We have officially acknowledged that Christmas is on it’s way by making a start on two festive numbers.
The first piece is I heard the bells by North Camden Chorus friend and local composer, Philip Godfrey. The words are by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 – 1882), an American poet who supported the movement during and before the Civil War to end slavery in the United States. His own son was severely injured in the war and Henry wrote his poem in the same year that this happened.
Longfellow also spent a lot of time in Europe. In fact, in 1884, Longfellow became the first non-British writer for whom a commemorative bust was placed in Poet’s Corner of Westminster Abbey in London. He is still the only American poet represented with a bust. He even made it onto a 1 cent stamp in 1940.
The second festive tune is In dulci jubilo which we will be singing unaccompanied…fingers crossed!
Half term next week
Next week (24 October) is half term so there will be no choir, but we will back and singing in the same place on Tuesday 31 October.
Sign up for carol singing
We often get asked to sing carols to help raise money for charity at Christmas. Want to join us? Join our Facebook Group and let Chris know you’re interested, or get in touch via the form below: