Baptism Canon

The Flower

Early in 2007, while staying at the Old Rectory in Bemerton, I set four verses of George Herbert’s poem The Flower at the suggestion of Canon Judy Rees of the George Herbert in Bemerton Group, who had invited a number of composers to make new settings of Herbert’s poetry as hymns for congregational use. I subsequently re-worked this simple hymn-tune into the present more elaborate version as a short anthem for unaccompanied choir, especially for Ex Cathedra and Jeffrey Skidmore. This version is for upper voices (SSA).

The Flower

Alec Roth's The Flower for SATB choir and Tenor/Baritone solo a cappella. 'Early in 2007, while staying at the Old Rectory in Bemerton, I set four verses of George Herbert’s poem‘The Flower’ at the suggestion of Canon Judy Rees of the George Herbert in Bemerton Group, who had invited a number of composers to make new settings of Herbert’s poetry as hymns for congregational use. Isubsequently re-worked this simple hymn-tune into the present more elaborate version as a short anthem for unaccompanied choir.' - Alec Roth First performance on 20 November 2011 at Birmingham TownHallgiven by Ex Cathedra, conducted by Jeffrey Skidmore. The Flower is recorded by Ex Cathedra, directed by Jeffrey Skidmore, on the CD Shared Ground (Signum Classics SIGCD270).