ABSTRACT
The thoughts which follow were stimulated by Brian Rayner Cook’s and Roger Vignoles’ recording of Brian songs and by the broadcast of The Tigers. I have also drawn on The Vision of Cleopatra, some published songs not on the Cook/Vignoles record, 2 and The Gothic, which is the latest piece I consider. I have confined myself almost entirely to solo setting; the forthcoming Altarus disc will provide an opportunity to ponder the very different question of Brian’s ensemble writing.
