Summer is here, even if the Great British weather doesn’t always want to agree. But despite the odd patch of torrential rain here and there, there is hope. The damp ground always dries up. Once the menacing dark clouds have cleared, light always returns. The brightness and the warmth will come back, again and again. We can always believe in the sun.

And at Vivamus, we believe in ‘Canticle of the Sun’ by Stephen Dodgson.

Getting to grips with ‘Canticle of the Sun’

Okay, I’ll be honest – maybe we didn’t believe in it at first. But that’s only because we didn’t believe in ourselves at first.

‘Canticle of the Sun’ is a setting of a text by poet John Heath-Stubbs. Dodgson’s composition evokes all the sentiments that our great star does. At times it is magnificent and mighty, burning bright in a fiery noon; other times it shines playfully, light reflecting off dappled waters. Interwoven throughout are prayerful, reverent moments, still and calm as a sunset.

It is a truly incredible piece. It weaves and darts, it rises and falls, and it requires incredible dexterity and strength to sing. Most of us in Vivamus were initially unfamiliar with ‘Canticle of the Sun’, and so at our first rehearsal, we were quite tentative and uncertain. We didn’t quite get the timings right. We messed up a few of the dainty runs up and down. We worried: perhaps this piece wasn’t quite for us?

But the sun doesn’t give up. There is always a new dawn. There is always a chance to try again. And with every passing day as we’ve listened and practised, with every rehearsal, we’ve grown more confident. ‘Canticle of the Sun’ is an astonishing musical feat, and now we’ve come to believe in ourselves, we are beyond excited to perform it. It’s going to be fantastic.

The Stephen Dodgson Charitable Trust

We were delighted to meet with Leonora Dawson-Bowling, CEO of the Stephen Dodgson Charitable Trust, at a recent rehearsal. She told us about Dodgson’s wide range of compositions and pursuits, and how the trust seeks to celebrate and continue his work, and support musicians. In turn, she spoke to us about our experiences with ‘Canticle of the Sun’.

We’re very grateful to Leonora for dropping by, and hope she enjoyed our rehearsal. We’re looking forward to welcoming her and fellow Stephen Dodgson supporters at our upcoming concert which will celebrate all forms of light – with ‘Canticle of the Sun’ as a natural focal point.

We hope you can join us too. Book your tickets to our summer concert now.

Post written by Swéta Rana.