Harrow Choral Society Autumn Concert Draw on Sweet Night

As the days shorten Harrow Choral Society hopes to capture the autumnal mood with an early evening concert entitled ‘Draw on, Sweet Night’. The 80-strong choir will sing a varied programme of songs from the 16th to the 21st centuries on the theme of autumn and the lengthening nights under the baton of Music Director Sam Evans and accompanied by composer and arranger Paul Ayres.
The earliest piece is John Wilbye’s Draw on, Sweet Night, a poetic evocation of darkness and melancholy from the 16th century. There are several German and English songs from the Romantic era: Mendelssohn’s Herbstlied (Autumn Song) and Brahms’ Im Herbst (In Autumn) are both poignant laments for the passing of summer. This theme is continued in Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Summer is Gone, a setting of words by Christina Rossetti. Other highlights include powerful and emotional works by Victorian composers: Elgar’s My Love Dwelt in a Northern Land, Arthur Sullivan’s renowned part-song, The Long Day Closes and Charles Wood’s sacred anthem, Hail Gladdening Light.
Among the other items, two modern pieces bring the programme up-to-date: Peggy Seeger’s moving Love Call Me Home and a new work by award-winning composer and arranger Paul Ayres, HCS’s regular accompanist: Goin’ Home is set to the familiar Largo theme from Dvorak’s New World Symphony.

The concert starts at 5.30 pm and tickets, which are £15 for adults and £2 for under-18s, may be obtained online at www.harrowchoral.org.uk, by email at boxoffice@harrowchoral.org.uk or by telephoning 07794 253463.