Each of the songs is carefully considered and wrought in gracefully sunlit shades of romantic twilight. In the single songs arranged as sets named ‘The Garden’, ‘The Twilight’ and ‘Tomorrow and a Lullaby’, Donald George’s sweet tenor, partnered sympathetically by Lucy Mauro, captures the modest charm and lyrical flavour of Lang’s music. In the six Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures, set to limericks by Edward Lear…Lang raises the silly rhymes to a surprisingly affecting level, as in ‘There was a young lady in white’.

The recording, made at the University of West Virginia’s Bloch Hall, is rich and fine. © 2012 Gramophone Read complete review on Gramophone

Tonal, conservative, and sentimental in style, [Margaret Ruthven Lang’s] songs show scarcely a trace of the tremendous upheavals in musical composition that took place in her long lifetime; but they do reveal a secure command of harmony and structure, with graceful tunes and sophisticated writing for the piano. Pianist Lucy Mauro plays with skill and sensitivity. Tenor Donald George has a warm, attractive voice… © 2012 American Record Guide Read complete review on American Record Guide

I have been anticipating the launch of the second volume. Well, it is here now, under the charming title of New Love Must Rise. I am very pleased to say that it does not disappoint; on the contrary, if anything, it is even better than the first.

Tenor Donald George and pianist Lucy Mauro are in this CD, as in the first, in fine form. The musical rapport between them is transparent throughout, as is their obvious admiration for the composer. They revel in the music; their sheer delight is contagious and, like me, you will suddenly realise that you are smiling, all alone in a room, for no apparent reason!

…the songs of the second volume are as admirable as the ones of the first. Lang’s music is full of appealing melodies and sophisticated harmonies but most of all, the songs have a freshness, an innocence of days gone by. They are often deceptively simple but the more one listens, the more one grasps their delicate complexity. This collection of little musical treasures comes, yet again, in an attractive, colourful package as delightful as the music.

Get the recording, close your eyes, lean back and enjoy! © 2012 MusicWeb International Read complete review