“What beauty has thou found?...Music from heaven….” The words of Poet Laureate Robert Bridges bring inspiration to Reading Bach Choir’s program of English partsongs. Returning to our exploration of the music of Gerald Finzi, the concert features his Seven Poems of Robert Bridges alongside works by those who knew, inspired, or were inspired by Finzi. The concert will include songs by little-known composer Ernest Bristow Farrar and his teacher Stanford—who wrote The Blue Bird, one of the most well-known partsongs— and friend Frank Bridge. At the suggestion of Sir Adrian Boult, Finzi pursued study in London with the likes of Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughan Williams. Respectively, their The evening-watch and Valiant for Truth, along with Charles Hubert Hastings Parry’s My soul, there is a country from Songs of Farewell are emblematic of the time. Equally memorable will be Benjamin Britten’s magnificent Hymn to St. Cecilia which marries the poetry of W.H. Auden with the music of yet another one of England’s most important composers. Come and revel in the joy of this thrilling concert of favorites and uncommon gems.

FINZI Seven Poems of Robert Bridges
FARRAR To Daffodils
FARRAR Margaritae sorori
STANFORD The Blue Bird
BRITTEN Hymn to St. Cecilia
BRIDGE Music, when soft voices die
HOLST The evening-watch
PARRY My soul, there is a country
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Valliant for Truth