Songs For All Seasons

Today's Song of the Day was written for the theme of St. George's Day, which was yesterday, but it can be used for any April concert as it is a setting of Robert Browning's famous poem "Home-Thoughts, from Abroad". Robert Browning (1812 – 1889) was an English poet and playwright whose dramatic monologues put him high among the Victorian poets. By the age of 12, Browning had written a book of poetry, which he later destroyed for want of a publisher. After attending one or two private schools he was educated at home by a tutor, using the resources of his father's 6000-book strong library. By 14 he was fluent in French, Greek, Italian and Latin. He became an admirer of the Romantic poets, especially Shelley, whom he followed in becoming an atheist and a vegetarian. At 16, he studied Greek at University College London, but left after his first year. His parents' evangelical faith prevented his studying at either Oxford or Cambridge University, both then open o...

Continuing the Spring theme, as the days get longer and begin to get warmer, today's song of the day is another spring poem by John Clare called "'Tis Spring, my Love, 'Tis Spring". The theme of this poem is that Spring time, whilst lovely and described in great detail, is not so fine or beauteous as the poet's beloved.  From Helpston in rural Northamptonshire, John Clare was born in 1793. He is now regarded as the most important poet of the natural world from Britain. He wrote many poems, prose and letters about love, sex, corruption and politics, environmental and social change, poverty and folk life. Even in his 'madness', his talents were not diminished. Ronald Blythe, past President of the Clare Society, saw Clare as "... England's most articulate village voice". Clare died, aged 71, in 1864. This song is being beta tested by my friends at Burgess Hill Choral Society . 'Tis Spring, My Love, 'Tis Spring By John Clare 'Tis ...

The weather is warming, the daffodils are out, the cherry is blossoming and the trees are budding! It is Spring!! To celebrate the warming of the seasons, I would like to share today my setting of a poem simply called "Spring" by English poet John Clare (1793 – 1864). The son of a farm labourer, he became known for his celebrations of the English countryside and his sorrows at its disruption. His work underwent major re-evaluation in the late 20th century; he is now often seen as a major 19th-century poet. His biographer Jonathan Bate called Clare "the greatest labouring-class poet that England has ever produced. No one has ever written more powerfully of nature, of a rural childhood, and of the alienated and unstable self." Like many creative types, his mental health was unstable, possibly initially as a result of his impoverished childhood, and latterly an inability to financially sustain his family: a wife and six children. He turned to alcohol and in 1837 was ad...

Happy March! March Hares! Does anyone else remember being told to say March Hares instead of White Rabbits on the 1st March, or is that a local peculiarity? No matter, it is March! Spring is approaching fast. The daffodils are blossoming, the sun is shining and although it is still chilly, the warmer weather will be here before we know it. The 1st of March is of course St. David's Day - the patron saint of Wales. It commemorates the date of St. David's death in 589 AD. Traditional festivities include wearing daffodils and leeks, recognised symbols of Wales and Saint David, respectively, eating traditional Welsh food including cawl, and women wearing traditional Welsh dress. An increasing number of cities and towns across Wales, including Cardiff, Swansea, and Aberystwyth also put on parades throughout the day. St. David is the only patron saint of the four countries that make up the UK who was actually born in the country which celebrates him. St. Andrew wasn't Scottish, St...