Flora now calleth forth each flower

For a springtime celebration, John Stafford Smith’s Flora now calleth forth each flower provides a delightful madrigal for SSATB voices. The English text paints a picture of Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers, awakening nature. The music invites the choir to stir little Love from his slumber in Lethe’s lake, a charming image of awakening desire and setting the scene for a joyous dance. This secular work, typical of the madrigal genre, offers a light and elegant musical setting of the poetic imagery, making it an engaging choice for a concert programme.