cherwellsingers-announce

cherwellsingers-announce@lists.urchin.earth.li

13 discussions

Feel the Spirit - concert to include Ellington and Rutter, 26th June
by Announcements from the Cherwell Singers 03 Jun '16

03 Jun '16

We invite you to our next concert: Music of the African-American tradition Sunday June 26th 8pm £10/£8 (advance tickets from https://www.wegottickets.com/event/363548) New Road Baptist Church, Bonn Square, Oxford James Brown - conductor Steven Grahl - piano Rhodri Taylor - clarinet This term the Cherwell Singers pays a humble tribute to the immense influence African- American music has had on the history of modern music worldwide. While jazz (which gradually evolved from ragtime) is perhaps the most important form of music pioneered by African-Americans, rhythm and blues, soul, barbershop and rock and roll all owe their origins to this tradition, and the influence of these forms on world music has been enormous. In the first half of the concert we acknowlege Duke Ellington who with his jazz orchestra and partner Billy Strayhorn, was a pivotal figure in the history of jazz, and also include piano music by ragtime composer Scott Joplin. The second half of the concert is devoted to the uniquely indigenous form of the African- American spiritual, whose powerful sentiments evoke yearning for escape from the conditions of slavery and sometimes contain coded messages of escape. Although these were originally unaccompanied unison songs they have become best known in harmonised choral arrangements such as the suite "Feel the spirit" arranged by John Rutter in a version for piano, clarinet and drums which we shall present. The fusion of harmonic and rhythmic features from Western and sub-Saharan Africa into European musical styles has made music from the African-American tradition one of the most exciting, sometimes poignant, but hugely popular forms of music there is. We invite you to to the appropriate setting of the New Road Baptist Church, Bonn Square with its "Southern" interior for what should be a lively evening of music making designed to appeal to the widest possible audience.

1 0

An exploration of Gibbons tomorrow evening
by Announcements from the Cherwell Singers 19 Mar '16

19 Mar '16

Dear supporter, Please find attached a poster for our concert tomorrow and more details provided by our direcor of music, James Brown. This term the Cherwell Singers pays tribute to one of Oxford's greatest sons and one of the foremost English composers of the early seventeenth century - Orlando Gibbons. Born and christened in Oxford to a musical family, his career included a choristership at King's College, Cambridge, eventually becoming organist at the Chapel Royal and Westminster Abbey. Gibbons was one of the most versatile composers of his time, and we have tried to reflect this in the variety of types of composition we are featuring in our concert. Thus we include examples of his verse anthems (including probably the best known, "This is the record of John"), full anthems (including the eight part "O clap your hands", first performed in Oxford), service music for the relatively new office of evensong, and madrigals (including the much loved "The Silver Swan"). Once again we are joined by Organist of Peterborough Cathedral, Steven Grahl, who will be playing a keyboard work by Gibbons as well as variations by later composers such as Vaughan Williams and Stanford on Gibbons song tunes. All three keyboard instruments in St Peter's College chapel will be played by Steven, including the new Nicholson chamber organ of 2012. The famous Canadian pianist Glenn Gould named Gibbons as his favourite composer and compared him to Beethoven. Do join us on March 20th to explore the riches of the music of this local master of his craft.

1 0

Dvorak - Stabat Mater (tomorrow!)
by Announcements from the Cherwell Singers 20 Mar '15

20 Mar '15

Cherwell Singers Dvorak - Stabat Mater and other works University Church, High Street, Oxford Saturday 21st March, 7.30pm With the approach of Passiontide the Cherwell Singers present a rare performance of the original piano version of the most extensive setting of the thirteenth century hymn to Mary, the Stabat Mater by Antonin Dvorak. Written as a reaction to the death of his daughter in 1876, Dvorak had to lay aside the orchestration of the work due to his other obligations, but the smaller scale and more intimate setting provided by this original piano version is perfect for a chamber choir such as ours. The University Church (with its own dedication to Mary) owns a new Bluthner grand piano which is one of the finest instruments in Oxford, and will be played for this performance by the London based pianist Martin Cousin. Complementing the Dvorak will be a pair of unaccompanied motets by another late nineteenth century Catholic composer from the Austro-Hungarian empire, Anton Bruckner. We do hope you can join us for this programme. Tickets £10/£8 on the door or from http://www.wegottickets.com/event/313628

1 0

The Glories of the French Baroque (22nd November)
by Announcements from the Cherwell Singers 31 Oct '14

