In Poetry and in Song

Join Durham University Chamber Choir for an evening of choral music that celebrates the power of poetry; from the captivating writings of Wilfred Owen from the World Wars to the conflicts of the body and soul in Holst’s Evening Watch, there’s an eclectic selection of song to bring together the choir’s season. “In Poetry & Song” is a celebration of the power of poetry to bring to life its ideas when set to music. This journey of song unpicks the themes of the Natural, Inner Thought, Conflict, Storytelling and Dialogue with a vast mix of composers and time periods. The evening begins with an exploration of Stanford’s Partsong writings (op. 119) which are a set of 8 short compositions set to the poetry of Mary Elizabeth Coleridge in the 19th century. In the midst of this performance is a stunning addendum to the famous “Blue Bird” with Bingham’s “The Drowned Lovers”, a haunting text of love that is set in a background of natural beauty. The return from the interval instantly re-acquires the listeners’ attention with the cries of war instilled in Esenvald’s moving “Soldier’s Mother’s Lullaby”, and Elgar’s “They Are at Rest”, texts and melodies which haunt us as they place us centred in the pain and suffering of our history. The final selections of music bring new peace and tranquility with a set of Partsongs from British composer Phillip Cooke, with words from Tennyson, Lawrence and Housman – his songs are contrasting and conclude with luscious, gentle tones from the choir.