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Forbes L'Estange: Song of Harvest

Come, ye thankful people, come

Forbes L'Estange: Song of Harvest

Come, ye thankful people, come

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More than 50 units in stock.

Choral leaflet

£3.50

Publisher: RSCM Publications
ISBN: A4190

Song of Harvest was first published as part of the Autumn section of A Season to Sing, Forbes L’Estrange’s 40-minute choral re-imagining of The Four Seasons, written to mark the 300th anniversary of Vivaldi’s beloved work. Instead of the hunting scene and captured prey portrayed in the original violin concerto, Forbes L’Estrange has created an anthem of harvest thanksgiving, employing two texts on that theme: Henry Alford’s familiar hymn Come, ye thankful people, come and, for the slower section, a passage from Exodus: on the seventh day, even during harvest season, you shall rest. 

 

Mixed voice choirs are encouraged to perform the opening and central sections of the piece unaccompanied, as suggested in the score. If this is not feasible, the organist can, of course, add support. In any case, choirs should aim for a maximum contrast of mood and articulation between the two sections, one being joyful and accented, the other being languid and legato with the highest pitches sung, with minimal or no vibrato, by a solo soprano. This piece also works well with just upper voices (i.e. SA), omitting the Tenor and Bass lines which are covered by the organ part.

Song of Harvest by Joanna Forbes L'Estrange

from A Season to Sing

Joanna Forbes L'Estrange

Joanna Forbes L’Estrange (b.1971) is an English soprano, composer and choral leader who receives engagements throughout the world. A Master of Arts graduate in Music of Oxford University, she began her career as soprano and Musical Director of the five-time Grammy® Award-winning a cappella group The Swingles and her compositional output reflects her love of choral music, close harmony and jazz. She writes songs (including her own lyrics), sacred anthems, Christmas carols, television production music and arrangements, regularly collaborating with her husband Alexander L’Estrange on their award-winning series of large-scale community choral works. 

A passionate advocate for gender equality, Joanna has become the go-to composer for songs about women. Commissions include We will remember them for the Military Wives Choirs’, A woman (wearing bloomers) on a wheel which has been made into a film by the NYCGB, Suffragette March, Give us grace and A place for us maids, celebrating 40 years of female undergraduates at Trinity College, Cambridge. Her single Twenty-first-century Woman raises money for girls’ education globally. Visit her website: www.joannaforbeslestrange.com/composing