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Thursday 16 July 2026
12.30 lunchtime
​Venue: ​Leatherhead Methodist Church KT22 8AY
Parking: Swan Centre multi storey KT22 7RH

2 soprano - mezzo - 2 tenor - baritone - bass

THE LYONS MOUTH


WINGED VOICES

Sopranos  •  Ailsa Campbell   •   Elspeth Piggott
Alto  •  Ellie Stamp    ♦     Tenor  •  Dominic Wallis
Baritone  •  Theo Nisbett  ♦  Bass  •  David Val


Programme introduction:

Exploring the wing from different angles - birds, angels, spirits holy and mortal, protection, escape.

Our programme is an exploration of the wing from all angles, above and below.

In the hands of different writers, it can signify longing, freedom, joy, protection, escape. To Dickinson it is hope, to Hutchison a burden. Chaucer and Janequin’s birdsong evokes joy at the coming summer, Alleotti’s setting of the Song of Songs ecstatically compares a lover to an ascending dove.

The wings of George Herbert’s angel (Easter Wings) and Gerard Manley Hopkins’ Holy Ghost (God’s Grandeur) offer redemption.

All this possibility and fragility is captured in the programme’s simplest piece, Benjamin Britten’s wistful setting of a nursery rhyme:

Cuckoo, Cuckoo, What do you do? 
“In April I open my bill; 
In May I sing night and day; 
In June I change my tune; 
In July far far I fly; 
In August away I must.” 


Programme 

Edward Cornysh (c1465–1523)
Ah Robin, Gentle Robin (1513) 

George W Parris (b1991)
Now Welcome, Somer

Reading: Artichoke, by Joseph Hutchison (b1950)

Jacques Arcadelt (c1507–1568)
Il bianco e dolce cigno    The sweet white swan (pub 1539)

Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625)
The Silver Swan (c1612)

Kenneth Leighton (1929–1988)
God’s Grandeur (1957)

Reading: “Hope” is the thing with feathers, by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Raphaella Aleotti (c1575-1620+, probably aka Vittoria Aleotta)
Vidi Speciosam (sicut columbam)   
from Song of Songs, The Bible,  I saw the fair one like a dove

Thomas Lowen (b1994)
Easter Wings

Reading: Early Bird, by Shel Silverstein (1930-1999)

Clément Janequin (c1485–1558)
Le chant des oiseaux    Birdsong (c1528)

Reading: Love poem, with birds, by Barbara Kingsolver (b1955)

Alec Roth (b1948)
Men and Angels

Edward Benjamin Britten (1913–1976, Baron Britten)
arr John Douglas Surman (b1944)
from Friday Afternoons (12 songs for schools)
    3 Cuckoo

Traditional Finnish
arr Anna Gallon (b1991)
Jos sa olet (minun hellunani)    If you would be (my sweetheart)


​Concert duration approx: 50 minutes


Please donate to help fund these concerts at: cafdonate.cafonline.org/14455

The Lyons Mouth

The Lyons Mouth is a feral vocal consort of young professional singers, renowned for emotionally-charged performances and imaginative programming. The ensemble was founded in 2022 by a group of musicians who first met while studying at the University of York under the guidance of Robert Hollingworth, director of the acclaimed vocal group I Fagiolini.

Their early experiences performing in the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall inspired them to create an ensemble that would bring audiences into the dramatic and emotional heart of vocal music.

Since its formation, The Lyons Mouth has quickly established itself on the UK and European music scene. Its members already sing with world-leading ensembles including the BBC Singers, I Fagiolini, The Swingles, Voces8, Tenebrae, Dunedin Consort, and The Norwegian Soloistchoir.

This breadth of experience informs the group's versatile approach, allowing them to bring a refined yet daring energy to both early and contemporary repertoire.

The ensemble's mission is rooted in storytelling—drawing listeners into the narrative of each performance. Their concerts span Renaissance madrigals, Baroque masterpieces, and cutting-edge new works, often presented with theatrical flair.

The ensemble has appeared at prestigious venues and festivals, with recent performances at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Manchester's Stoller Hall, St John's Waterloo, and the Stour Music Festival. International engagements include a collaboration with Cappella Cracoviensis in Poland, and their debut at the Brecon Baroque Festival in Wales. Looking ahead, The Lyons Mouth is set to perform at the Brighton Early Music Festival as part of their Emerging Artists Scheme (2025/26), Utrecht Early Music Fringe Festival (2025), Bedford Sings Festival (2026), and continue their presence on leading UK concert series, including York Concerts and the St Martin's, Dorking recital series.
Picture
The Lyons Mouth @ St Martin's Church, Dorking Nov 2024

Their growing discography reflects their wide musical curiosity.

