Bernardi Music Group perform music that reflects the Wilding Corridor

Emanating from Knepp Castle and with an emphasis on the fields where Ralph Vaughan Williams walked whilst writing ‘The Lark Ascending,’ we are joining together the Wilding Corridor which links the Sea across the county through the fabulous Country Estates, towns and villages. Nuthurst is a deeply beautiful village which inspired Ralph Vaughan Williams to write the famous hymn ‘Monks Gate.’ We will be sharing music which reflects and encourages our custodian-ship of the natural environment.

Beethoven’s ‘Pastorale Symphony’ was arranged for string players in his lifetime by Michael Gotthard Fischer. The first movement describes ‘the awakening of happy feelings on arriving in the countryside.’ The slow movement describes a ‘scene from the brook’ reminiscent of the River Adur running nearby through the estates such as Knepp Castle. The Scherzo refers to ‘merry making of countryfolk.’ We experience a storm in the fourth movement and close with a hymn of thanksgiving.

Tchaikovsky’s virtuoso work ‘Souvenir de Florence’ was written with a theme he wrote whilst in Florence. This hugely romantic work in four movements is sure to move you as the ancient timbers of Nuthurst Church resound and amplify the deep lyricism of the most popular of works.

Programme