Emerging Artists Series, McIntyre-Morris Duo

Usher Hall 20/01/25

James McIntyre tenor, Ross Morris, guitar

This morning’s sizeable audience in the choir-stalls of the Usher Hall are treated to an exceptional concert by the tenor James McIntyre and guitarist Ross Morris, which is part of the Emerging Artists Series, arranged by Live Music Now Scotland and the Kimie Trust.  Their programme, which begins and ends with British folk song arrangements, features two lesser-known song-cycles, Welsh composer, Stephen Goss’s 2014 ‘The Book of Songs’ and Schubert’s  ‘Gesänge des Harfners’ (Song of the Harpist).

Britten’s setting of ‘Ca the Yowes to the Knowes’ and James MacMillan’s ‘Scots Song’, based on William Soutars’ ‘The Tryst’ (‘O luely, luely cam she in’), have been arranged for guitar by Ross Morris. James McIntyre’s flexible voice has lovely top notes, and he has fine eye-contact with the audience, while the quiet guitar accompaniment retains the quirkiness of each composer. 

Stephen Goss, born 1964,  chose Chinese poems in an English translation by Arthur Waley, which follows a stages of a young man’s love affair, and provides lyrical melodies to match Waley’s fine writing – the first two songs have the evocative titles, ‘She Threw Me a Quince’ and ‘Oh, You with the Blue Collar.’  The guitar plays a prominent role, which allows Ross Morris scope for more elaborate accompaniment, sometimes mimicking natural sounds, such as water and bird song, and at others using classical guitar techniques or more modern sliding notes. He plays a meditative solo ’Pastoral’ which leads directly into the tenor’s dramatic ’In the Tavern’ which ends with the petulant outburst, “Seeing other men behave like drunkards, how can I alone remain sober?” ‘The Book of Songs’ is a substantial piece, and the duo’s elegant and committed rendition commands attention. 

Schubert’s songs about a poor elderly harpist, based on poems by Goethe, is sung in German, and James McIntyre’s unforced voice in the long legato phrases higher in his voice reveal him as an accomplished Lieder singer. The setting, arranged for guitar by German guitarist/composer Tilman Hoppstock, leaves intact many of the intricacies of the original piano accompaniment, a challenge which Ross Morris meets admirably.  The concert closes with two more folk songs – the less familiar ’Master Kilby’ is sung in Britten’s setting for voice and guitar, while ‘Danny Boy’, starting low in the tenor’s voice, provides him with a fabulous high ending to the last chorus. 

This splendid recital by two talented performers receives hearty applause from the audience.  The last concert in this series of Emerging Artists concerts, sponsored is next Monday 27th January at 11am when the musicians are Siannie Moodie, clarsach and Magnus Turpie, accordion.