Tag: grieve

Dido’s Lament – H Purcell (1659-95)

March 26, 2024

This powerful aria is the penultimate song in Purcell’s opera “Dido and Aeneas”. I discovered it one January morning. We were recently locked down for the third time, infection rates were out of control and UK daily death rates were higher than ever. A friend had posted a version of Dido’s Lament by Annie Lennox, accompanied by London City Voices. Well, if Annie Lennox is involved, it has to be worth a listen! Unaware at the time that this song is from an opera, nor the story of the opera, I clicked ‘play’, and it spoke to me … More Dido’s Lament – H Purcell (1659-95)

Bring us O Lord God – Words John Donne (15572-1631), Music William H Harris (1883-1973)

March 14, 2023

I can’t remember when I was introduced to this anthem (other than pre-pandemic), but I sang it with the Manchester Chorale, and probably in a couple of concerts. It is scored for two unaccompanied choirs, both singing at the same time, so there are two groups of each voice part, each accompanying the other. Rehearsals made me tingle, so beautiful was the sound of the words interweaving with the music … More Bring us O Lord God – Words John Donne (15572-1631), Music William H Harris (1883-1973)

I Remember – Sara Quartel (1982-present)

December 13, 2022

Sarah Quartel is a Canadian composer and educator, known for her fresh and exciting approach to choral music, and I was first introduced to her work in August 2021. I was at the Sing for Pleasure summer school for choral conductors, where every conductor is required to sing in choirs for other choral conductors. We sing a huge amount of music through the 10-day course. A group of six peers had been assigned pieces by Quartel for upper voices (soprano and alto), and I was in their choir … More I Remember – Sara Quartel (1982-present)