Our first square is for Anne, Rise Up My Love, by Healey Willan. This is a great anthem, beloved of many choirs, as it was with the Elmer Iseler Singers when Anne toured Russia with them. But they were forbidden to sing anything religious, which severely cut into their repertoire. Taken, as it is, from the Song of Solomon (Chapter 2, v 10-13), this would have been a definite no-no. In this chapter, Christ has been speaking to his church, and she answers, repeating the gracious calls He has given her to go walking with him, invited by the "splendours of the returning spring", as one commentator has said. But the text subtly disguises this in the manner of a love song: "Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away, for lo, the winter is past, the rain has come. The flowers appear upon the earth ..." The Russians were enchanted.
They That Go Down to the Sea in Ships, by Herbert Sumsion has been requested and executed by Kathy. This has always been a favourite of hers, and it is particularly appropriate for our quilt, because it was the last anthem to be sung by the Elora Festival Singers this year. Kathy has herself sung it many times, and was reminded again of the drama in its music and its text. "It's great to sing," she says. "All that wave motion, and the storm created by the different parts, and the beautiful chords, and the deep basses." It is also reminiscent of a favourite painting which belonged to her late father, by W.L. Dean, which was used as the inspiration for her square. Here it is!
Our last square today is in memory of the late Robert Evans. He was our good friend, a great composer, and the recipient of the Bach quilt mentioned in the profile to the right on your screen. Robert loved the voice of Cleo Laine, who gave a wonderful concert in the quarry at the Festival in 1997 with Johnny Dankworth. This is My Funny Valentine, by Rodgers and Hart, from the musical Babes in Arms. It's a collaboration between the two of us.
Well, that's all for now! Happy listening,
Susan
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