It’s a song about glass with two incarnations.

It as originally composed as part of the Winter Wear project and focussed on four aspects of of Sunderland’s glass-making heritage: the first glass windows in an English Church, at St. Benedict Biscop’s Monastery, St. Peter’s in Monkwearmouth; the industrial glass-making heritage along the Wear in the 18th and 19th centuries; Jobling’s British monopoly on Pyrex manufacture in the 2oth century; and the current National Glass Centre near the mouth of the River Wear. This version has been performed several times, including by Bailiffgate Singers and Alnwick and District Choral Society. You can hear this version here!

In May 2016 I adapted the song with new words for The Bridge Singers of Felton and West Thirston in Northumberland for their concert of music connected in some way to the local area. The four verses now address these glass-related themes: the exquisite stained glass windows in St. Michael’s Church, Felton; the 17th century mining of fine West Thirtson clay for the Newcastle glass-making industry; the recently restored 19th century greenhouse at Felton Park, and the art glass that is made and sold by local artists in our villages, including this one by Hazel Metherell (modelled here in the Felton Park Greenhouse!). You can hear this version here!