Neil Ardley

DIGIPACK EDITION

" A SYMPHONY OF AMATANTS" IS THE MOST ROMANTIC AND HARMONICALLY
DENSE PIECE OF MUSIC THAT NEIL ARDLEY EVER COMPOSED"

Scored for a large jazz orchestra, this highly-collectable 1971-recorded album also contains two vocal settings by Ardley, being the earliest example of his vocal music. The first is setting of Edwards Lear's famous nonsense poem "The Dong with a Luminous Nose", wonderfully and uniquely told by Ivor Cutler backed by an unusual chamber orchestra containing keyboards, vibraphone, harp, violin and cello that provides an atmospheric setting for the poem. The second setting is of three poems by W.B. Yeats, James Joyce and Lewis Carroll, beautifully sung by Norma Winstone with the large jazz orchestra.

In its first ever CD release, re-mastered from the studio tapes, the album concludes with a bonus track in Ardley's jokey setting of the National Anthem that segues effortlessly into a light tango.

FEATURING:
FRANK RICOTTI, DAVE GELLY, JON HISEMAN, BARBARA THOMPSON, NORMA WINSTON,
STAN TRACEY, JEFF CLAYNE, HENRY LOWTHER, HAROLD BECKETT & DICK HECKSTALL-SMITH

Recorded in London, June, 1971

TRACKS:

01. A Symphony of Amaranths: Carillon / Nocturne / Entracte / Impromptu
02. The Dong With a Luminous Nose
03. Three Poems: After Long Silence / She Weeps Over Rahoon / Will You Walk a Little Faster?
04. National Anthem & Tango (Bonus Track)