Fiona Dunn's Podcast

This storm happened during a heatwave, with more lightning flashes than I've ever seen , and lots of thunder and rain.

Matthew Warbis accompanies With Cheerful Voice, an ad hoc choir who sing in cathedrals and other religious buildings a few times a year. The trio was sung by Fiona Dunn (soprano), Nicholas Markwell (tenor) and David Rees-Jones (Bass).

Soprano solo by Fiona Dunn, accompanied by Matthew Warbis. With Cheerful Voice, heard towards the end of this piece, is an ad hoc choir that sings in various cathedrals and other religious buildings a few times a year.

The weather has been very changeable, going from sunshine to storms within a few minutes, and this storm started very suddenly!

Immerse yourself in this stereo recording of moris, clog and other dancers and musicians going past in this joyous annual folk festival procession at Upton upon Severn.

Some bellringing before the Sunday morning service. There are edits because of a noisy delivery and traffic.

I preached about the Gospel reading, Luke 24: 13-35, where Jesus listens patiently as two of his disciples tell him all about his crucifixion, then explains to them why these things had to happen, and shares a meal with them, where they recognise him when he breaks bread, gives thanks and shares it with them. I talk about the importance of looking for Jesus in everyday life, and how easy it can be to miss what's right in front of you.

I talk about Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, described in Matthew 21: 1-11, where he rode into the city on a donkey, and people threw down cloaks and branches, shouting withjoy. I explain what "hosanna" means, suggest other possible names for Palm Sunday, and consider the kind of kingdom Jesus represents.

With Cheerful Voice runs events where participants rehearse and sing in various venues, such as Cathedrals, churches and chapels. This anthem was recorded in St Stephen Walbrook, as part of City Churches Day, where the choir sang in four different churches within the City of London.

Eye Matter is a charity that holds events for blind and partially sighted members, many of them on Zoom, including the Eye Matter choir, directed by Rachel Bowden Waterson. Their only in-person rehearsal was on the afternoon of this concert. Singers: Amrit, Andy, Kevin, Jessica, Oleksandra, Rachel, Ron, Sam, Suzie Tracks were: Sleigh Ride, music by Leroy Anderson, with lyrics by Mitchell Parish, this performance based on the Ronettes' version Deck the Halls, 16th century Welsh melody with English lyrics by Thomas Oliphant, 1862 It's beginning to look like Christmas by Meredith Willson, based on the Bing Crosby version Together in Electric Dreams by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder, mainly based on their recording, with a sprinkling of influence from the Lola Young version Here comes Santa Claus by Gene Autry Mistletoe and Wine by Jeremy Paul, Leslie Stewart and Keith Strachan, based on the Cliff Richard version Merry Christmas by Ed Sheeran and Elton John with a short encore

This well-known Christmas carol started life as a French text written in 1847 by Placide Cappeau, called Minuit, Chretiens, set to music by Adolphe-Charles Adam and then entitled Cantique de Noel. It was later translated into English by John Sullivan Dwight, who significantly changed the message some of the lines.

These fireworks were recorded in stereo outside the Sikh Gudwara. They were very close and I've never seen so many fireworks in one evening!

This wonderfully bouncy rendition of a West Gallery setting by W. J. White, of these words by Isaac Watts, was recorded on 4 October 2025 and conducted by Phil Price.

This was recorded on 4 October 2025, during a West Gallery music day with this ad hoc choir and band of instruments.

This wonderfully bouncy rendition, including all eight verses, was sung at a West Gallery music day on 4 October 2025 by With Cheerful Voice, an ad hoc choir. West Gallery music is not accompanied on the organ or piano, so we had a band of musicians. Text by Edward Perronet, music by James Ellor, conductor Phil Price.

I was asked to do a solo performance of this song, which I wrote in 2018, in a concert where my main role was that of accompanist for the Eye Matter choir, as I had included it as part of a solo online concert i did for them in April. I'm so pleased they liked it so much and I always enjoy singing it.

