Glasgow Madrigirls
The Bird, The Fish, The Bell & The Tree
Saturday 14th June 2025, Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church
The Tree
Of Every Kind of Tree – Words adapted from a fourteenth century poem and set to music by Katy Lavinia Cooper.
The Hawthorn Bush – Collected by Sabine Baring-Gould from Robert Hard (South Brent, Devon) and arranged Katy Lavinia Cooper.
So el encina – Spanish, fifteenth century (Biblioteca Real, MS II–1335).
The Cherry Tree Carol – As sung by Mrs Tom Rice and Big Laurel, NC (1916), in English Songs From The Southern Appalachians, vol. 1 ed. Maud Karpeles (Oxford University Press, 1932).
Green Grow the Leaves – Traditional English singing game (Roud 2121), arranged by Katy Lavinia Cooper.
The Bird
The Brean Lament – Traditional?/Ruth L. Tongue (The Chime Child, London 1967), arranged by AC Eales.
Bel Companho & Miri It Is – Excerpt of a troubadour song (Reis Glorios) by Girault de Bornelh (c.1138-1215) and a thirteenth century English two-part song (Bodleian, MS Rawlinson G.22, f.1v). Arranged by Katy Lavinia Cooper and Glasgow Madrigirls.
The Birds in Song Now Singeth – Music: ‘Den Bortkomne Sauen’, trad. Norwegian, arr. Katy Lavinia Cooper, words: English, thirteenth century (MS Cambridge, Trinity College B.14.39), trans. and adapted Catriona Downie.
Robin’s Testament – From Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs, Heroic Ballads etc, David Herd, Edinburgh 1776), arr. Katy Lavinia Cooper and Glasgow Madrigirls.
The Bell
God Loves a Cheerful Giver – Words from the inscription on the bell of the University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel. Music and field recording by Katy Lavina Cooper.
The Bell is Ringing – Friedrich Silcher, Home Songs, A Collection of Favourite Songs, Hymns and Rounds for the Fireside, Oliver Ditson Company (Boston, 1906).
Caller Herrin’ – Music by Nathaniel Gow (1763-1831), words by Carolina Nairne (1766-1845), arranged by Katy Lavinia Cooper.
The Fish
Foweles in the Frith – English, thirteenth century (Bodleian, MS. Douce 139).
Ave Maris Stella – Fifteenth century Marian hymn (Slone MS. 2593), adapted Catriona Downie, set to music by Katy Lavinia Cooper.
Fire Maringo – Traditional cotton-screwing Shanty, arr. Katy Lavinia Cooper and Glasgow Madrigirls.
The Fish Gutting Lassie – Ewan McColl, arr. Katy Lavinia Cooper.
Country Life – According to A.L. Lloyd, The Watersons learned this song from Mick Taylor, a sheepdog trainer of Hawes in Wensleydale. (Roud 1752). Arranged by Katy Lavinia Cooper, with a nod to Dave Burland’s arrangement (Okkard, 2017). Additional lyrics by Glasgow Madrigirls.
With thanks to Hannah Morgan, Harry Campbell, everyone at Kelvinside Hillhead Church, West Fest and the Chaplaincy at the University of Glasgow.
Glasgow Madrigirls
Conducted by Katy Lavinia Cooper
Co-directed by Catriona Downie and Katy Lavinina Cooper
Madrigirls was formed in 2000 by co-directors Katy and Catriona. Then undergraduates at Glasgow University, Katy is now the University’s Director of Chapel Music and Catriona an arts marketing professional. As well as our annual sell-out Advent Carol Concert in the University Chapel we sing in venues across Scotland and run workshops for groups of all abilities. We’ve taken part in radio broadcasts for BBC Radio Scotland and Radio 3, appeared on Channel 4 and BBC TV, and featured on several soundtracks - most recently Darren Hercher’s BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Dooman, and for Our Ladies – Michael Caton-Jones big-screen adaption of The Sopranos by Alan Warner. In 2024 we were nominated for the Royal Philharmonic Society Inspiration Award.
We have recorded 4 CDs which are available to buy tonight – Nevermas (2006), Return Again (2010), Songs of Starlight (2012) and Leaves of Life (2016).
