"We were in the hills of heaven but yesterday..."
Our exciting launch programme will feature the first full performance of Shropshire Lass, a semi-staged song cycle for soprano and guitar composed by Martin Bussey, in collaboration with performing duo Holly Teague and Michael Matthews. The cycle is centred around the themes of Love and Loss. It sets the poetry of Mary Webb, and creates an arc that leads from celebration of young love to the remembrance of lost love when the central character’s partner fails to return from World War 1.
The event will be narrated by Shropshire writer Jean Atkin, whose own poems will also feature in settings by composer Patrick Larley, 3 Winter Songs. These will be sung by tenor William Smith, together with a setting by Paul Henley of Andrew Rudd's poem Sky. Also on the programme is an instrumental work, Larley's Sonata for Violin and Piano, performed by the composer with violinist Marianne Haynes.
For dates and ticket booking, see the diary
Composer Martin Bussey discusses the song cycle Shropshire Lass
A Shropshire Lass is generously supported by:
