The Bentley Priory Chronicles - musical items
(the year refers to the point in the 850 year historical narration at which the song occurs)
1940: Prelude and Crash Landing
Music: Bryan Kesselman | Words: Philip Barnett
1170: Fiat Aves       
Words and Music: Bryan Kesselman
Let birds fly over the earth in the firmament of heaven.
1513: Pastime with good company        
Words and Music: Henry VIII
1728: Non lo dirò  
Music: George Frederic Handel (arr. Kesselman)
Words: Nicola Francesco Haym
(from the opera, Tolomeo)
1788: Hamilton Rap             
Words: Philip Barnett
1788: O, what a tangled web            
Music: Kesselman | Words: Sir Walter Scott
1876: Grandfather’s Clock
Words and Music: Henry Clay Work
1877: Now to the banquet we press
Music: Arthur Sullivan | Words: William Gilbert
(from the opera, The Sorcerer)
1927: Come to the Fair    
Music: Easthope Martin | Words: Helen Taylor
1917: Travelling Days             
Music: Kesselman | Words: Barnett
A pastiche of the type of song that was sung in the trenches during WW1. The soldiers explain that they thought travel would be an adventure but the situation is not quite what they envisaged.
1917: Peaceful Country           
Music: Kesselman | Words: Barnett
A pastiche of the type of song that would not have been out of place at the Women’s Institute in the early 20th century. A complete contrast to what the soldiers were singing in the trenches during WW1.
1940: Evacuees Song      
Music: Kesselman | Words: Barnett
1940: Pilot’s Song          
Music: Kesselman | Words: Barnett
1955: Where have all the flowers gone        
Music: Pete Seeger | Words: Seeger/Joe Hickerson
2013: Drinking Tea                
Music: arranged Kesselman | Words: Barnett
2023: Why then a final note prolong?
Music: Kesselman | Words: Sir Walter Scott
1940: Never Forget           
Music: Kesselman | Words: Barnett