Charles T. Griffes: Songs and Lieder

So Lit Song Lit

Charles Tomlinson Griffes is best known for his song "The Lament of Ian the Proud", but he has many more art songs and German Lieder to his credit. Having studied with Engelbert Humperdinck for a time, his German Lieder have an intense German sound, while many of his English songs have a definite French influence.

"In a Myrtle Shade" and "Symphony in Yellow" are in the book Songs of C.T. Griffes Vol. 1 (available at Classical Vocal Reprints), as is "The Lament of Ian the Proud". There is also a Vol. 2 in that series with different songs for medium voice, while Vol. 3 has several of his German Lieder, including "Wohl lag' ich einst" and one of my favorites, "Nacht liegt auf den fremden Wegen". "Cleopatra to the Asp" is in Seven Songs. To see a more comprehensive list of his art songs, check out his listing on Liedernet.

Recordings featured in this episode, performed by Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano, Zachary Dean Smith, tenor, and Ellen Rissinger, pianist:

• Wohl lag' ich einst
• In a Myrtle Shade
• Symphony in Yellow
• Cleopatra to the Asp

Recorded at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, PA.

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So Lit Song Lit is a production of Cincinnati Song Initiative. You can learn more about their network of podcasts at cincinnatisonginitiative.org/podcasts.

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You can follow Toni Marie on Facebook at Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano and Instagram @ToniMariePalmertree

You can find out more about Zach on his website, https://www.zacharydeansmith.com/

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