Death is now my only treasure;
Death is all the Gods can give.
Fate can’t rob me of this pleasure;
None can force the wretch to live.
Fear no more to pine and languish;
Fear no more the rack of life,
Pain and torture, toil and anguish;
Death shall end the fev’rish strife.
Ye little loves that hourly wait
To bring from Celia’s eyes my fate,
Tell her my pain in softest sighs,
And gently whisper, Strephon dies.
But if this won’t her pity move
And the coy nymph disdains to love,
Tell her again ’tis all a lie,
And haughty Strephon scorns to die.
Thomas Erskine, the 6th Earl of Kellie was Scotland's most colourful and exuberant 18-century composer, known on his estates as 'Fiddler Tam'. His music includes Mannheim symphonies, songs, string quartets, trio sonatas, and a strathspey & reel. This recording features his extravagant orchestral fireworks, and his intimate chamber music recorded in his Fife home, Kellie Castle.
credits
released March 7, 2005
Concerto Caledonia
tracks 1-11
Lucy Russell (leader), Ruth Slater, Ken Aiso, violin 1
Sarah Bevan-Baker, Emilia Benjamin, Fanny Pestalozzi, violin 2
Katherine McGillivray, Kate Fawcet, viola
Alison McGillivray, Joseph Crouch, cello
Malachy Robinson, double bass
Katy Bircher, Brinley Yare, flute
Katharina Spreckelsen, Lorraine Wood, oboe
Ursula Leveaux, bassoon
Anneke Scott, David Bentley, horn
directed by
David McGuinness, harpsichord
with Mhairi Lawson, soprano (tracks 4, 8)
recorded by Philip Hobbs at St Jude’s on the Hill, London, 17 March 2004
tracks 12-16
Lucy Russell, Sarah Bevan-Baker, violins
Katherine McGillivray, viola
Alison McGillivray, cello
David McGuinness, harpsichord
recorded by Philip Hobbs at Crichton Collegiate Church, Midlothian, 12 November 2003
tracks 17-20
Katy Bircher, flute
David Greenberg, violin
Katherine McGillivray, viola
Alison McGillivray, cello
David McGuinness, harpsichord
recorded by Tony Kime at Crichton Collegiate Church, Midlothian, 22 September 2003 (17) and by Steve Portnoi for BBC Radio 3 at Kellie Castle, 14 March 2003 (18-20)
Produced by Philip Hobbs and David McGuinness
Post-production by Julia Thomas
Project management for Linn Records: Caroline Dooley
Supported by the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, and Binks Trust
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