The English Song Weekend : Ludlow, Shropshire 31 May- 3^rd June 2007 (AO)

 

Every three years, Finzi Friends organises an English Song Weekend celebrating English Song.  It’s a much-loved festival, which attracts a loyal band of regulars from all over the country.  Renewing old friendships are part of the pleasure.  The schedule is demanding : days begin at 9.30am and don’t end until 10 pm or so – assuming you go straight home after the last concert instead of tarrying in one of the atmospheric local pubs.

It’s an immersion experience, and for a good reason, too.  English Song connects intimately to the idea of rural England, to verdant landscapes and a sense of history. In early summer, Shropshire is at its most beautiful, lush, green and bountiful.  Thanks to Housman, it’s part of the artistic imagination :

“When smoke stood up from Ludlow,

 And mist blew off from Teme,

 And blithe afield to ploughing

 Against the morning beam

 I strode beside my team”

Most of the Weekend regulars know the repertoire well, so the concerts are integrated with important discussions. Terry Barfoot speaks about historical perspectives, and Philip Lancaster about W Denis Browne, which is likely to cover new and interesting material.  After a Shropshire Supper, featuring regional specialities, there’ll be a concert of songs including the remarkable Seal Man by Rebecca Clarke and songs from Julian Philips’ An Amherst Bestiary.  Anyone who follows Philip’s workshops at the Wigmore Hall will know him as unusually perceptive : his own music reflects similar intelligence.  For me, on its own, it’s almost worth the journey.

On 1^st June, the keynote concert features Finzi’s Earth and Air and Rain, performed by Roderick Williams and Ian Burnside, who is also Artistic Director of the Weekend.    True to form, they’ve also chosen unconventional, quirky material,  like Richard Rodney-Bennett and F G Scott (1880-1958), a composer new to many whom Burnside and Williams have championed in a recent recording.  That day’s key talks include Anthony Boden on Ivor Gurney and Valerie Langfield on Roger Quilter.

On 2^nd June there are three concerts featuring Rebecca Evans, Mark Chaundy, David Wilson-Johnson, and others, some well known to Oxford Lieder audiences.  One concert features the work of W Denis Browne, following on from the talk, and of Howells.   Another, entitled “Celtic Twilight” features Moeran and Warlock, including songs from his Joyce Song book.  Paul Spicer will be speaking about George Dyson.  This is the evening when there’ll be a film programme starting at 10.15pm.  Dedication required !

The following day, Sunday, includes a concert of songs by women composers, some like Weir, Clarke, Dring and Lutyens, fairly well known, others less so.  I wonder if the same Woodforde-Finden songs we heard 3 years ago will  feature again ?  The finale will be a concert with Susan Bickley.  She’s singing a big programme, which includes songs by Gurney, Weir, Bridge and a premiere of a new cycle by Simon Rowland-Jones.

Perhaps I shouldn’t be publicising this Weekend, because it’s so small and gets booked out extremely quickly.  The Finzi Friends priority notice arrived in January.  However, I would like to pay tribute to Jim Page and Finzi Friends for their achievement in getting this festival together.  Page is a self-effacing soul but much credit is due to him for the sheer feat of logistics needed to create this well-organised, well-planned and delightful Weekend. 

 

Anne Ozorio