31 Oct '14

Cherwell Singers The Glories of the French Baroque Exeter College Chapel Saturday November 22nd 2014 7.30pm This year sees the 250th anniversary of the death of Jean Phillipe Rameau, and to mark this the Cherwell Singers present a programme of sacred choral music from the French Baroque. Royal patronage in this period ensured an abundance of opportunities for composers associated with the court, and the major work in our concert is an example of this. The De profundis clamavi of Charpentier was wriiten for the funeral ceremonies of the Queen of Louis XIV in 1683, and is a work of particular spaciousness and grandeur as befits its regal purpose. Other smaller scale works are presented by Couperin, Moulinie, Mondonville and Rameau himself. Organist of Peterborough Cathedral, Steven Grahl will also be performing the suite Veni creator spiritus by Nicolas de Grigny on the French inspired organ of Exeter College Chapel. The Cherwell Singers will be joined by a string quintet led by Bojan Cicic of the Academy of Ancient Music. Do join us for this opportunity to hear some of the lesser known works of choral literature from this period when the glory of France was the envy of much of the world. James Brown Ticket: £10/£8 on the door or from http://www.wegottickets.com/event/296126

1 0

22nd March - Settings of the poetry of George Herbert
by Announcements from the Cherwell Singers 04 Mar '14

04 Mar '14

"MY JOY, MY LIFE, MY CROWN!" Settings of the poetry of George Herbert The Cherwell Singers Saturday March 22nd 7.30pm Exeter College Chapel This term the Cherwell Singers present a concert of settings of the poetry of arguably the most skilful and important British devotional lyricist, George Herbert (1593-1633). It seems fitting for a poet who has been described as having "a soul composed of harmonies" that musicians have responded warmly to Herbert's poetry- some of it enduring as popular hymns, while some has inspired composers to create anthems and songs which attempt to match the beauty of the words in music of great lyrical quality. Thus we present not only some of the well loved and ofen performed "Mystical Songs" of Vaughan Williams, but also settings by Leighton, Britten and Harris, as well as by the contemporary composers Grayston Ives and Alec Roth. The organist will be Steven Grahl and the baritone soloist Mark Saberton. Herbert's first biographer wrote that he wrote "such hymns and anthems as he and the angels now sing in heaven". We hope that in the beautiful surroundings of Exeter College Chapel the combination of the music matched to such skilfully crafted words will lift believers and non-believers alike to a greater appreciation and enjoyment of the enduring legacy of George Herbert. Poster: http://www.cherwellsingers.org/system/files/images/Herbert_2014_poster.jpg More info and ticket sales: http://www.cherwellsingers.org/concerts/2014/poetry-george-herbert James Brown

1 0

Our next concert - music by Mozart, this Saturday 16th at 7.30
by Announcements from the Cherwell Singers 14 Nov '13

14 Nov '13

The Cherwell Singers presents an evening of church music by Mozart on Saturday November 16th at 7.30pm in Exeter College Chapel. The major works featured are the Vesperae solennes de Confessore and the Missa brevis in F, both written for Salzburg Cathedral when Mozart was under the employ of the Archbishop of Salzburg. Both works exhibit a freshness and inventive musical style that has made them enduring favourites in the concert as well as the church repertoire. The concert also includes two of the instrumental church sonatas interspersed between movements of the mass. As is becoming customary at Cherwell Singers concerts we will be joined by a small string group and continuo organ. Soloists include soprano Louise Lloyd and Lucy Ballard, Benjamin Durrant and Duncan Saunderson. We do hope you can join us for this evening of uplifting and cheerful music in the inspired setting of Exeter College Chapel. More info and tickets at http://www.cherwellsingers.org/concerts/2013/works-mozart James Brown

1 0

Music for the Coronation: Sunday 30th June, Exeter College Chapel
by Announcements from the Cherwell Singers 02 Jun '13

02 Jun '13

"ORB AND SCEPTRE" Music for the coronation service. Sunday June 30th 7.30pm Exeter College Chapel. The Cherwell SIngers This June sees the sixtieth anniversary of the coronation, and to mark this the Cherwell Singers presents the second of a pair of concerts consisting of music from royal services. In the first half of the concert four "full anthems" written specifically for four coronations from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries will be performed with strings. For the coronation of James II comes Purcell's "My heart is inditing, for that of George I "The Lord is a sun and a shield" by Croft, Handel's "Let thy hand be strengthened" for George II and Boyce's "The King shall rejoice" for George III. All of these works take advantage of the lavish musical resources available at coronations, and are part of the rich musical heritage bequeathed to us through monarchical patronage. In the second half of the concert we include three pieces written for the coronation of 1953 from leading English composers of the time, showing that the tradition of royal patronage is alive and well. The major works here are the coronation march "Orb and sceptre"( with which we have chosen to name this concert) , and the Coronation Te Deum, both by William Walton. Organist Steven Grahl will be playing for both of these, and the organ in Exeter College Chapel is triumphant enough to recreate the pomp and majesty required. We do hope you can join us for this anniversary concert. Further details and booking at http://www.cherwellsingers.org/concerts/2013/orb-and-sceptre-music-coronati… James Brown