They have released striking performance films, including Young Again (John Wilbye's madrigal Thou art but young click for 2min video) and Monteverdi's Lamento d'Arianna (click for 6min video), alongside their contributions to the album A Plastic Theatre and Selected Choral Works by Joanna Marsh (Signum Classics, 2025), which also features Voces8, I Fagiolini, and Stile Antico.

Their music video of Joanna Marsh's In Winter's House was featured as Gramophone Magazine's Video of the Day, further cementing their reputation for imaginative presentation. Their new disk featuring the music of contemporary composer Stef Conner will be released in 2026.

Rooted in storytelling — drawing listeners into the narrative.
Through their artistry, The Lyons Mouth is carving out a unique space in the choral landscape: a young ensemble with the energy, skill, and imagination to bridge tradition and innovation, inviting audiences into a profoundly human encounter with music.

Recordings of the works in today's concert

Edward Cornysh (c1465–1523)
Ah Robin, Gentle Robin (1513)    [2:30]

Our first recording comes from the four tenors of Vox Luminis David Munderloh, Philippe Froeliger, Olivier Berten, and  Robert Buckland

Reading
Artichoke, by Joseph Hutchison (b1950)

Colorado Poet Laureate Joe Hutchison shares his poem "Artichoke" during a National Poetry Month poetry reading at Pikes Peak Library District's Library 21c.

Jacques Arcadelt (c1507–1568)
Il bianco e dolce cigno
The sweet white swan (pub 1539)    [2:40]

Festival des Choeurs Lauréats, in Vaison-la-Romaine in the French Vaucluse region in 2022. The singers are the Hungarian choir Acapellart Énekegyüttes (Acapellart Singers):

Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625)
The Silver Swan (c1612)  [1:20]

A far larger scale than for our concert in this recording! Singing the beautiful Silver Swan, this is the Universitätschor München - Munich Universtity Choir:
Kenneth Leighton (1929–1988)
God’s Grandeur (1957)    [4:15]

This performance was recorded in St Cuthbert's Church, Durham. The singers are the Durham University Chamber Choir:
Reading
“Hope” is the thing with feathers, by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Mairin O'Hagan performs Emily Dickinson's 'Hope is the thing with feathers' for Live Canon www.livecanon.co.uk

Raphaella Aleotti (c1575-1620+, aka Vittoria Aleotta)
Vidi Speciosam (sicut columbam)    [2:40]
 
St Augustine's Kilburn is one of the churches the BBC sometimes uses for recordings. It is also one of a group of "high" churches around London by the architect of Truro Cathedral - John Loughborough Pearson. In our recording we hear the Marian Consort:

Reading
Early Bird, by Shel Silverstein (1930-1999)
 
Her is an After Effects movie Jonathan Westover made of Shel Silverstein reading his poem "Early Bird".

Clément Janequin (c1485–1558)
Le chant des oiseaux    Birdsong (c1528)    [5:15]

"Deux gars, plein d'voix" (2GPDV) grew out of the friendship of two chaps, Renaud Paradis & Olivier Arsenault, of their passion for music and of the great pleasure they have always had in sharing their passion. So just two voices, and a fair bit of multi-tracking produce this fine recording:

Alec Roth (b1948)
Men and Angels    [3:55]

   Her is a beautiful rendering of Alec Roth's atmospheric Men and Angels by the group Ex Cathedra:

Edward Benjamin Britten (1913–1976, Baron Britten)
arr John Douglas Surman (b1944)
from Friday Afternoons (12 songs for schools)
3 Cuckoo    [1:40]

Friday Afternoons is s set of songs which Britten wrote for primary schools. This was in the days when Friday afternoon was a sort of wind-down period when you might put the whole school together overseen by a few of the staff, led by the music specialist. The songs were written to be sung by the children.
In this recording we hear the pupils of Downside School, Purley:

Traditional Finnish
arr Anna Gallon (b1991)
Jos sa olet (minun hellunani)    If you would be (my sweetheart)

The singers for Anna Gallon's arrangement are Savolaisen Osakunnan Laulajat (or Savolaisen Student National Choir) at Finland's Tampere Vocal Music Festival choir review competition:

We have not always been able to find an exact match for today's music and, on two occasions, nothing even similar to the songs we shall hear at this concert.

We hope that will spur you on to attend this rare delight of six voices, live at LMC.

​Next concert
23 July 2026 - Andrew Mellor clarinet • Holly Redshaw bassoon click here
Previous  TWO  concerts
we are ALL invited to enjoy 40 minutes of fun music-making
with the pupils AT Leatherhead Trinity School

pupils present their musical talents
choir, guitars, recorders, piano

Friday 10 July 2026 - AT 11:00 am AT Leatherhead Trinity School & Nursery, Woodvill Road (off  Kingston Road at the garage) KT22 7BP - plenty of on-site parking
♦ 465 & 479 buses stop at "All Saints" ♦
Thursday 9 July 2026 - Music on Thursdays @ LMC

Basil Alter, violin • Gwenllian Llyr, harp click here