Richard Crooks - Songs and Ballads
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Stephen Collins Foster, James Carroll Bartlett, J.W. Metcalf, Antonín Dvořák, Anonymous, Emile Pessard, Teresa Del Riego, Moya, Edvard Grieg, Margaret Ruthven Lang, Cowles, Henry Ernest Geehl, Franz Schubert, Frank E Tours
Label: Prima Voce
Magazine Review Date: 3/1998
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 73
Mastering:
Mono
ADD
Catalogue Number: NI7888
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| Song of songs |
Moya, Composer
Moya, Composer (Anonymous) Orchestra Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| Absent |
J.W. Metcalf, Composer
(Anonymous) Orchestra J.W. Metcalf, Composer Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| (A) Dream |
James Carroll Bartlett, Composer
(Anonymous) Orchestra James Carroll Bartlett, Composer Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| O dry those tears! |
Teresa Del Riego, Composer
(Anonymous) Orchestra Richard Crooks, Tenor Teresa Del Riego, Composer |
| Forgotten |
Cowles, Composer
Cowles, Composer (Anonymous) Orchestra Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| Old folks at home |
Stephen Collins Foster, Composer
Balladeers Frank la Forge, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor Stephen Collins Foster, Composer |
| Beautiful dreamer |
Stephen Collins Foster, Composer
Frank la Forge, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor Stephen Collins Foster, Composer |
| My old Kentucky home |
Stephen Collins Foster, Composer
Anonymous Banjo Player(s), Banjo Anonymous Pianist(s), Piano Balladeers Richard Crooks, Tenor Stephen Collins Foster, Composer |
| Come, where my love lies dreaming |
Stephen Collins Foster, Composer
Balladeers Frank la Forge, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor Stephen Collins Foster, Composer |
| Oh! Susanna |
Stephen Collins Foster, Composer
Anonymous Guitarist(s), Guitar Frank la Forge, Piano Male Quartet Richard Crooks, Tenor Stephen Collins Foster, Composer |
| Old Black Joe |
Stephen Collins Foster, Composer
Balladeers Frank la Forge, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor Stephen Collins Foster, Composer |
| Jeanie with the light brown hair |
Stephen Collins Foster, Composer
Frank la Forge, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor Stephen Collins Foster, Composer |
| Massa's in de cold, cold ground |
Stephen Collins Foster, Composer
Anonymous Banjo Player(s), Banjo Balladeers Frank la Forge, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor Stephen Collins Foster, Composer |
| Ah! May the red rose live alway |
Stephen Collins Foster, Composer
Frank la Forge, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor Stephen Collins Foster, Composer |
| Camptown Races, 'Gwine to run all night' |
Stephen Collins Foster, Composer
Anonymous Banjo Player(s), Banjo Anonymous Pianist(s), Piano Male Quartet Richard Crooks, Tenor Stephen Collins Foster, Composer |
| (L')Adieu du matin |
Emile Pessard, Composer
Emile Pessard, Composer Frederic Schauwecker, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| (6) Songs, Movement: No. 6, A dream (Ein Traum) |
Edvard Grieg, Composer
Edvard Grieg, Composer Frederic Schauwecker, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| Schwanengesang, 'Swan Song', Movement: No. 4, Ständchen |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Frederic Schauwecker, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| Have your seen but a white lily grow? |
Anonymous, Composer
Anonymous, Composer Frederic Schauwecker, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| (7) Gipsy Melodies, 'Zigeunerlieder', Movement: No. 4, Songs my mother taught me |
Antonín Dvořák, Composer
Antonín Dvořák, Composer Frederic Schauwecker, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| Mother o' mine |
Frank E Tours, Composer
Frank E Tours, Composer Frederic Schauwecker, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| For you alone |
Henry Ernest Geehl, Composer
(Anonymous) Orchestra Henry Ernest Geehl, Composer Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| (The) Irish Love Song |
Margaret Ruthven Lang, Composer
(Anonymous) Orchestra Margaret Ruthven Lang, Composer Richard Crooks, Tenor |
Composer or Director: Sigmund Romberg, James MacDermid, Johann Sebastian Bach, Robert Orlando Morgan, Richard Strauss, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Thomas (Augustine) Arne, Franz Lehár, Maude Valerie White, Stephen Collins Foster, Elinor Remick Warren, Richard Wagner, Ludwig van Beethoven, Georges Bizet, Emile Pessard, Robert Franz, Edvard Grieg, Henry Thacker Burleigh, Felix Mendelssohn, Franz Schubert, James Lynam Molloy, Francesco Cilea, Fay Foster, Roger Quilter, Gaetano Donizetti, Giuseppe Verdi, Edward Purcell-Cockrane
Label: Stanford Archive Series
Magazine Review Date: 3/1998
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 150
Mastering:
Mono
ADD
Catalogue Number: DE5501
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| (Die) Schöne Müllerin |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Frank la Forge, Piano Franz Schubert, Composer Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| Schwanengesang, 'Swan Song', Movement: No. 4, Ständchen |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Frederic Schauwecker, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| Zärtliche Liebe, 'Ich liebe dich' |
Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer
Frederic Schauwecker, Piano Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| (3) Songs, Movement: No. 2, Now sleeps the crimson petal (wds. Tennyson |
Roger Quilter, Composer
Frederic Schauwecker, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor Roger Quilter, Composer |
| Passing by |
Edward Purcell-Cockrane, Composer
Edward Purcell-Cockrane, Composer Frederic Schauwecker, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| Clorinda |
