G. Molyneux Palmer

Chamber Music (James Joyce)

32 songs by Anglo-Irish composer Geoffrey Molyneux Palmer (1882-1957) setting the text of James Joyce's 'Chamber Music'. The cycle is a kind of Irish Winterreise that adds significantly to the history of Georgian song. Published for the first time, these songs have been edited by Peter Dickinson who provides extensive introductory and editorial notes about the songs. The 88 page volume also includes some samples of Palmer's manuscripts as well as copies of letters from Joyce to Palmer. Joyce considered that of the many musical settings of his poetry, those by Palmer were the finest.
In exchanges with Palmer, Joyce urged that the songs be pitched in a high key and as a result the overall range of the songs is from D to high B, though only one song reaches B and two others Bb. In these three songs slightly lower alternatives are offered!
A complete recording is included on Heritage CD HTGCD175 (entitled 'Joyce's Favourite Songs') with Martyn Hill [tenor] and Peter Dickinson [piano].
Total duration around 45 minutes