Eliza Flower Birthday Celebration 2023
Composer, Singer and Pianist
Born 19th April 1803
Happy 220th birthday to composer Eliza Flower who was born on 19th April 1803 in Harlow in Essex. She was a prolific composer of vocal music including radical hymns, powerful protest songs and delightful songs for the seasons and months of the year – and much more…
Her sister, Sarah Flower Adams, wrote the words of ‘Nearer My God To Thee’ but Eliza’s astonishing music for the hymn is now unknown, quite possibly because of the scandal that ensued when she set up a separate household with her married guardian.
We are celebrating by releasing a new podcast, her April “Song of the Month” and the video of our Eliza Flower Zoom Concert which took place on April 4th 2023. Please listen, watch, share and comment on social media
Flower of the Month
“April – Tears and Smiles”
by
Eliza Flower (1803–1846)
for solo soprano and piano
One of 12 songs from “Songs of the Months” published by A. J. Novello, December 1834 – performed by Inna Husieva (soprano) & Frances M Lynch (piano)
The words of the song were almost certainly written by Charles Reece Pemberton (1790-1840), Actor, Author and Lecturer.
In nature the flowers of this month are sweet peas symbolizing purity and innocence
Birthday Podcast – April 19th
“Flowers of Spring”
Episode 23 of the Podcast Series
Women of Science & Music: 30 Celebrations
This podcast is a snippet of a much longer conversation between our ELECTRIC VOICE THEATRE artistic director, Frances M Lynch and music historian, Oskar Jensen – NUAcT Fellow in Music at Newcastle University and BBC New Generation Thinker for 2022.
It was recorded at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square in London with kind permission of the Conway Hall Ethical Society.
The MUSIC by Eliza Flower is performed by members of the ELECTRIC VOICE THEATRE and our Virtual Choir.
The Radical Writings of Miss Eliza Flower
A selection from her hymns, art songs and street songs
Hymns and Anthems (1841)
“Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter”
by Eliza Flower
for vocal quartet & piano
Words by the Corn Law Rhymer, Ebenezer Elliott (1781 –1849)
Performed by electric voice theatre singers:-
Frances M Lynch – Soprano
Samantha Houston – Mezzo
Julian Stocker – Tenor
Gwion Thomas – Baritone
Image – Front page of the Hymns & Anthems score – Courtesy of Conway Hall Ethical Society
“The Gathering of the Unions – March & Song” (1832)
by Eliza Flower
for chorus & brass band
Words by Harriet Martineau (1802 – 1876)
Performed by the ELECTRIC VOICE THEATRE Virtual Choir
“The Barons Bold, On Runnymede” (1832)
by Eliza Flower
For solo voice, semi-chorus & piano
Words by William J. Fox (1786 – 1864)
Performed by electric voice theatre singers:-
Frances M Lynch – Soprano & Piano
Samantha Houston – Mezzo
Gwion Thomas – Baritone
Free Trade Songs: (1845) by Eliza Flower
Words by Sarah Flower Adams (1805 – 1848)
“Spring – The Descent of the Lark” for soprano & piano
“Winter – Promise” for mezzo, chorus & piano
Performed by electric voice theatre singers:-
Frances M Lynch – Soprano & Piano
Samantha Houston – Mezzo
with the ELECTRIC VOICE THEATRE Virtual Choir
Image: South Place Chapel, Finsbury, E.C – Courtesy of Conway Hall Ethical Society
“Flowers of Spring – Politics, Power and Poverty”
A BSL intertpreted zoom concert of songs by radical activist and celebrated, yet forgotten, composer Eliza Flower (1803-1846)
PROGRAMME
Part 1 – Conway Hall
Eliza Flower (1803 – 1846)
Songs of the Months: March “Wind & Clouds” (1834)
for voice & piano
Words by Sarah Flower Adams (1805 – 1848)
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel (1805 – 1847)
Frühlingslied (1830)
for voice & piano
Words by Wilhelm Hensel (1794 – 1861)
Franz Schubert (1797 – 1828)
Frühlingstraum from Winterreise (1827)
for voice & piano
Words by Wilhelm Müller (1794 –1827)
Part 2 – The Library
Library Fireplace- Courtesy of Conway Hall
Music by Eliza Flower (1803 – 1846)
Songs of the Seasons: “Spring” (1832)
for soprano, mezzo & piano (poet unidentified)
Free Trade Songs: (1845)
Words by Sarah Flower Adams (1805 – 1848)
“Spring – The Descent of the Lark” for soprano & piano
“Winter – Promise” for mezzo, chorus & piano
“The Gathering of the Unions – March & Song” (1832)
for chorus & brass band
Words by Harriet Martineau (1802 – 1876)
“The Barons Bold, On Runnymede” (1832)
for solo voice, semi-chorus & piano
Words by William J. Fox (1786 – 1864)
Hymns and Anthems: (1841) “Nearer My God To Thee”
for solo soprano, chorus & piano
Words by Sarah Flower Adams (1805 – 1848)
“The Day-Labourer’s Song” (1845)
for acapella solo baritone & chorus
Words by William J. Fox (1786 – 1864)
L.E.L’s Song: Sleep, Heart of Mine” (1839)
for solo baritone & piano
Words by Letitia Elizabeth Landon (1802 -1838)
Hymns and Anthems (1841)
“Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter”
for vocal quartet & piano
Words by the Corn Law Rhymer, Ebenezer Elliott (1781 –1849)
“Now Pray We for our Country”
for SATB acapella choir
Words by A. Cleveland Coxe (1818 – 1896)
raising the profile of music by women