University News Last updated 02 October
Vocal Studies alumna and honorary member Penelope Appleyard has released a trio of new tracks inspired by Jane Austen鈥檚 literature in time for the author鈥檚 250th birthday this year.
Penelope, who is now a professional singer specialising in historical chamber music, has produced the new music with pianist Jonathan Delbridge. The tracks feature on their recital programme, Sense and Musicality.
The centrepiece of the project is 鈥極de to Pity鈥�, composed by Donna McKevitt and based on Austen鈥檚 teenage poem of the same name. The composition was influenced by the music Austen enjoyed herself, most notably folk music of Scotland and Ireland.
The song reflects but also mocks the sensibility of the Romantic era, with a focus on nature, emotion and the picturesque. It offers a rare musical setting of Austen鈥檚 poetry and is composed for performance on a square piano, close in age to the author鈥檚 own instrument.
鈥極de to Pity鈥� was officially released on Friday 19 September. The duo 鈥� called The Little Song Party 鈥� recently gave a special debut performance at the Jane Austen Festival at Bath Abbey.
The first of the releases, Song from Burns, was among Austen鈥檚 personal favourites and was written in her own hand in the Austen family music books. The second track, Robin Adair, is the only song mentioned by name in her novels. These have both been played on BBC Radio 3.
The Sense and Musicality recital programme is ongoing, and The Little Song Party is currently developing two follow-up programmes.
Penelope said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting for both music and literature to have 鈥極de to Pity鈥� out in the world, and a treat for me to be the first to sing it!鈥�
You can now listen to Ode to Pity .
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