A Language of Flowers

It’s hard not to feel optimistic at this time of year, isn’t it? Spring is clearly on the way, the vernal equinox is on Sunday, the days are getting longer and lighter, the sun is starting to show itself, and the flowers are starting to bloom. And we’re really looking forward to our concert on Saturday 2nd April. This marks our first solo concert since the pandemic, our first solo concert in our new home at St Olave’s, and our first concert directed by our Musical Director, Adam Hope. 

This time two years ago, we had been preparing to deliver our first concert directed by Adam, who had only just taken the reins in January 2020.  On 12th March, 2020, we took the decision to cancel the concert but we didn’t realise that it was also the last rehearsal we’d have together in person for eighteen months. We reminisced about this in our first ever blog post and we commemorated the first anniversary last April, so I won’t go into too much detail again now – we’re more excited to look forward!

Our concert on the 2nd is an evening of music by English composers across the centuries. We have some Purcell representing the 17th century, namely his Te Deum and Jubilate Deo. We have Parry’s Blest Pair of Sirens standing for the 19th century, and Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb for the 20th century completes the set. Adam has very cleverly incorporated pieces we looked at in detail over those long months of Zoom rehearsals into our repertoire for this season. Our first focus when we resumed rehearsals remotely in April 2020 was Fauré’s Requiem which we were finally able to sing together at our Come and Sing last November. And the main piece for our second remote term was Rejoice in the Lamb.

We wrote back then of our enjoyment of the Britten, and particularly the unique and at times very odd poetry of Christopher Smart from his piece Jubilate Agno. Unsurprisingly, the opening of this text and the text of the Jubilate Deo are very similar indeed. 

Both Purcell pieces are traditional liturgical text, which always feels appropriate in the Lenten season even though we are a secular choir – but the other pieces are pure poetry. Smart diverges from this traditional opening; while the rest of the piece is full of biblical references, it also mentions ‘silly fellows,’ refers to his ‘Cat Jeoffry’ as ‘the servant of the Living God’, and makes the bold claim that ‘the Mouse is a creature of great personal valour’ (no arguments here). And in the springly spirit in which we started this post, Smart also refers to flowers as ‘particularly the poetry of Christ’, saying 

For the flower glorifies God and the root parries the adversary

Speaking of Parry, Blest Pair of Sirens features Milton at his most bombastic. It’s hard not to feel moved by the combination of the poetry and the soaring melodies of this piece, and I admit I often feel overcome while trying to sing it. It’s challenging to pick out a favourite line as it all goes together so well, but if pressed I think it might be

That we on earth with undiscording voice

May rightly answer that melodious noise;

One undiscording voice on earth feels particularly important in the moment we find ourselves in. But I also quite like

O may we soon again renew that song,

And keep in tune with Heav’n, till God ere long

To His celestial concert us unite

A celestial concert sounds like a lovely way to spend eternity. While we can’t promise that kind of heavenly perfection, we’re sure our concert on 2nd April will be entertaining and a lot of fun, plus it’s a great opportunity to hear this poetry in action and get to know these pieces better. Tickets are available now, and we hope you’ll join us.