Prima Facie Records

Death and Entrances: New Song Settings of Dylan Thomas (PFCD276) £12.50/£17.50

Compsitions by David Lancaster, Hayley Jenkins, Philip Grange, Sadie Harrison, Richard Allain, Rhian Samuel
Performed by Christopher O'Gorman, tenor, and David Pipe, piano

1. David Lancaster - The force that through the green fuse drives the flower [7:48]
2. David Lancaster - Twenty-four years [4:20]
3. Hayley Jenkins - You hold the ilex by its stem [5:16]
4. Hayley Jenkins - Cool may she find the day [5:27]
5. Philip Grange - In my craft and sullen art [7:07]
6. Sadie Harrison - Love in the asylum [7:23]
7. Richard Allain - Elegy [9:16]
8. Rhian Samuel - For as long as forever is [4:08]
9. Rhian Samuel - Clown in the moon [3:12]
0. Rhian Samuel - Mr Waldo's Song [3:02]
Total Time [57:04]

Prompted and supported by the leading Dylan Thomas expert John Goodby, this recording brings together several exciting compositional voices in British music in a re-visiting and re-presentation of the poetry of Dylan Thomas through the medium of song.

Dylan Thomas (1914-53) is one of the best-known poets of the twentieth century, the author of such anthology staples as 'And death shall have no dominion', 'Fern Hill' and 'Do not go gentle into that good night', as well as what is probably the best-loved of all radio features, Under Milk Wood. From the very first, his writing was notable for its musicality and sensitivity to the colours, timbres and textures of individual words, qualities which are marked in the impressively sonorous recordings he made for Caedmon Records towards the end of his tragically short life. From his earliest years, too, Thomas was alert to music as an art in its own right; his best friend at school was the leading Welsh composer Daniel Jones, a musical prodigy, who introduced him to experimental literature and music.

The Deaths and Entrances project began in 2021 when John Goodby suggested to the composer David Lancaster that he might like to consider setting a Thomas poem to mark the seventieth anniversary of the poet’s death, in 2023. Work was delayed by Covid, but it was given an new boost and an extra dimension when David and John mentioned it to David's fellow composer, Philip Grange. Philip was keen to be involved himself, and soon he and David had been joined by another three other composers – Rhian Samuel, Hayley Jenkins and Sadie Harrison. By 2023 all five were producing settings and Chris O'Gorman (tenor) and David Pipe (piano) had been engaged as performers. The composers' choice of texts ranges widely, from obscure juvenilia to famous early lyrics, and from mature later poems to a song from Under Milk Wood; it draws on the full spectrum of Thomas's poetic output. The first performance of the suite of songs was at a recital of November 2023, as part of York’s prestigious Late Music concert series. Two of the composers then set a second poem, and finally Richard Allain – a longstanding fan of Dylan Thomas's work – joined the group, setting 'Elegy', the poem Thomas was working on at the time of his death.

Following a further well-received performance at Worcester College, Oxford, in May 2024, and a subsequent crowdfunder, the recording for this CD was made at the Cosmo Rodewald Hall, Manchester University, in August 2025.

Musicians

Christopher O'Gorman, tenor
David Pipe, piano

Credits

Recorded on August 3 and 4, 2024, in the Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall at the University of Manchester, by Steve Plews.
Produced by David Lancaster and Philip Grange.
Edited and Mastered by Phil Hardman.
Artwork and booklet: John Goodby.

Christopher O'Gorman is a solo and ensemble singer who has become known for his interpretations of early and contemporary music. He is a member of the Conductus trio with fellow tenors John Potter and Rogers Covey-Crump, Cantabile, The London Quartet, the Gavin Bryars Ensemble, and the Choir of York Minster. He is also an ad hoc member of various groups including The Binchois Consort, The Brabant Ensemble, Ex Cathedra, the Gabrieli Consort and Gothic Voices. His growing discography includes three albums with Conductus on the Hyperion label which have been received enthusiastically by the musical press. A Gramophone magazine review noted 'the glorious voice of Christopher O'Gorman' , while Andrew Benson-Wilson has spoken of his 'well-modulated and exquisitely-toned sound' . Christopher has also recorded new pieces by Kerry Andrew, Stef Connor, David Lancaster and Roger Marsh amongst others, as well as première recordings of newly discovered French baroque repertoire.

David Pipe read Music at Cambridge University as Organ Scholar of Downing College, later studying organ at the Royal Academy of Music. He has performed at major international festivals, including the Bergen International Festival and the St Albans International Organ Festival. David’s solo recordings have attracted acclaim in the international music press, with performances described as “electrifying”. As piano accompanist, he has appeared at the Charterhouse in London, the York Late Music series, and Worcester College, Oxford. Most recently, he has featured as the organist in performances with Doom Metal bands such as Pantheïst. David was Director of the Keyboard Studies Programme and Cathedral Organist in the Diocese of Leeds until Easter 2024 and was previously Assistant Director of Music at York Minster. Now a freelance performer and conductor, he is Organist at Huddersfield Town Hall, and Musical Director of York Musical Society. In 2018, David was elected Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.