Corvus Consort (vocal ensemble) with Fenella Humphreys (violin)

Corvus Consort, in collaboration with the acclaimed violinist Fenella Humphreys, presents a fascinating exploration of composers’ responses to the poetry of 17th-century English metaphysical poet George Herbert (1593-1633). Through a sumptuous selection of choral music by Judith Weir, Alec Roth, James MacMillan and more, the musicians reveal how George Herbert’s words have provided inspiration to a whole generation of composers. The performance can include readings of the George Herbert’s words, nestled within the sung settings of his poetry.

Alec Roth’s Shared Ground is a cycle of six choral movements, setting six short poems by Vikram Seth. These poems are written in direct response to the words of George Herbert, inspired by Seth’s experience of living in the house where Herbert wrote much of his poetry nearly 400 years earlier. Roth composed Shared Ground while staying in the very same house, and the influence of George Herbert is strikingly tangible throughout both words and music. A further highlight of this programme is the inclusion of Alec Roth’s Ponticelli (“little bridges”), a partita for solo violin in five movements, performed by violinist Fenella Humphreys to bridge the six pieces of ‘Shared Ground’, with the combined work providing the second part of the programme.