Improving Verses for Children

Concert at Chawton House, 11th December 2015

 

David Owen Norris, Professor of Music Performance, says:  Our concert at Chawton went down well. It marked the 150th Anniversary of Edward Loder’s death by presenting some of his settings of Isaac Watts’s improving verses for children, best known today from their parodies in Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland”. Watts was born in Southampton. Professor Gillian Dow read one of Maria Edgworth’s children’s stories: in her preface Edgworth quotes Dr Johnson’s tribute to Watts’s ability to write for children. The concert was the final event in the Marilyn Butler Conference.

Student Hannah Shilvock adds:

It was really enjoyable learning the Loder songs to perform at the concert because it was definitely outside of my comfort zone and it was a really significant event. The Stodart pianoforte was a wonderful instrument to play, fitting the intimate environment of the concert very well. I wasn’t sure what sort of reception to expect from the audience — mainly conference delegates — but they loved the playful lyrics (especially those for the “Little Busy Bee”, my personal favourite). It was my first time accompanying a singer: it was a new and hugely rewarding experience. Chawton House is a beautiful venue and everyone made us feel very welcome.