Robert Orlando Morgan, Composer
Frederic Schauwecker, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor Robert Orlando Morgan, Composer |
| (L')Adieu du matin |
Emile Pessard, Composer
Emile Pessard, Composer Frederic Schauwecker, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| Melodies of the Heart, Movement: No. 3, I love but thee (Jeg elsker dig) |
Edvard Grieg, Composer
Edvard Grieg, Composer Frederic Schauwecker, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| (6) Lieder, Movement: Für Musik (wds. Geibel) |
Robert Franz, Composer
Frederic Schauwecker, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor Robert Franz, Composer |
| (6) Lieder, Movement: Stille Sicherheit (wds. Lenau) |
Robert Franz, Composer
Frederic Schauwecker, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor Robert Franz, Composer |
| (6) Lieder, Movement: No. 2, Auf Flügeln des Gesanges (wds. Heine) |
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer
Clarence Dickinson, Organ Felix Mendelssohn, Composer Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| Charity |
James MacDermid, Composer
(Anonymous) Orchestra James MacDermid, Composer Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| (The) Student Prince, Movement: Serenade |
Sigmund Romberg, Composer
(Anonymous) Orchestra Richard Crooks, Tenor Sigmund Romberg, Composer |
| (The) Desert Song, Movement: ~ |
Sigmund Romberg, Composer
(Anonymous) Orchestra Richard Crooks, Tenor Sigmund Romberg, Composer |
| Sacrament |
James MacDermid, Composer
(Anonymous) Orchestra James MacDermid, Composer Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| (Die) Meistersinger von Nürnberg, '(The) Masters, Movement: Morgenlich leuchtend (Prize Song) |
Richard Wagner, Composer
(Anonymous) Orchestra Richard Crooks, Tenor Richard Wagner, Composer |
| Lohengrin, Movement: In fernem Land |
Richard Wagner, Composer
(Anonymous) Orchestra Richard Crooks, Tenor Richard Wagner, Composer |
| Carmen, Movement: ~ |
Georges Bizet, Composer
Berlin State Opera Orchestra Clemens Schmalstich, Conductor Georges Bizet, Composer Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| Aida, Movement: ~ |
Giuseppe Verdi, Composer
Berlin State Opera Orchestra Clemens Schmalstich, Conductor Giuseppe Verdi, Composer Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| (L')Elisir d'amore, 'Elixir of Love', Movement: Una furtiva lagrima |
Gaetano Donizetti, Composer
Berlin State Opera Orchestra Clemens Schmalstich, Conductor Gaetano Donizetti, Composer Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| Absent yet present |
Maude Valerie White, Composer
Frank la Forge, Piano Maude Valerie White, Composer Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| Love's old sweet song |
James Lynam Molloy, Composer
(Anonymous) Orchestra James Lynam Molloy, Composer Nathaniel Shilkret, Conductor Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| (8) Lieder aus Letzte Blätter, Movement: No. 3, Die Nacht |
Richard Strauss, Composer
Elinor Remick Warren, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor Richard Strauss, Composer |
| (4) Lieder, Movement: No. 4, Morgen (wds. J H Mackay: orch 1897) |
Richard Strauss, Composer
Elinor Remick Warren, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor Richard Strauss, Composer |
| (L')Arlesiana, '(The) Girl from Arles', Movement: E la solita storia (Lamento) |
Francesco Cilea, Composer
Elinor Remick Warren, Piano Francesco Cilea, Composer Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| (The Masque of) Comus |
Thomas (Augustine) Arne, Composer
Thomas (Augustine) Arne, Composer |
| Liebes Mädchen, hör mir zu |
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Composer
Frederic Schauwecker, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Composer |
| Friederike, Movement: O Mädchen, mein Mädchen |
Franz Lehár, Composer
Franz Lehár, Composer Frederic Schauwecker, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| O perfect love |
Henry Thacker Burleigh, Composer
Clarence Dickinson, Organ Henry Thacker Burleigh, Composer Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| For you with love |
Elinor Remick Warren, Composer
Anonymous Organists(s), Organ Elinor Remick Warren, Composer Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| Cantata No. 147, 'Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben', Movement: Choral: Jesu bleibet meine Freude (Jesu, joy of man's desiring) |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Anonymous Organists(s), Organ Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| (The) Americans come |
Fay Foster, Composer
Fay Foster, Composer Frederic Schauwecker, Piano Richard Crooks, Tenor |
| Camptown Races, 'Gwine to run all night' |
Stephen Collins Foster, Composer
(Anonymous) Orchestra Bing Crosby, Singer Richard Crooks, Tenor Stephen Collins Foster, Composer |
| Beautiful dreamer |
Stephen Collins Foster, Composer
(Anonymous) Orchestra Bing Crosby, Singer Richard Crooks, Tenor Stephen Collins Foster, Composer |
Author: Alan Blyth
The Delos issue is of the utmost importance. The Crooks family donated their collection of Richard Crooks to the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound. To return the compliment, its Honorary Curator, William R. Moran, well known to collectors, has prepared this invaluable pair of CDs, consisting almost entirely of unpublished recordings, the majority of them Victors, some duplicating published performances but others new to Crooks’s discography, most notably songs by Arne, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Robert Franz and Quilter (a ravishing Now sleeps the crimson petal). Then there are privately made items of unusual interest, notably two pieces sung at a wedding ceremony in 1967, when the tenor was 67, showing little or no sign of decline in his powers (he had retired for health reasons as early as 1946).
