Warlock: Maltworms & Milkmaids - Warlock & The Orchestra

This important release by EM Records, including no fewer than seventeen world premiere recordings, contains all of Peter Warlock's music which involves the use of an orchestra. Its title alludes to two of his compelling interests: beer, and the opposite sex.

A third interest was the revival of old music, as characterised by his suite 'Capriol', for which, alongside his beautiful carols and some of his solo songs, he is best known.

Essentially a miniaturist, Warlock used an orchestra for ten other short works and a brass band for two more, all but two of them with voices. In addition, Warlock's various publishers authorised the issue of orchestral accompaniments for at least ten of his songs by other orchestrators, though all of these remained in manuscript until the recent research for this disc by the Peter Warlock Society has led to their emergence.

The works on this disc, largely composed in the 1920s, cover a wide range of moods, from the rumbustious tributes to drink in 'Mr. Belloc's Fancy' and 'Captain Stratton's Fancy' to the sensibility of 'The First Mercy' and 'Balulalow'. They illustrate Warlock's links both with English folk song and with contemporary continental angular harmonic developments. Overall, the works of few twentieth century composers convey such a sense both of tenderness and of exuberant enjoyment.