Bedford Corn Exchange, St Pauls Square

7.30pm

Vaughan Williams Five mystical songs

Butterworth On the banks of green willow

Arnold Sinfonietta No.2

Holst St Paul’s Suite

Michael Hurd Shepherd’s Calendar

Continuing the season’s theme of the celebration of English music this concert features a variety of works. The stunning Five Mystical Songs is a setting of poems by George Herbert. The chorus comes to the fore in the fifth song. The orchestral works in the programme contrast with each other from the serene music of Butterworth to the playful music of Holst. Michael Hurd’s work is a setting of poems by John Clare for Baritone, chorus and orchestra describing the seasons. It has been described as “the most accessible of all great English poems”. The music, written in 1975, compliments the poems in a tuneful and very accessible way. This is a delightfully varied concert for a summer evening. Do come!

www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk