Songs of Farewell and Songs of Greeting

The music in this afternoon’s concert of unaccompanied singing is based around the twin themes of greetings and farewells.

Much of the music in the first half, appropriately for a spring concert, celebrates the joy of new beginnings. Several of the works relate to the New Testament story of the angel’s greeting to Mary. There is music here from the first golden age of English choral music in the Renaissance, as represented by Byrd and Weelkes, from the 19th and 20th centuries and from contemporary figures including Morten Lauridsen, Rihards Dubra and Ola Gjeilo.

The second half, in contrast, concerns farewells, culminating in four songs taken from Hubert Parry’s masterpiece Songs of Farewell, written in response to the sadness of losing friends and students in WW1 as well as intimations of his own mortality brought on by his own failing health. The programme also include a lesser-known gem by Vaughan Williams, Rest, and several contemporary works.