The other private offerings, of Strauss Lieder (Die Nacht and Morgen, made at home) have Crooks announcing the songs, then saying disarmingly: “After which I shall probably fall on my voice in a dead faint”. He needn’t have worried: both, sung – unusually by him (because Victor liked him to sing in English) – in the original language, are done with grace, feeling and touches of the most delicate piano. The date given is c1937, but I would suggest a later date as the voice sounds darker than it was in the 1930s. From possibly the same session comes Federico’s Lament (L’arlesiana), performed with sensitivity allied to passion – just right, even if the closing phrases betray signs of strain.
Also included is the complete Die schone Mullerin I reviewed in May last year when it appeared on Claremont. I won’t repeat what I said then except to praise a flawed but genuinely artless interpretation, the first ever on record by a tenor (not the premiere recording tout court as I wrongly stated). The transfers here are marginally superior but those who have the alternative issue may be placed in a quandary. Crooks enthusiasts will want both, not least because Delos have refurbished his rare Electrola operatic titles (sung in German) including Lohengrin’s Narration sung with real vision and, never heard before, an unpublished Carmen Flower Song, fluid and fluent, ending with a quiet high B flat – Crooks at his persuasive best and a souvenir of one of his Metropolitan roles. Besides, Electrola undoubtedly came closer than Victor to catching the true sound of Crooks’s tone (and that in the late 1920s). The final rarities, and enormous fun, are duets – De Camptown Races and Beautiful Dreamer – with Bing Crosby, taken off the air in 1943, with some spoken banter between the singers beforehand. These bring a fascinating issue to a joyous end.
After the careful, true restorations by Moran, the added resonance on the Nimbus CD is unacceptable, sounding more artificial than ever, and quite unnecessary in the case of electric recordings. Besides, the material here is mostly second-rate, though admittedly immensely popular when Crooks sang Foster et al on his recital tours. If you want the tenor at his considerable best, which is to say almost in the McCormack class as a charmer, go for the Delos disc.'
The other private offerings, of Strauss Lieder (Die Nacht and Morgen, made at home) have Crooks announcing the songs, then saying disarmingly: “After which I shall probably fall on my voice in a dead faint”. He needn’t have worried: both, sung – unusually by him (because Victor liked him to sing in English) – in the original language, are done with grace, feeling and touches of the most delicate piano. The date given is c1937, but I would suggest a later date as the voice sounds darker than it was in the 1930s. From possibly the same session comes Federico’s Lament (
Also included is the complete Die schone Mullerin I reviewed in May last year when it appeared on Claremont. I won’t repeat what I said then except to praise a flawed but genuinely artless interpretation, the first ever on record by a tenor (not the premiere recording tout court as I wrongly stated). The transfers here are marginally superior but those who have the alternative issue may be placed in a quandary. Crooks enthusiasts will want both, not least because Delos have refurbished his rare Electrola operatic titles (sung in German) including Lohengrin’s Narration sung with real vision and, never heard before, an unpublished Carmen Flower Song, fluid and fluent, ending with a quiet high B flat – Crooks at his persuasive best and a souvenir of one of his Metropolitan roles. Besides, Electrola undoubtedly came closer than Victor to catching the true sound of Crooks’s tone (and that in the late 1920s). The final rarities, and enormous fun, are duets – De Camptown Races and Beautiful Dreamer – with Bing Crosby, taken off the air in 1943, with some spoken banter between the singers beforehand. These bring a fascinating issue to a joyous end.
After the careful, true restorations by Moran, the added resonance on the Nimbus CD is unacceptable, sounding more artificial than ever, and quite unnecessary in the case of electric recordings. Besides, the material here is mostly second-rate, though admittedly immensely popular when Crooks sang Foster et al on his recital tours. If you want the tenor at his considerable best, which is to say almost in the McCormack class as a charmer, go for the Delos disc.'
Richard Crooks - Songs and Ballads
Crooks - Schubert, Arias & Songs
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