Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
VOCES8 and the VOCES8 Foundation Choir and Orchestra perform Taylor Scott Davis' new setting of the Siegfried Sassoon poem 'Idyll', conducted by Artistic Director, Barnaby Smith.
The performance is part of a new album called 'i carry your heart', which will also feature Taylor's new setting of the Requiem - voces8.lnk.to/icarryyourheartalbum
Taylor writes of the piece:
This Siegfried Sassoon poem is not explicitly religious, which is part of what drew me to it. I wanted people outside of the Christian faith to have something inclusive which allowed them to express their grief, a movement that was free from needing to understand customs, traditions, or a foreign language.
As the clarinet and oboe enter, a musical fog lifts. The tenors and basses give us a yearning melody that breathes just as they sing “a thrush that wakes and sings”. That same melody is shared by the sopranos and altos before a B-section moves the tempo along. During the instrumental passage that follows, the bassoon plays in its top register in our continued quest for hope. So while this text is outside the liturgy – indeed, outside the sacred sphere – it is deeply spiritual.
Lyrics
In the grey summer garden I shall find you
With day-break and the morning hills behind you.
There will be rain-wet roses; stir of wings;
And down the wood a thrush that wakes and sings.
Not from the past you'll come, but from that deep
Where beauty murmurs to the soul asleep:
And I shall know the sense of life re-born
From dreams into the mystery of morn
Where gloom and brightness meet. And standing there
Till that calm song is done, at last we'll share
The league-spread, quiring symphonies that are
Joy in the world, and peace, and dawn’s one star.
----
VOCES8 is the no. 1 streamed classical vocal ensemble in the world. Through the VOCES8 Foundation, it runs an innovative and wide reaching education programme reaching 50,000 participants every year, with an aim to inspire people through music.
Become a member of the VOCES8 channel for exclusive performances, behind the scenes moments and early access to new releases 👉bit.ly/4bAwaNA
Subscribe to VOCES8 YouTube channel 👉 bit.ly/43Xg38H
Follow VOCES8 on:
VOCES8 Website voces8.com
VOCES8 Foundation Website https://www.voces8.foundation
Donate to the VOCES8 Foundation 👉 bit.ly/4or0UDO
Facebook facebook.com/VOCES8
Instagram instagram.com/voces8
TikTok tiktok.com/@voces8official
VOCES8 and the VOCES8 Foundation Choir and Orchestra perform Taylor Scott Davis' new setting of the Siegfried Sassoon poem 'Idyll', conducted by Artistic Director, Barnaby Smith.
The performance is part of a new album called 'i carry your heart', which will also feature Taylor's new setting of the Requiem - voces8.lnk.to/icarryyourheartalbum
Taylor writes of the piece:
This Siegfried Sassoon poem is not explicitly religious, which is part of what drew me to it. I wanted people outside of the Christian faith to have something inclusive which allowed them to express their grief, a movement that was free from needing to understand customs, traditions, or a foreign language.
As the clarinet and oboe enter, a musical fog lifts. The tenors and basses give us a yearning melody that breathes just as they sing “a thrush that wakes and sings”. That same melody is shared by the sopranos and altos before a B-section moves the tempo along. During the instrumental passage that follows, the bassoon plays in its top register in our continued quest for hope. So while this text is outside the liturgy – indeed, outside the sacred sphere – it is deeply spiritual.
Lyrics
In the grey summer garden I shall find you
With day-break and the morning hills behind you.
There will be rain-wet roses; stir of wings;
And down the wood a thrush that wakes and sings.
Not from the past you'll come, but from that deep
Where beauty murmurs to the soul asleep:
And I shall know the sense of life re-born
From dreams into the mystery of morn
Where gloom and brightness meet. And standing there
Till that calm song is done, at last we'll share
The league-spread, quiring symphonies that are
Joy in the world, and peace, and dawn’s one star.
----
VOCES8 is the no. 1 streamed classical vocal ensemble in the world. Through the VOCES8 Foundation, it runs an innovative and wide reaching education programme reaching 50,000 participants every year, with an aim to inspire people through music.
Become a member of the VOCES8 channel for exclusive performances, behind the scenes moments and early access to new releases 👉bit.ly/4bAwaNA
Subscribe to VOCES8 YouTube channel 👉 bit.ly/43Xg38H
Follow VOCES8 on:
VOCES8 Website voces8.com
VOCES8 Foundation Website https://www.voces8.foundation
Donate to the VOCES8 Foundation 👉 bit.ly/4or0UDO
Facebook facebook.com/VOCES8
Instagram instagram.com/voces8
TikTok tiktok.com/@voces8official