Upcoming events…
Advent Carol Concert
University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel
Sunday 30 November 2025, 6pm & 8pm
Tickets on sale October 2025
Find us on Facebook & Instagram @glasgowmadrigirls
The Bird, The Fish, The Bell & The Tree
Saturday 14th June 2025, Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church
The Tree
Of Every Kind of Tree – Words adapted from a fourteenth century poem and set to music by Katy Lavinia Cooper.
The Hawthorn Bush – Collected by Sabine Baring-Gould from Robert Hard (South Brent, Devon) and arranged Katy Lavinia Cooper.
So el encina – Spanish, fifteenth century (Biblioteca Real, MS II–1335).
The Cherry Tree Carol – As sung by Mrs Tom Rice and Big Laurel, NC (1916), in English Songs From The Southern Appalachians, vol. 1 ed. Maud Karpeles (Oxford University Press, 1932).
Green Grow the Leaves – Traditional English singing game (Roud 2121), arranged by Katy Lavinia Cooper.
The Bird
The Brean Lament – Traditional?/Ruth L. Tongue (The Chime Child, London 1967), arranged by AC Eales.
Bel Companho & Miri It Is – Excerpt of a troubadour song (Reis Glorios) by Girault de Bornelh (c.1138-1215) and a thirteenth century English two-part song (Bodleian, MS Rawlinson G.22, f.1v). Arranged by Katy Lavinia Cooper and Glasgow Madrigirls.
The Birds in Song Now Singeth – Music: ‘Den Bortkomne Sauen’, trad. Norwegian, arr. Katy Lavinia Cooper, words: English, thirteenth century (MS Cambridge, Trinity College B.14.39), trans. and adapted Catriona Downie.
Robin’s Testament – From Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs, Heroic Ballads etc, David Herd, Edinburgh 1776), arr. Katy Lavinia Cooper and Glasgow Madrigirls.
The Bell
God Loves a Cheerful Giver – Words from the inscription on the bell of the University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel. Music and field recording by Katy Lavina Cooper.
The Bell is Ringing – Friedrich Silcher, Home Songs, A Collection of Favourite Songs, Hymns and Rounds for the Fireside, Oliver Ditson Company (Boston, 1906).
Caller Herrin’ – Music by Nathaniel Gow (1763-1831), words by Carolina Nairne (1766-1845), arranged by Katy Lavinia Cooper.
The Fish
Foweles in the Frith – English, thirteenth century (Bodleian, MS. Douce 139).
Ave Maris Stella – Fifteenth century Marian hymn (Slone MS. 2593), adapted Catriona Downie, set to music by Katy Lavinia Cooper.
Fire Maringo – Traditional cotton-screwing Shanty, arr. Katy Lavinia Cooper and Glasgow Madrigirls.
The Fish Gutting Lassie – Ewan McColl, arr. Katy Lavinia Cooper.
Country Life – According to A.L. Lloyd, The Watersons learned this song from Mick Taylor, a sheepdog trainer of Hawes in Wensleydale. (Roud 1752). Arranged by Katy Lavinia Cooper, with a nod to Dave Burland’s arrangement (Okkard, 2017). Additional lyrics by Glasgow Madrigirls.
With thanks to Hannah Morgan, Harry Campbell, everyone at Kelvinside Hillhead Church, West Fest and the Chaplaincy at the University of Glasgow.
Glasgow Madrigirls
Conducted by Katy Lavinia Cooper
Co-directed by Catriona Downie and Katy Lavinina Cooper
Madrigirls was formed in 2000 by co-directors Katy and Catriona. Then undergraduates at Glasgow University, Katy is now the University’s Director of Chapel Music and Catriona an arts marketing professional. As well as our annual sell-out Advent Carol Concert in the University Chapel we sing in venues across Scotland and run workshops for groups of all abilities. We’ve taken part in radio broadcasts for BBC Radio Scotland and Radio 3, appeared on Channel 4 and BBC TV, and featured on several soundtracks - most recently Darren Hercher’s BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Dooman, and for Our Ladies – Michael Caton-Jones big-screen adaption of The Sopranos by Alan Warner. In 2024 we were nominated for the Royal Philharmonic Society Inspiration Award.
We have recorded 4 CDs which are available to buy tonight – Nevermas (2006), Return Again (2010), Songs of Starlight (2012) and Leaves of Life (2016).
Upcoming events…
Advent Carol Concert
University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel
Sunday 30 November 2025, 6pm & 8pm
Tickets on sale October 2025
Find us on Facebook & Instagram @glasgowmadrigirls