Some background info

Hi everyone -
It was a good rehearsal last night with a couple very divine moments of tuning complete with overtones. Thanks for working hard until the very end. After talking briefly about the Shakespeare text, I thought it would be helpful to include below an explanation that I have found in my looking around online. Also, here is what we will be working on next Monday:
Rutter - Blow Blow
Aftonen - especially last section, pages 6 and 7
Hail - especially last section, pages 6 thru 8
Silence - especially last section, pages 6 thru 8 (didn't I just say that??)
Blue Bird - tuning in the lower register
Nightingale - especially last section, pages 6 and 7
MLK
Since we have less music to sing on this program, let's try to ramp up our musicality as much as possible. Thank you as well for your comments in the survey. Keep those coming as they are very helpful.
See you Monday!
Clair
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The poem 'Blow! Blow! Thou Winter Wind' is an extract from the famous romantic comedy 'As You Like It' written by William Shakespeare.

Background:

When the Senior Duke is banished by his brother, Fredrick, who has usurped the kingdom, the Duke goes to the Forest of Arden with a few faithful followers. They start loving the simple life of the forest. However, when the winter sets in, the Duke feels the change from the palace life to that in the forest. It is then that Amiens, a faithful and loving follower of the Duke, sings this song to cheer the Duke up and point it out to him that the unkind and ungrateful friends cause more pain to a person than the terrible cold winds of the winter that blow in the Forest of Arden.

 

Central Idea:

In this poem, the poet shows a contrast between the thanklessness of people in the materialistic world and the harshness of the Nature. In other words, he shows a striking contrast between the physical pain and emotional agony that a human being suffers.

Through the words of Amiens, Shakespeare conveys that the world is full of fraudulence and trickery. Most friends are fake and thankless and the ingratitude of friends brings more trepidation and is harsher than the bite of the winter wind.

The poem strikes a pessimistic and cynical note in the beginning and mocks at the falseness of love and friendship. Human ingratitude is the theme of the song. It points out that friends often forget the favours extended to them. However, it ends on a hopeful note that despite all the treachery and hypocrisy of humans, life is worth living and one should be happy and gay. Happiness is the only way to forgive and forget the treachery of the friends.