‘October’ is movement 10 from Twelve Trees – a collection of pieces celebrating trees native to the British Isles by Katy Lavinia Cooper, with words by Catriona Downie.
The rowan is a tree steeped in folklore. Also known as the quickening tree, it was thought to give life and strength. It is also renowned for the protection it gives. Some say Christ’s cross was made from rowan, with its bright red autumn berries a symbol of his blood, and so its wood will repel all evil. In Scotland, the tree was often planted near a gate or door to protect from witches and curses, while from Scotland to Cornwall, equal-armed twig crosses bound with red thread were sewn into the linings of coats or carried in pockets to keep the bearer safe from harm. The music quotes (explicitly at the beginning) Geoffrey Shaw’s arrangement of the famous song setting of Lady Nairn’s poem ’The Rowan Tree‘.
Twelve trees was commissioned to mark 60 years of Sing for Pleasure and first performed at Summer School 2024. Words by Catriona Downie and music by Katy Lavinia Cooper (O Lux Beata). A collection of twelve pieces celebrating trees native to the British Isles and drawing inspiration from history, folklore and traditional music.
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