Tomorrow is the 23rd of April, St George’s Day in England and to help celebrate the occasion I thought I would share with you a beautifully composed song by the great English composer Michael Head (28 January 1900 – 24 August 1976).
The song that I have chosen uses the words of Seamus O’Sullivan’s famous poem “A Piper”, which conjures up fabulous images of a joyful celebration in which everyone involved puts aside their differences, forget their worries, stops their chores and for a brief moment rejoice in the happiness brought about by the beautiful music.
The words are brought to life by the vivid colour produced by the music of Michael Head and I do hope that you enjoy it.
A Piper – Music by Michael Head
A piper in the streets today
set up, and tuned, and started to play,
And away, away, away on the tide
of his music we started; on ev’ry side
Doors and windows were opened wide,
And men left down their work and came
And women with petticoats coloured like flame.
And little bare feet that were blue with cold
went dancing, dancing back to the age of gold,
And all the world went gay, went gay
For half an hour in the streets today.
The performance was from a recital that was held on the 19th September 2014 in St George The Martyr Church, Preston.
Lovely and bell-like, as usual. Happy St. George’s Day, Charlotte.
Thank you very much Beth, loved reading about LA on your blog.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Happy St. George’s Day Charlotte, and may the Lord continue to bless you richly.
Thank you for your kind thoughts and wishes. I hope happiness follows you too.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Very nice Charlotte, thank you so much. Have a fabulous St George’s Day ! All the very best for you !! 😉
Thank you Pascal, I’ve been looking at your beautiful art books today merci beaucoup.
Best wishes
Charlotte
What a wonderful video. What a wonderful song. What a wonderful performance. What a beautiful lady with such a wonderful talent.
Thank you for your lovely comment and continuing support 😊. I appreciate you checking in on me.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Lovely! Happy St. George’s Day, Charlotte!
Thanks Karen loving your finger painting artwork.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Have a great St. George Day! I wish you all the best.
Thank you Cecilia I hope you have a fabulous week.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I love this song! You sang it so well, Charlotte I must listen to it again. Happy St George’s Day to you too. 🙂
Thank you Clare hope you had a super day too.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank-you xx
Happy St. George’s Day to you! Lovely words to this song and you did a beautiful rendition. Blessings and hugs, Charlotte! Xo
Thanks Janice hugs to you, I loved your post about taking your books into the school 😊
Best wishes
Charlotte
Happy St. George’s Day m’lady! And thank you for the delightful song.
Thank you I wish I was an old fashioned lady and could arrange a meal with a knight in shining armour 😄.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Fabulous.
Glad you enjoyed, thanks 😊
Best wishes
Charlotte
Lovely performed! The song is a little to short. The lyrics also mentions the eventl lasts half an hour. Should be the whole day fun 🙂
Happy St. George’s Day.
Short but sweet 😊. I agree a whole day for fun is a brilliant idea.
Best wishes
Charlotte
A beautiful song and thank you for introducing it to me ~ so great to hear your voice while starting the day. Happy St. George’s Day.
I’m happy to introduce a new song to you that makes me happy. Thank you.
Best wishes
Charlotte
🙂
Charlotte, loved this song, what a fantastic job you did. Happy St. George’s Day to you.
Thanks Mary I’m really pleased you liked it 😊my best wishes
Charlotte
As always, another amazing performance, Heather. Stay well.
Thank you 😊 I’m trying my best to keep in shape and eat healthy while I’m so busy.
Best wishes
Charlotte
charlotte thats very nice hope you are keeping well xxx
I’m feeling good Barbara, it was great seeing Nan and Grandad last week. Keep in touch.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte, and Happy Shakespeare’s Birthday. 🙂
Hi Terry you’re welcome. There was a photo up at school to remind everyone it was Shakespeare’s birthday 😊, I read some great poems on blogs written in his style so his influence goes on.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Bravo! :o)
Thanks Eric 😀. Keep on swimming 🐠
Best wishes
Charlotte
A lovely song Charlotte performed beautifully, happy St George’s Day xx
Hi Gill, it’s at the beautiful church in Preston we had trouble finding that time, glad you enjoyed it I thinks it’s the first time I’ve put it in a program.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Beautiful song, Charlotte, and happy St. George’s Day! Amazing to think that when you wrote your post on St. George (and Shakespeare’s birthday) last year, I was still in Philadelphia anticipating my move to England, and now I am here, celebrating with the rest of you! The song captures my mood exactly–there is something so exciting about those fleeting moments of complete celebration, joy, and happiness that supersedes all of our everyday problems and makes them seem less important. I like to think that it is a little foretaste of Heaven here on earth. ” . . . back to the age of gold”–gold we can have even if we are poor in material goods. I think music and friendship and fun are much more important than money, don’t you? (although gold and jewels are certainly pretty . . . :-))
Thanks Cate, I absolutely agree with you, hope you’re fully enjoying your new life in England best wishes to you and your family,
Charlotte 😊
Like St. George we could use the day to slay our dragons or find peace with them.
And today I smile celebrating St George day with a birthday.
Happy St. George day. xxx
Your birthday?
If yes I hope you had a fabulous day and the 🌞 was shining for you.
Let’s learn to love our dragons 🐉
Best wishes
Charlotte
It has been thank you…. and what you think of the friday music I done. Used an opera as you challenged me to.
A Beautiful Revival of a Joy Music.
Have a Nice St. George’s Day. 🎶🇬🇧🎉🎊
Thank you Telma I love the music by Michael Head, I hope you had a lovely day too.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Lovely singing as always. 🙂 It’s funny, reading the lyrics I was kind of expecting the song to be a little more upbeat.
Yes Stephanie I know what you mean, perhaps I’ll have to compose something upbeat when I can make some time. It would be useful already knowing the words 😀.
Best wishes
Charlotte
And all the world went gay, went gay while listening you singing …
Splendid performance as always,great choice my lovely friend Charlotte!Happy St. George’s Day to you too 🙂 <3 xxx
Thanks Doda I loved your photographs, thanks for keeping in touch.
Best wishes
Charlotte
How weird; you are not showing up in my reader anymore. Anyway, Happy St. George’s Day to you too!
I’m just catching up with everyone 😊 the last two weeks have been intense with rehearsals, performance and catching up with work that I had to put on hold until after the shows. I’m trying to save my voice and give it a day off today but I’m so tempted to sing as I’ve got new songs to learn 😳. Blogging should keep me good for a bit.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Lovely song. Great post Charlotte.
Thanks Alex, it seemed a great excuse to share an English song with my friends on the blog.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I really enjoy listening to you sing. My daughter sings in the touring arm of the San Francisco Girls Chorus so, it has taken some time, but I have learned to appreciate a trained and beautiful voice.
Brilliant. You have a magnificent voice. Thanks for stopping by Humorous interludes. All the best to you and yours. 🙂
Merci for following 24/7 in France, author of “Solitary Desire-One Woman’s Journey to France” (video http://youtu.be/xG_YTa5sDac) et bon dimanche!
Dear Charlotte,
I enjoyed all the St. George day celebrations and wishing you the best on your up coming performance.