Elizabeth Poston (1905–87) was born in rural Hertfordshire, where she lived for most of her life in a historic property, Rooks Nest House, Stevenage. Her compositional output was varied, encompassing dramatico-musical plays, chamber works, secular and sacred choral songs, and solo songs which were often inspired by her love of folksong and the countryside. As a professional pianist she frequently performed in live premieres of her own works on the BBC, for which organisation she worked for many years. Elizabeth’s skills as a multi-linguist enabled her to create her own translations and editions of texts for many of her

compositions and arrangements.

Her original miniature for voice and piano, The Apple Tree, was published in Bodley Head’s The Children’s Song Book (1961). This choral version – Jesus Christ the Apple Tree – she arranged for The Cambridge Hymnal (1967) of which she was the music editor.

In 2023 the independent charity Multitude of Voyces became the official representative of the musical and literary estate of Elizabeth Poston.

Proceeds raised from the sale of this leaflet will support Multitude of Voyces future publication of historically unpublished works by the composer. See www.multitudeofvoyces.org/elizabeth-poston

©MoV