Fakenham Choral Society's spring concert features an all-English programme of Elgar’s ‘The Music Makers’ and his ‘Sea Pictures’, paired with Hubert Parry’s ‘Blest Pair of Sirens’.
With soloist, Judy Brown, orchestra and choir, this all-English programme promises to be a treat for the ears. The 1874 poem ‘Ode’ by Arthur O’Shaughnessy provides the text for ‘The Music Makers’, set in its entirety by Elgar. ‘Sea Pictures’ is a song cycle for mezzo soprano, consisting of five pieces written by various poets and premiered on 5 October 1899 at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival. At the concert in March, this will be performed by mezzo soprano, Judy Louie Brown. Hubert Parry’s ‘Blest Pair of Sirens’ is a setting of John Milton’s ode ‘At a solemn Music.’ Mark Jones, musical director of FCS, says: ‘Music Makers is a large scale choral work with full orchestra, which, whilst being less well known, features familiar extracts from other of Elgar’s compositions. This and ‘Sea Pictures’ will be complemented by Parry’s rousing and joyful work, ‘Blest Pair of Sirens’.
