Prima Facie Records

Imagine Two Rivers (PFCD198)

Music by Barry Seaman

Chamber Music Book 1 (1981, revised 1983): Six Songs for piano and female voice

01. My dove, my beautiful one
02. At that hour when all things have repose
03. Love that came to us in time gone by
04. Rain has fallen all the day
05. Bid adieu
06. Strings in the earth and air

07. Philomel (1983)
08. Imagine Two Rivers (2012)
09. White Bird Flying (1991)
10. Ben's New Piano (1991)
11. Orpheus Piano (1998)
12. MIDI Pianos (1990)
13. Carol for unaccompanied Soprano (1972)

Lincoln Voluntaries for organ (1982)

14-23. Lincoln Voluntaries 1-10

24. Gabriel's Greeting (1980)
25. The Eve of St. Agnes (1983)
26. Ada's Song (1984)
27. Philomel for female voice and piano (1982)
28. Tango from Mirabai (2010)

This memorial CD celebrates the beautiful music, heart and soul of gifted composer Barry Seaman, who was tragically lost to Covid-19 on April 5, 2020 aged just 73, when the UK was in the first lockdown and “normal” funerals were not allowed. Born on 10th December 1946, Barry realised from a young age he wanted – needed – to be a composer, dedicating himself to that vocation, and later studying music and composition at York University from 1969 to 1972. He was a prolific creator and a natural teacher with a unique style, passionate about sharing and communicating his love of music, film and art. His many friends have spoken of Barry’s distinctive voice, his talent as a composer who combined modesty and boldness, whose sincerity was obvious in everything he did, of a gentle man, one of a kind, who deserved many, many more years. A man who touched so many people’s lives, who is greatly missed – and who leaves something beautiful and everlasting behind him. Although we have lost Barry, we must not lose his music. Through the transcendent beauty he created, he lives on.
Jane Seaman, December 2022

Barry was grateful to Help Musicians for their support in his later years so any donations would be a fitting way to give something back. Help Musicians | Homepage

Credits

Francesca Saracino mezzo-soprano | Richard Casey piano | Duncan Honeybourne piano | Angharad Morgan soprano | Lauren Scott harp | Timothy Dickinson baritone

All tracks recorded and produced by Steve Plews, except tracks 1-6, 7, 13, and 14-23 recorded and produced by Simon Cosby-Buttle, track 12 recorded by Barry Seaman.

Recorded at Holy Trinity Church, Hereford, October 2022 (8, 9, 10, 11, 24), St Elizabeth's Parish Church, Ashley, November 2022 (7, 25, 28), and at Volante Opera Studios, Pontypridd.

Francesca Saracino and Angharad Morgan appear by arrangement with Welsh National Opera.

1946-2020

Born on 10th December 1946, Barry Seaman realised from a young age he wanted – needed – to be a composer, dedicating himself to that vocation. He told me the happiest time in his life was when he was studying music and composition at York University from 1969 to 1972. He was a prolific creator – even I didn’t appreciate how prolific until undertaking the momentous task of cataloguing all existing scores of his work for Heritage Quay, the archive centre based at the University of Huddersfield, where the physical storage of the British Music Collection is kept. It was fascinating and incredibly emotional to follow threads and see where certain ideas recurred and to trace the evolution of his composition style. Since Barry did not have a publisher of his works, or professional commercial recordings, and I was determined his music must not be forgotten, all the paper scores, and many digital files, are now stored at Heritage Quay and available for anyone to access should they wish to perform or research Barry’s work.

A natural teacher with a unique style, Barry was passionate about sharing and communicating his love of music, film and art. He lived for his music, his friends and his Norwegian Forest cats, Sita and Steve. Kind and trusting, with a strong sense of humour, Barry always thought the best of people. Deeply spiritual, intense, romantic and highly intelligent, revering truth and beauty, his integrity got him into trouble at times. His refusal to conform, and instinct to question – whatever the consequences – gave me the courage to do the same. Meeting him changed the course of my life and influenced so much about the way I see the world. Friends talk of Barry’s distinctive voice, a very talented composer who combined modesty and boldness, whose sincerity was obvious in everything he did, of a gentle man, one of a kind, who deserved many, many more years, who touched so many people’s lives – who leaves something beautiful and everlasting behind him.
Jane Seaman