Stanford: Songs of the Sea, Songs of the Fleet & Symphony No. 3 “Irish”

Born in Dublin, he is still revered nowadays as the greatest Irish figure in classical music history. Bits of local folklore can be found in many of his orchestral works, particularly in his magnum opus, the Third Symphony. The slow movement is famous for its theme which is as alike two peas in the pod as a melody from Brahms’s Fourth Symphony (Stanford defended himself from accusations of plagiarism by asserting it was inspired by the traditional melody The Lament of the Sons of Usnach).

Stanford also composed various cantatas inspired by sea songs, as these two cycles on poems by Henry Newbolt vigorously sung by baritone Benjamin Luxon. Don’t miss the celebration of Lord Nelson chasing the French aboard the Old Superb, or the moving farewell sung by the sailors dead at sea to their mothers…