How poetry, piano and song captured the splendour of Sussex at Pallant House Gallery
An evening of piano, poetry and song at Pallant House Gallery in Chichester reflected the unique characteristics, history and charm of Sussex.
Echoes of Landscape was held in a collaboration with the South Downs Poetry Festival and opened with a performance from pianist Elena Toponogova and Soprano Eleanor Penfold exploring early to mid-20th century lyricism, where music becomes a form of ‘landscape painting’ in sound. The composers – including John Ireland, Gustav Holst, and Ralph Vaughan Williams – were chosen for their special connections with the county.
A poetry promenade curated by the South Downs Poetry Festival and led by Barry Smith comprised the second half of the evening. Distinguished prizewinning poets including Stephanie Norgate, Naomi Foyle and poet-musician Chris Hardy presented new works inspired by the British Landscapes: A Sense of Place exhibition and the wider landscape. They explained how their work was inspired by the art on display in the gallery.
The evening reached a rhythmic conclusion with each of the poets reciting four lines from William Blake’s Preface to Milton. The work is best known today for containing the famous lyric "And did those feet in ancient time" which was later set to music as the hymn ‘Jerusalem’.
In my capacity as High Sheriff of West Sussex it was a privilege to be part of the evening and to draw it to a close with a few words of thanks to everyone who made it possible – not least the poets, the gallery volunteers, the two musicians Elena and Eleanor, Barry Smith, Claire Walton and Jenny Hardy.