THE BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY OF NORTHERN IRELAND Saturday Evening 20th November, 1943 ASTRA DESMOND Accompanist: MABEL LOVERING

Programme I Recit.: Gold now is common Air: How green our fertile pastures are f (Solomon) O sleep, why dost thou leave me ? (Semele) Recit. O King of Kings ngs (Esther) Air: Alleluia Linden Lea Sleep Sweet and Twenty Twilight Fancies. The Birds' Tale II Med en Vandlilje (With a Waterlily) Vaaren (Spring) Med en Primula Veris (With a Primrose) Dobru noc (Good-night) Zalo dievca (The Mower) Ej, mam ja kona faku (I have a fairy steed) Astra Desmond has for a number of years specially studied Norwegian and the songs of Edvard Grieg, and her Centenary Recital on the Anniversary of his birth, June 15th, was attended by H.M. The King or Norway and the Crown Prince Olav. III At the request of the Czechoslovak Government Astra Desmond wrote the chapter on Dvorak's Songs for their "Life and Works of Dvorak," published last year. IV Handel Portuguese Folk-Songs: Sete anos que andei na guerra (Seven years I went to war) Oh que calma vai caindo (Reaping Song) Boina, boina! (The Boy with a Cap) Santa Luzia (Saint Luzia) A Marcela (Gathering camomile) Grieg born 1843 Dvorak Vaughan Williams Peter Warlock Delius arr. Arthur Santos Astra Desmond sang these Portuguese Folk Songs with the Lisbon Orchestra under Dr. Freitas Branco in 1941 and has recently repeated them with the B.B.C. Orchestra under the same Conductor on his recent visit to England,