Various Artists – Guido Gezelle (1999)

Had this 2cd been released some 60 years ago, almost every household in Belgium and the Netherlands would have owned a copy, such used to be the popularity of the Flemish catholic priest, poet, teacher and translator Guido Gezelle (1830-1899). My parents had a poem of his in a frame, which they placed in their bedroom on the day of their wedding. It is on this compilation: “Mij Spreekt de Blomme een Tale” (track 25, free tr. = to me, a flower can speak).
In his days, Gezelle was very much considered to be a poet for the people, because his language usage differed from the exalted tone common among his brethren in literature. Nowadays we would think differently, though. For modern readers he is quite a tough nut to crack, this due to the enormous vocabulary he was famous for…there are many words in his poetry the meaning of which we forgot.

The compilation here is more than just an ode to Gezelle’s accomplishment; it gives a nice survey of typically Dutch, and especially Flemish classical song as of the romantic period up to this day. Needless to say, the lyrics are all poems from Gezelle.

Note: Cd2 contains two long spoken declamations of Gezelle’s poetry, tracks 5 & 8. The rest of this 2cd is sung.

Tracks:

Cd1
01. Weemoed [0:02:16.00]
02. 'k En hoore u nog niet [0:02:48.55]
03. De hoornen [0:02:34.02]
04. Drie kleengedichtjes - En arm als ik [0:02:35.60]
05. Drie kleengedichtjes - 't Begijnhofklokske [0:00:45.08]
06. Drie kleengedichtjes - Heere, komt [0:01:17.50]
07. Leven [0:01:48.22]
08. Het strooien dak [0:01:51.10]
09. 't Is de Mandel [0:02:04.72]
10. Heil u moeder [0:02:05.41]
11. 't Groeit een blomken [0:02:19.20]
12. Hoe schoon [0:02:34.70]
13. Wierook [0:03:16.47]
14. Wiegeliedje [0:02:57.10]
15. Het meezennestje [0:02:02.18]
16. Tranen [0:04:44.67]
17. De wilde wind [0:02:52.63]
18. 't Is stille [0:02:22.07]
19. Morgenstond [0:03:22.33]
20. Zommer [0:02:06.54]
21. Hoort [0:01:15.11]
22. 't Meezeken [0:00:55.40]
23. Gij rookers gij snuivers [0:00:35.20]
24. Vijf Nageldeuntjes - Gij wacht wellicht [0:00:38.57]
25. Vijf Nageldeuntjes - Mij spreekt de blomme [0:00:59.50]
26. Vijf Nageldeuntjes - Men scheert geen ei [0:00:47.00]
27. Vijf Nageldeuntjes - Ik sta geren [0:01:10.70]
28. Vijf Nageldeuntjes - Tot wederzien [0:00:26.33]

Cd2
01. De kriekrode zunne [0:01:23.10]
02. Het zonnelicht [0:01:38.05]
03. 's avonds zie 'k de sterren geren [0:01:09.00]
04. Bonte kraaie [0:04:48.40]
05. Tijdkrans I winter & lente [0:14:27.72]
06. Lentemaan [0:00:34.25]
07. Dien avond en die rooze [0:01:51.08]
08. Tijdkrans II zomer & herfst [0:19:11.50]

Performers:

Sylvie de Pauw - soprano
Joost VanMaele - piano
Rubio String Quartet
Chris Lomme - declamation