Songs of the Sea
Sunday 20 March 2022
The Cherwell Singers present
“Songs of the Sea”
Sunday, March 20th 2022, 7.45pm
St Margaret’s Church, St Margaret’s Road, Oxford
Any island nation holds a love of, and respect for, the sea which surrounds it, and this term the Cherwell Singers explores this timeless relationship.
The major work of the concert is Stanford’s setting of Henry Newbolt’s “Songs of the Sea” first performed in 1904. Scored for baritone soloist, male voices and piano this sequence of five songs includes the famous “Drake’s Drum”.
Our soloist will be Daniel Tate, who will also perform solo songs during the concert accompanied by pianist Donal McCann.
Other works featured include a setting by Victoria of the ancient hymn to Mary, Star of the sea (Ave Maris Stella), an arrangement of the seafarers hymn, “Eternal father, strong to save”, Parry’s “Never weather beaten sail”, and folksongs such as the Skye boat song, and “Blow the wind southerly”.
Oxford may be one of the most land-locked cities in the United Kingdom, but we will try and make up for that in our concert by taking you on a voyage in words and music inspired by this natural wonder.