Stout was clearly thinking of the Britten Serenade when he wrote his Three Burns Songs for chorus, horn and strings. Not that they were in any way copies, but the opening “My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose” shared some of Britten’s rich harmonic language and expressiveness. “The Wintry West” was lyrical and had an inviting folky flavor. And “The Fall of the Leaf” took on a darker flavor, and it was gorgeous.
Rutland Herald, May 2022