Flowers and Foolery - A Celebration of Springtime in Poetry & Song

The Jay Singers return to Blythburgh's Holy Trinity Church to perform a melodious and witty April Fools Day concert heralding the delights of the season.

Established in 1995 and recognised as one of East Anglia’s leading chamber choirs, The Jays are spread across Norfolk and Suffolk and so it’s no surprise that the wondrous ‘Cathedral of the Marshes’ is a favourite venue.

Blythburgh’s glorious acoustics will undoubtedly have celebrated the repertoire of the first half on previous occasions: floral and springtime classics including Morley’s well-known April is in My Mistress Face (1594), Pearsall’s peerless Lay a Garland (1840), Saint-Saens’ tender Les fleur et les arbres (1882) and Britten’s exquisitely inventive Five Flower Songs (1950).

Showcasing the Jays’ reputation for light music, the second half aims to offer entertaining discoveries: Seiber’s absurdist trio of Nonsense Songs, the liberated élan of Toch’s Geographical Fugue, stylish arrangements of Tea for Two and Over the Rainbow, and even settings of childhood stalwarts, Teddy Bears’ Picnic and Old McDonald had a Farm.

With outstanding Musical Director Neil MacKenzie in charge of all things choral, plus complementary readings specially chosen by Naomi Jaffa (Chair of The Jays and former long-time director of the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival), an evening of beautiful and foolish words and music is promised.

The Programme:

My Spirit Sang all Day | Finzi
Revoici Venir du Printemps | Le Jeune
April is in my Mistress Face | Morley
Lay a Garland | Pearsall
Au Joli Bois | de Sermisy
Les Fleurs et les Arbres | Saint-Saens
Go, Lovely Rose | Whitacre
Five Flower Songs Op 47 | Britten
Wanting Memories | Barnwell
Tea for Two | arr Gritton
Over the Rainbow | arr Turner
Geographical Fugue | Toch
Three Nonsense Songs | Seiber
Teddy Bears’ Picnic | arr Carter
The Goslings | Bridge
Old McDonald Had a Farm | arr Mitchell