Description
James Payn’s poem beautifully describes the Cumbrian lake as a haven of peace and stillness for the soul in contrast to the ‘fight with the rough world’. In this piece, the violin represents the soul of Grasmere, always returning to a simple folk-like motif. The voices move through different textures and moods rising to an ecstatic description of nature and a final, poignant farewell.
Grasmere was commissioned for Jenny Wigram as a birthday gift from her family and friends. The first performance was by St Albans Chamber Choir (dir. John Gibbons, solo violin Jenny Wigram) on 18th October 2025 at St Saviour’s Church, St Albans.
SATB (S divisi) and violin, 10 minutes
