a setting of a poem by the French writer Jacques Lacarrière, from a little book called 'Papiers d'Orange'. It's serious and nonsensical at the same time. Recorded 1982.
David Francis Urrows: A New England Almanack Book Two DF Urrows 2021-04-11 | Book Two (songs 7 to 12) of my song cycle, A New England Almanack (1985).
David Francis Urrows: A New England Almanack, Book One (1985) DF Urrows 2021-04-04 | Book One (nos. 1-6) of my 12-song song cycle, A New England Almanack, which won the NATS Art Song Composition Contest in 1987. There are twelve poems by twelve different poets set to music in this work. Recorded in Boston in 1986, with the incomparable Richard Morrison, baritone, and still a performance remarkable for the fact that this was the world premiere of the whole work.
David Francis Urrows: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scene IV (excerpt) DF Urrows 2021-03-28 | An excerpt from my first opera, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, composed 1980-82. This is (most of) Scene IV of the opera, analogous to Act II Scene 2 in Shakespeare’s play. Recorded 1996.
David Francis Urrows: Piano Sonata (1979) DF Urrows 2021-03-22 | A 1982 recording of the original version of my Piano Sonata for 1979. Over the years, I shortened the first movement, and made changes to textures and other things in the first and second movements (the third movement has escaped almost unscathed). This is better appreciated for its energy than its finesse, but is still a good rendering of the piece as a whole. I usually do not post recordings of works that have been revised. In the second thumbnail, the time codes are shown for the point at which each movement begins.
Ecce Puer DF Urrows 2021-03-18 | My setting of James Joyce's Ecce Puer, for soprano and flute solo. Composed in 1982, and recorded at Boston University in 1984.
David Francis Urrows: Sonata for Oboe and Harp (1985) DF Urrows 2021-03-17 | Deb Koczian, oboe, John Wickey, harp. Recorded April 1986, Boston University, College of Fine Arts. 1. Allegro vivace 2. Larghetto 3. Hymn and Fuging Tune, Andante con forza -- Allegro non tanto.
432 with David Francis Urrows, Composer. DF Urrows 2020-07-07 | Get to know a little bit about me, and my works published by Paraclete Press :-)
Eugène Gigout (1844-1925), Rhapsodie sur des Noëls. David Francis Urrows, organ. DF Urrows 2019-12-13 | Gigout's Rhapsody on French Christmas carols, recorded in December 1995 on the four-manual Casavant organ at St. Mark's Church, Palo Alto, CA, during a Christmas concert given by the Ragazzi Boys Chorus.
Partita: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland by David Francis Urrows DF Urrows 2019-12-03 | My Partita: Nun komm', der Heiden Heiland, for organ, composed in 1985, and performed on 2 December 1985 on the three-manual Casavant at First and Second Church, Boston MA.
7 For lo, the days are hastening on. DF Urrows 2019-11-17 | The seventh and final movement of my carol sequence, Nova Gaudia (1997) for mixed voices and organ, "For lo, the days are hastening on." The Barnby Choir, Manchester, UK, conducted by Andrew Dean in 2000.
Verbum patris humanatur DF Urrows 2019-11-14 | The sixth movement of my Nova Gaudia (1997), a carol sequence for mixed voices and organ, music by David Francis Urrows. The Barnby Choir (men), conducted by Andrew Dean.
Interlude and The Yeomans Carol DF Urrows 2019-11-08 | The Interlude (movement 4, for organ solo) and the fifth movement, The Yeoman's Carol, from my carol sequence, Nova Gaudia (1997). The Barnby Choir, Manchester, UK, conducted by Andrew Dean.
Sarabande from A Midsummer Nights Dream (1980-82) DF Urrows 2019-11-05 | The Sarabande from Act III of my first opera, A Midsummer Night's Dream, composed 1980-82. This is actually the version for string orchestra which forms the fourth movement of my Suite from the opera. The HKBU Symphony Orchestra strings, conducted by Johnny Poon, recorded on 25 October 2010 at Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall.
Omnis mundus iucundetur DF Urrows 2019-11-01 | The third movement from Nova Gaudia: A Carol Sequence for mixed voices and organ by David Francis Urrows (1997). The Barnby Choir, Andrew Dean, conductor.
The Angel Gabriel (Annunciation Carol) DF Urrows 2019-10-05 | Second movement of Nova Gaudia (1997), The Angel Gabriel (Annunciation Carol). The Barnby Choir, conducted by Andrew Dean
Eya, nova gaudia! (from Nova Gaudia, 1997) DF Urrows 2019-10-02 | The first movement of my Carol Sequence, Nova Gaudia (1997), performed by The Barnby Choir, conducted by Andrew Dean. Recorded ca. 2000: "Eya, nova gaudia!"
Otto Dresel: Loose the sail, rest the oar. DF Urrows 2019-08-02 | An editorial completion of the final song of German-American composer Otto Dresel (1826-90), with words from Charles Kingsley's 'Hypatia'. Samantha Chong, mezzo-soprano, David Francis Urrows, piano.
Der Tanz der Götter DF Urrows 2019-06-14 | Three songs on Chinese poems in Nachdichtungen by Hans Bethge (1876-1946). Michael Halliwell, baritone, David Francis Urrows, piano. Recorded 29 May 2019, Meerscheinschloessel, Graz, Austria (world premiere).
An Epiphany Alleluia (1993) DF Urrows 2019-04-03 | Final movement of the Epiphany Cantata (1993) by David Francis Urrows. The Cecilian Singers, conducted by the composer, with Margaret Chen, organ. Recorded at St. John's Cathedral, Hong Kong, December 1999.
Motet V DF Urrows 2019-03-01 | The finale from The Martyrdom of Saint Cecilia: Motet V incorporating the 'Dirge-Canon' at the end. The Hong Kong Bach Choir and Orchestra, Jerome Hoberman, conductor, recorded at Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall on 5 December 2016. The soloists heard at the end are Samantha Chong, David Quah, and Albert Lim.
Footfall, Echoing DF Urrows 2019-02-03 | Footfall, echoing down the long ruin of midnight (Motet III), from The Martyrdom of Saint Cecilia by David Francis Urrows (2015). The Hong Kong Bach Choir and Orchestra, conducted by Jerome Hoberman.
Beati immaculati DF Urrows 2019-01-26 | Beati immaculati (Motet II) from The Martyrdom of St. Cecilia, by David Francis Urrows. The Hong Kong Bach Choir and Orchestra, conducted by Jerome Hoberman, 5 December 2016.
