In a programme which looks backwards as well as forwards, the ±«Óãtv Singers, organist James McVinnie, and conductor Nicholas Kok present a concert of modern choral works which cast a glance towards the music of the past.
Judith Bingham’s The Spirit of Truth was composed in 2009 for the ±«Óãtv Singers and is based on a much-loved anthem composed in the early years of the Church of England by Thomas Tallis. Benjamin Britten’s Prelude and Fugue uses a theme from a motet by the Spanish Renaissance master Victoria, while Rejoice in the Lamb is an affectionate homage to the sacred music of Henry Purcell.
In their 90th anniversary season, demonstrating their long-held commitment to the music of our own day, the ±«Óãtv Singers in this concert premiere two new works – Richard Blackford’s settings of the spiritually-charged poems of British writer and scholar Kathleen Raine, and Nico Muhly’s Spiral Mass – a piece which reflects its composer’s own musical preoccupation with twisting symmetries and helix-like figures.
Finally, the young British organist James McVinnie performs music from The Orgelbüchlein Project ¬- in which composers have been invited to create short organ chorale-preludes to fill the pages of those left empty in J S Bach’s great collection from the early 18th century.
Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that as not everyone who asks for tickets uses them, to make sure we have a full house we send out more tickets than there are places. We do our best to get the numbers right, but unfortunately we occasionally have to disappoint people so please arrive early.
