Project Mauve started life as a conversation over cheese scones at Birmingham New Street railway station. The aim was to bring music, art and poetry together. From this, Ruth Carlyle and Nic Carlyle commissioned David Barton to set Edgar Allan Poe’s Annabel Lee, followed by Ruth’s poem The Reply of Annabel Lee. In each instance, the songs have been recorded by Ruth Carlyle and David Barton, with illustrations by Nic Carlyle. Commissions for settings of Ruth’s Now Breathe and Anne Brontë’s Night followed. Two previously unpublished settings of poems by Robert Browning, Meeting at Night and My Star, complete the collection.

Annabel Lee Replies

*Summerfield Studio Recording* 3 June 2020
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) wrote ‘Annabel Lee’ in 1849. The narrator bemoans the loss of his beautiful Annabel Lee, whose death he blames on supernatural forces envious of the love between the narrator and Annabel. Poe believed that poetry should be like music and his repeated phrases, such as ‘the sepulchre by the sea’ and ‘the beautiful Annabel Lee’ are like phrases of music.

Nic and Ruth Carlyle commissioned David Barton in 2019 to compose a setting for piano and voice of ‘Annabel Lee’. This forms the first part of a companion set with ‘The Reply of Annabel Lee’ written by (Eleanor) Ruth Carlyle.

The settings reflect the ‘sounding sea’ that flows through both poems.

The performers in this recording are Ruth Carlyle (voice) and David Barton (piano). The illustration is by Nic Carlyle.

Annabel Lee - David Barton, 2019

*Summerfield Studio Recording* 3 June 2020
The poem ‘The Reply of Annabel Lee’ was written in 2018 by (Eleanor) Ruth Carlyle as a response to ‘Annabel Lee’ by Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849). The narrator is Annabel Lee herself, remembering the joy that the lovers shared. She releases her lover from his long vigil, provided that he continues to hear her voice in the ‘sounding sea’.

Nic and Ruth Carlyle commissioned David Barton in 2019 to compose a setting for piano and voice of ‘The Reply of Annabel Lee’. This forms the second part of a companion set with David Barton’s setting of ‘Annabel Lee’ by Edgar Allan Poe.

The settings reflect the ‘sounding sea’ that flows through both poems.

The performers in this recording are Ruth Carlyle (voice) and David Barton (piano). The illustration is by Nic Carlyle.

The Reply of Annabel Lee - David Barton, 2019

*Summerfield Studio Recording* 3 June 2020
‘Now breathe’ was written as a poem by (Eleanor) Ruth Carlyle in 2019. It reflects on the choices that we all make as individuals about how we use our breath, or life force.

Nic and Ruth Carlyle commissioned David Barton in 2020 to compose a setting for voice and piano.

The performers in this recording are Ruth Carlyle (voice) and David Barton (piano). The illustration is by Nic Carlyle.

Now Breathe - David Barton, 2020

*Summerfield Studio Recording*
This unaccompanied setting of Anne Brontë’s poem ‘Night’ was commissioned by Ruth and Nic Carlyle in 2020, the two hundredth anniversary of Anne Brontë’s birth. David Barton’s composition combines Brontë’s text with hums reminiscent of sighs and of church bells. It is sung here by Ruth Carlyle and forms part of the album Annabel Lee Replies, Project Mauve.

The illustration is by Nic Carlyle.

Night - David Barton, 2020

*Summerfield Studio Recording*
This setting of Robert Browning’s Meeting at Night by David Barton conveys the romantic journey to lovers’ meeting. It is sung here by Ruth Carlyle with the composer at the piano.

Meeting at Night - David Barton, 2015

Robert Browning’s poem ‘My Star’ is set here for voice and piano by David Barton. He conveys the fascination, colours and movement of the star as conveyed in the poem. It is sung here by Ruth Carlyle with the composer at the piano.

My Star - David Barton, 2015

Ruth is based in Lichfield, UK, and sings mostly classical and traditional folk music. She also writes lyrics (as Eleanor Ruth Carlyle) and collaborates on new music with David Barton http://www.davidbartonmusic.co.uk/.

She  released her first EP with David Barton in November 2020: ‘Annabel Lee Replies’.

The songs on Ruth’s SoundCloud site are illustrated by her husband Nic Carlyle https://www.twitter.com/carlyle_nic

Ruth was a awarded a Distinction for London College of Music Examinations Grade 8 Classical Singing (100%) in July 2018 and the DipLCM (upper level) in July 2019.