Brahms, Parry and Vaughan Williams | Finchley Symphony Orchestra

'Blest Pair of Sirens' by the composer of the favourite ceremonial anthem ‘I was glad’ celebrates the “sphere-born harmonious sisters, Voice and Verse”. This earlier choral ode is similarly rich and resonant and did much to establish Parry’s reputation in Victorian Britain.

‘In Windsor Forest’ is a five-section cantata adapted by Vaughan Williams from music originally composed for his opera ‘Sir John in Love’. He described it as something to give the public “the plums and no cake”. This is often performed with piano accompaniment but in our concert you can enjoy the full orchestral version.

The magnificent symphonies of Brahms are some of the best loved pieces of the Finchley Symphony Orchestra audience, and this concert features the monumental fourth. When we performed the piece in Hampstead years ago most of the church lights failed during the final Passacaglia leading some of the audience to congratulate us on the dramatic effect – we are not hoping for a repeat this time!