Haydn Wood - Roses of Picardy

Time for some British Light Music ! The song "Roses of Picardy" was written by English composer Haydn Wood on a text by Frederic Weatherly. Published in 1916, it became one of the most popular and famous songs of the First World War, often sung by British troops in France and Flanders. Although the lyrics are not that specific, and Weatherly himself was retired when WW1 started, it is easy to identify the song as an ode from a British soldier or officer to his local Picardy sweetheart. Roses of Picardy has been recorded, in many different styles, by many artists as diverse as Frank Sinatra, Mario Lanza, Yves Montand and George Shearing to name but some. This piano solo arrangement is by H.M.Higgs, who did a very decent if not especially imaginative job on it. I wonder what a Godowsky would have made of it. Sorry about my balding head bobbing around in front. I tried an experimental camera setup which was, in hindsight, not wholly convincing. Ah well, at lease the carpet is nice to look at 😁 Chris Breemer, piano https://buymeacoffee.com/cbreemer --- Recording date: Wednesday August 21, 2024 Piano: Kawai Novus NV10S Setting: SK-5, Jazz Old School Postprocessing: Concert Hall Light reverb Art work: Detail ("British officers") from Panthéon de la Guerre (1914-18) Mid roll: Bamforth song card with lyrics for verse 1 (1916-20)