FOR YOUR DIARY

Sunday 21 September – Flower Songs

Flowers have long inspired poets and composers alike, their fleeting beauty capturing the essence of nature’s wonder. In this programme, we bring together two exquisite cycles of choral flower songs, written nearly half a century apart but united by their lyrical charm.

Benjamin Britten’s Five Flower Songs (1950) are sparkling vignettes, each set to poetry celebrating different aspects of the natural world — from the playfulness of blossoms stirred by the breeze, to the poignant reflection on life’s transience. With his hallmark clarity and wit, Britten paints each scene with finely crafted textures and rhythmic vitality.

Eric Whitacre’s Three Flower Songs (1997), by contrast, drape the listener in lush, shimmering harmonies. Inspired by the poetry of Emily Dickinson and others, Whitacre’s settings transform words into soundscapes that are at once intimate and expansive, as though the blossoms themselves were singing.

Together, these works invite us to listen with fresh ears — to hear the garden in bloom, and to celebrate the timeless connection between nature, poetry, and song.

 

 

Saturday 1 November 2025 –

A 60th Celebration – The Thomas Tallis Society Choir will celebrate its 60th with a fine selection of choral works with instrumental accompaniment.  Programme to be announced soon!