A collection of treasured poems by authors spanning the centuries from William Shakespeare – who lived near St Giles – to Mary Coleridge, all set to music by equally beloved nineteenth and twentieth century composers. The programme closes with Hubert Parry’s marvellous Blest pair of sirens with words by John Milton, whose ‘harmonious sisters, Voice and Vers’ from At a solemn musick give this concert its title. As the final chords fade away, spare a thought for the poet himself who lies buried in the crypt below.

Finzi My spirit sang all day (Robert Bridges)
Stanford The blue bird (Mary Coleridge)
Sterndale Bennett Come live with me (Christopher Marlowe)
Vaughan Williams Three Shakespeare songs
Pearsall Lay a garland (Beaumont & Fletcher)
Elgar As torrents in summer (Henry Longfellow)
Vaughan Williams Five mystical songs (excerpts) (George Herbert)
Britten Rejoice in the Lamb (Christopher Smart)
Harris Faire is the heaven (Edmund Spenser)
Elgar The shower & The fountain (Henry Vaughan)
Parry Blest pair of sirens (John Milton)

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City of London Choir
Richard Gowers, organ
Thomas Humphreys, baritone
Hilary Davan Wetton, conductor

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