1 0

The German Romantic Tradition: 23rd March, 7.30, Keble Chapel
by Announcements from the Cherwell Singers 02 Mar '13

02 Mar '13

This term the Cherwell Singers presents a programme of music from the German romantic tradition based around the mighty Te Deum of Anton Bruckner, first performed in Vienna in 1884. For such a large work we have chosen to hold the concert in the neo-Gothic splendour of Keble College Chapel, which makes as much of an impressive ecclesiastical statement architecturally as the Bruckner Te Deum does musically. The first half of the programme features motets by Brahms, Rheinberger and Mendelssohn, including the much loved "Hear my prayer" with its extensive soprano solo. Once again Steven Grahl joins us, and will be accompanying on the brand new (2011) Kenneth Tickell organ of Keble College as well as playing a solo by Max Reger. Do join us for an evening featuring some of the best loved and dramatic Romantic choral music from German speaking lands. James Brown Web site: http://www.cherwellsingers.org/ Buy tickets online: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/211886 Map: http://osm.org/go/eutD2ll_Y-?m

1 0

Christmas concert, Sunday December 9th, 7.30pm, Exeter College Chapel
by Announcements from the Cherwell Singers 24 Nov '12

24 Nov '12

Dear supporters, Please find enclosed a message from our musical director, James Brown. 2012 is the centenary of one of the best loved English Christmas choral works - the Fantasia on Christmas carols by Ralph Vaughan-Williams. To mark this, the Cherwell Singers concert this term has as its theme English Christmas music of the past one hundred years that uses traditional carols and weaves them into larger compositions. Thus, as well as the Vaughan -Williams Fantasia, we include "Christmas Day" by Holst and the abbreviated version of the little known Christmas Cantata by Geoffrey Bush. Written in 1947, and first performed in Oxford just a few metres away from our venue of Exeter College Chapel in Balliol College, this work exists in a version for choir, solo soprano, oboe and piano. The use of the solo oboe in this piece complements the solo cello part in the Vaughan-Williams Fantasia. Oboist Christopher Redgate and cellist Gabriel Amherst will also be performing seasonal solo items in this concert, and we will be joined as usual by organist Steven Grahl. Advent and Christmas works by Finzi, Britten and Ireland also feature in this celebration of English music to conclude this jubilee year. We do hope you can join us. James Brown Tickets £10 (£8 concessions) from http://www.wegottickets.com/event/192376 or on the door.

1 0

Sixty Years a Queen: concert on 1st July
by Announcements from the Cherwell Singers 14 Jun '12

14 Jun '12

On Sunday 1st July in Exeter College Chapel the Cherwell Singers present a concert entitled "Sixty years a Queen - A diamond retrospective of music from royal occasions of the past sixty years". The Diamond Jubilee has provided an opportunity to perform much of the grand choral music for royal ceremonial, notably from the coronation service, despite the sixtieth anniversary of the coronation not falling until 2013. Our concert instead provides a retrospective of music used during the major royal events during the Queen's reign thus far- weddings of the royal family, anniversaries, services of thanksgiving (including previous jubilees) and funerals. We present a piece from each occasion chronologically through the Queen's reign, starting in 1953 and ending with the most recent royal wedding in 2011. Many of the pieces will be familiar, and include some of the best loved choral pieces known today. As you'd expect British composers (such as Britten, Vaughan-Williams and Parry) are heavily, but not exclusively, represented. Organist Steven Grahl joins us once again, and his organ solos will attempt to capture the grandeur of the organs of Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral. Ticket are available to order online at <http://www.wegottickets.com/event/173323> or are £10 (£8) at the door. Map: <http://osm.org/go/eutDzmc3Z--?m> For more information about the Cherwell Singers visit our website <http://www.cherwellsingers.org/> or follow us on twitter: <http://twitter.com/CherwellSingers>

1 0

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

cherwellsingers-announce