Performances from Eye Matter's "Sing into Spring" concert on 31st May 2025. Eye Matter is a charity that holds events for blind and partially sighted members, many of them on Zoom, including the Eye Matter choir, directed by Rachel Bowden Waterson. Their only in person rehearsal was on the afternoon of this concert. Tracks were: Walking on Sunshine by Kimberley Rew of Katrina and the Waves Hard Day's Night, the Beatles Got My Mind Set On You by Rudy Clark, this performance based on the George Harrison version Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive, music by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, this version based on the arrangement by Jools Holland and Rumer I'm a Believer by Neil Diamond, based on the version by The Monkees December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night), the Four Seasons

A stereo recording of birds in the park, including ducks, geese and moorhens on the lake. Use headphones or good speakers for the best listening experience.

I don't often mention my blindness when preaching but I felt it was important when talking about helping others, because it's not really help if it makes someone's life more difficult. The reading was Luke 10: 25-37, often known as "the parable of the Good Samaritan".

birdsong on a short afternoon walk on Easter Day

The brief was to sing lots of well-known songs so that people could join in at home, but there are two of my original compositions in there as well. Song list Rivers of Babylon, music by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton, who used verses from Psalm 137 and 19 with some alterations, based on the singing of Boney M Promise Me, Beverley Craven I Will Always Love You, based on Whitney Houston's interpretation of Dolly Parton's song, from The Body Guard soundtrack Run To You, Jud Friedman and Allan Rich, from The Bodyguard soundtrack (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Wexler The Power of Love, Music by Gunther Mende and Candy DeRouge, lyrics Jennifer Rush and Mary Susan Applegate After the gold Rush, Neil Young Keep You Safe, Fiona Dunn A New Day Has Come, Aldo Nova and Stephan Moccio, based on the slower version on Celine Dion's album of the same name Marks Out Of Ten, Fiona Dunn Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen The Parting Glass, traditional folksong

Readings were Psalm 91: 1-2, 9-16 and Luke 4: 1-13. The Psalm is quoted by the devil when he tries to tempt Jesus in the desert in the reading from Luke's Gospel.

Written for the wonderful man in my life, this song is based on words we've both said to one another and reflects our love and commitment.

Sermon preached on 9 Feb 2025 about being called to follow God and Jesus, however unprepared we may feel, and what it means to "catch people", instead of fish. Readings were Psalm 138, Isaiah 6: 1-8 and Luke 5: 1-11

Readings were Psalm 36:5-10, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 and John 2:1-11.

The squeaking noise in the background towards the end is due to a broken tap in the next room.

Use headphones or good speakers to hear this stereo recording at its best

A stereo recording of Listening to beautiful birdsong in the afternoon at a local park on Christmas eve

I was unable to sing at my Church carol service so sent this recording for them to play in my absence.

Readings were Malachi 3: 1-4 and Luke 3: 1-6.

This duet was part of the annual London Gallery Quire Christmas concert on 4 December 2024

Readings were Psalm 93 and John 18: 33-37

This was part of a service for All Saints, celebrating various disciples from the Bible

Readings were: Psalm 104: 1-9, 24, 35; Job 38: 1-7 (34-41); Mark 10: 35-45

My reading of verses of praise from Psalm 104 followed by my prayers of confession near the start of a service on 20 October 2024

Readings were: Psalm 1, James 3: 13 - 4: 3, 7-8a and Mark 9: 30-37. I was preaching at a Church that uses the Good News Bible and also quoting from the New Revised Standard Version.

Readings were: Exodus 16: 2-4, 9-15 Psalm 78: 23-29 John 6: 24 - 35

I sung this during a choir trip to Beaune in Burgundy, France, at the end of May, where we performed in three amazing old buildings with wonderful acoustics. This recording was part of a rehearsal as it's much clearer than the concert audio.

A stereo recording of birdsong in my garden on a Sunday afternoon, including blacbirds and wrens.

A relaxing, stereo recording of Thursday evening birdsong in my peaceful garden.

Readings were Psalm 19, Exodus 20: 1-17 and John 2: 13-22

Readings were Hebrews 2:14-18 and Luke 2:22-40.