Flower of the Month – June

Flower of the Month – June “Summer Song for the Open Air”

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June
“Summer Song for the Open Air”
Eliza Flower (1803–1846)

for acapella voices
performed by The Flower Singers from
ELECTRIC VOICE THEATRE’S
Young Singers Programme

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Sepia drawing of the head of the composer surrounded by flowers

Eliza Flower (1803 – 1846)

Tinted lithograph of a drawing by Mrs E Bridell Fox, 1898/99 courtesy of Conway Hall Ethical Society

In nature the flower of this month is the rose – a universal symbol of love.

June – “Summer Song for the Open Air”

Words by Catherine Partridge

O! this sweet summer weather
Brings joyous thoughts together,
Like drops of dew,
Glitt’ring at morn’s sweet prime
On a sunny bank of thyme,
With its blossoms blue.

Thyme growing on a rock

How can the heart be sad?
When the very air is glad
With pleasant sounds,
Of a thousand happy things,
Dancing in dizzy rings
Their airy rounds.

And the bright blooming flow’rs
Give to the laughing hours
Their fragrant breath;
And, whispering seem to say,
‘Let every brow be gay
With a rosy wreath.’

Sweet offspring of the earth!
I’ll teach my heart thy mirth
Even tho’ it be
But a summer dream of joy,
Which winter will destroy,
As it will thee.

Yet will I strive to keep,
In my bosom buried deep,
Your fragrant bloom;
And memory shall raise
Thoughts of these sunny days
Mid hours of gloom.

June – “Summer Song for the Open Air” is from “Songs of the Months” published by A J Novello in December 1834. The short editorial introduction explains that each song appeared throughout 1834 in the Monthly Repository – a publication associated with South Place Chapel where Flower’s life and work was based.

The words of the song were written by Catherine Partridge about whom we unfortunately know absolutely nothing so far! We imagine she would have been a friend of Eliza, and possibly one of her singers – here’s hoping we find out more soon.

We are releasing each song in its allotted month during 2023. Please go to our Flower of the Month page for more information and to hear all of the songs we’ve recorded so far.

The Flower Singers

Sopranos
Inna Husieva
Isabel Benson
Maxence Marmy
Ruby Caddick Lawrence

Alto
Phoebe Coco

Countertenor
Garreth Romain

Hailed from Donetsk, Inna Husieva lost her parents three years ago and her home has been occupied since 2014. She tours worldwide giving fundraising concerts and raising awareness of the war in Ukraine. Now she is a Scottish Opera Emerging Artist 2023-2024.

Maxence Marmy - Singer

Phoebe Coco is a London based musician, who loves to sing perched in tree branches and whilst cycling… or anywhere else for that matter! She is currently completing a Creative Practice masters in Goldsmiths University and composes and releases music under her own name which has been aired from BBC Radio 6 Music to BBC Radio 4's Front Row.

I'm Ruby, an aspiring Soprano who loves exploring an eclectic range of Music. I recently premiered Joseph Ayre’s Sound Art piece The Sound of Music and have been selected for the role of Dorabella in Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte for the 2023 Arte de Lirica festival in Italy. I also love sewing and a good rummage in charity shops to find items to upcycle!

Isabel Benson is a music student. Studying at Cambridge, she has been enjoying the warm weather post exams and is looking forward to a jam packed choir tour singing selected works by Ingegneri around Italy. Recording parts for the fabulously buoyant June song sets her in good stead for what hopes to be a similarly musically exuberant summer of sunshine!

Garreth Romain is from Bradford, West Yorkshire, and is a recent Trinity Laban Conservatoire graduate. He still sings with their Chapel Choir and with Chineke! Voices and the Philharmonia Chorus. He started singing at 8 years old and enjoys it because it helps him to create lasting friendships. His hobbies include acting and dancing and he particularly enjoyed the Flower Singers Workshop.

raising the profile of music by women

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