(Richard Hickox CBE (1948-2008), St Endellion Festivals Artistic Director 1973-2008)

The St Endellion Music Festivals take place at Easter and in the Summer every year, bringing together a wide range of musicians from all over the world to perform opera, choral, orchestral, chamber and recital concerts in the inspiring and intimate atmosphere of the Collegiate Church of St Endellion, North Cornwall and surrounds.

https://endellionfestivals.org.uk

This year, owing to the pandemic that has so greatly affected the world around us, the Festival had to regrettably cancel both its Easter and Summer outings. To try and continue the musical joy and Festival spirit that is so meaningful and special to such a large number of people, we have put together this remote recording of George Gershwin's Summertime from his opera Porgy and Bess.

Recorded by Endellionites all over the country, this piece was chosen for a variety of reasons. The basis is the choral arrangement by Roderick Williams, himself a long-standing Endellionite; this version has been specially orchestrated by Jamal Sutton, Organist of the Easter Festival. Summertime has become somewhat of a timeless classic with numerous adaptations and interpretations over the years. This arrangement tries to encompass a few of them, a nod to the forward-looking nature of our times, particularly amongst musicians worldwide. The arrangement begins with a lullaby, sultry quality at the beginning before creating a sense of forward motion towards a final flourish, a party, to mark the optimism for the future.

Perhaps most importantly, wed love to raise funds for the Festivals. They have been running for many decades (nearly 50 years in the case of the Easter Festival, and over 60 for the Summer Festival), and have provided so much joy to so many people, both musicians and audience members in the quaint, beautiful setting of St. Endellion Church, North Cornwall. This year has been particularly difficult and if we can raise as much money as possible for the Festivals, they may continue their musical excellence and keep the wonderful tradition alive, continuing to discover why music is so important - it forms bonds, it connects people, it speaks, as Beethoven desired, from the heart to the heart.

We hope you are able to donate to this worthy cause - enjoy the video!

Summertime: George Gershwin, arr. Roderick Williams, orchestrated Jamal Sutton. Lyrics: DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin. Soprano soloist: Nadine Benjamin. St Endellion Combined Festivals Orchestra and Choir.

Recorded remotely, August 2020. Editing and post-production by Nick Pugh (Session Corner) and Jamal Sutton. Photography courtesy of Michael Borthwick and Jamal Sutton.

Recording by kind permission of the St Endellion Festivals Trust and Easter and Summer Committees.