| Martin Oxenham | |||||
| baritone | |||||
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Three
recital CDs available from the record companies, from Martin
Oxenham or on i-tunes.
On the Regent label REGCD450 released September
2014. The complete songs for voice and piano by Balfour
Gardiner (1877-1950) and three piano pieces, including the
composer's own virtuoso transcription of his 'Shepherd
Fennel's Dance', make up a CD to interest every British
music enthusiast. These are all first recordings apart
from one song.
Two solo recital CDs from Meridian Records exploring neglected works by British composers, Prospice DUOCD 89026 issued in 1994 and By the Waters of Babylon CDE84477 issued in 2003, have received glowing reviews: “thoroughly recommended” (Lewis Foreman on Musicweb), “Oxenham’s interpretations are perceptive” (BBC Music Magazine), “beautifully performed, recorded and presented….an excellent disc in every way” (International Record Review), “well sung by the pleasing baritone Martin Oxenham” (Michael Kennedy in the Sunday Telegraph). Recordings in which he sings solos with the St.Paul’s Cathedral Choir under John Scott include William Croft at St.Paul’s with the Parley of Instruments, Advent at St.Paul’s, Remembrance (all on Hyperion) and St.Paul’s Christmas Concert (RPO Records/Carlton) 
By the Waters
of Babylon This is the kind of attractive and valuable disc that the smaller British labels do so well: carefully chosen, themed repertoire often containing worthwhile yet unjustly neglected gems by composers both famous and unknown, and beautifully performed, recorded and presented .... an excellent disc in every way. The title track, the longest on this disc (at 9'19") is by Herbert Howells who described it as 'a rhapsody for baritone, violin, cello and organ' .... it is a minor masterpiece .... Martin Oxenham's baritone is ideally suited to this repertoire which he clearly loves .... strongly recommended. Robert Matthew Walker in International Record Review June 2003 This enterprising disc of solo settings of psalms by nine British composers and a rare setting of part of a Browning poem Saul by Parry. They are well sung by pleasing baritone Martin Oxenham ... Parry, a most impressive piece .... Howells' ravishing setting .... Michael Kennedy in the Sunday Telegraph PROSPICE Every so often one comes across a recording which has long been available but has somehow failed to attract much notice .... and yet on investigation proves to be a complete revelation. Such a CD, issued in 1994, is baritone Martin Oxenham's Meridian programme .... the power and eloquence of [Prospice for baritone and string quartet] - lasting just on ten minutes - is entirely unexpected .... an unknown late-Victorian masterpiece. Walford Davies builds a remarkably gripping little drama, which baritone Martin Oxenham seems securely inside .... the string quartet version with the addition of Butterworth's bittersweet setting of 'Fill a glass' in this eloquent reading brings real rewards .... It was an inspiration to dig out RVW's own chamber version of this evergreen work .... thoroughly recommended Lewis Foreman on Musicweb ... hats off to those whose idea it was to lead us so beguilingly down the musical byways. Oxenham's interpretations are perceptive. He's relaxed in the more restrained items, but doesn't lack punch when it's needed .... Wadham Sutton in the BBC Music Magazine These recordings are available from: http://www.meridian-records.co.uk |
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