Duo keen for Green show

The combined talents of harpist Jacinta Dennett and vocalist Nadia Piave makes for the most glorious of sounds.

Musically, they are a perfectly balanced combination to perform in the Lauriston Chapel on Bendigo’s famous Langley Estate.

Musicians, teachers, and performers, Dennett and Piave have been playing together as duo Bliss since the 1990s.

Their coming Sunday Langley Estate program is inspired by the colour green and songs which include it in the title – arguably, the most famous of which is Greensleeves.

With its simple melody, and countless arrangements and recordings, it is perfect for combined harp and voice; and while it makes a great story, it now seems unlikely Greensleeves was composed by King Henry VIII for his future love, Anne Boleyn.

According to musicologists, the composition – whose full title is A Newe Northen Dittye of ye Ladye Greene Sleves – appears to be based on an Italian style of song which did not reach England until after King Henry’s death, 1547.

Nor was it written by Mr Whippy for his ice cream van, or any of the numerous telephone companies who use it as their hold music!

The hour-long green recital embraces the musical span from the 1500s through to 20th century, and includes works from the Scottish poet Robert Burns and Green Grow The Rashes, dating to 1742; and Kate Bush’s, Wuthering Heights, where the jealous lovers “roll and fall in the green”.

No green musical program would be complete without Kermit the Frog who knows, “it’s not easy being green”, together with the works of 20 artists, including Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis, Tom Waits, and Green Day.

Green featuring Jacinta Dennett and Nadia Piave is set for Sunday, 5 February at 3pm at Langley Estate, 484 Napier Street, White Hills.

Tickets are available via trybooking.com.