Barnt Green Choral Society Spring Concert The Artrix Bromsgrove

Transcription

1 Barnt Green Choral Society Spring Concert The Artrix Bromsgrove In Memoriam p.m. Saturday 15 th March Price 1.00.

2 Cover design: Rifle. Dunkirk Veteran s Association Memorial, the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Notice to patrons. Please be advised the inks used on the cover of this publication maybe water soluble. Exposure to damp or water may cause them to run. Every effort has been made to ensure the details given in this programme are correct, however, neither the publisher, nor Barnt Green Choral Society, its officers or members can be held responsible for any loss, damage, injury or inconvenience caused either by the materials used in or error of information in this publication, howsoever caused. Photography C. Hackney Design, layout and D.T.P. C. Hackney/Barnt Green Choral Society

3 In Memoriam Cantique de Jean Racine Gabriel Fauré Agnus Dei from Adagio for Strings Samuel Barber In Remembrance from Requiem Eleanor Daley For The Fallen Douglas Guest The Armed Man Karl Jenkins Soloists Rosie Walker: Soprano David Coulson: Bass Akm Kamruzzaman: the Call To Prayer

4 Soloists Rosie Walker soprano Rosie Walker was born and educated in Dorset. She began singing at an early age as well as playing the flute and the Piano. In 2005 she was awarded a music scholarship to Canford School in Wimborne, Dorset, where she pursued her interest in music and singing, under the tutelage of Hugh Hetherington. Whilst at school she was awarded the Michael James prize for singing. She is currently in her final year studying at the Birmingham Conservatoire, under Julian Pike and Cathy Benson, as well as receiving regular coaching from Simon Nicholls, Robin Bowman, and Stephen Barlow. Whilst at the conservatoire she has played a Solo role in Street Scene by Kurt Weil and Puccini's Suor Angelica. More recently, she has played Sister Constance in the conservatoire's production of Dialogues des Carmelites by Poulenc. She has been a finalist in the prestigious Mario Lanza Opera prize, the Cecil Drew Oratorio prize and the Reginald Vincent Lieder prize, as well as undertaking master classes with Margaret McDonald, Richard Stokes and renowned soprano, Felicity Lott. In Oratorio, Rosie has sung the soprano solos in Handel's Messiah and Dixit Dominus, Bach's B minor mass, Mozart's Coronation mass, Gounod's Messe Solennelle de sainte Cécile and Fauré's Requiem. Aside from solo work, Rosie is also a keen choral singer and is a member of the Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, conducted by Paul Spicer and Jeffrey Skidmore, with whom she has recorded two CDs, and performed in the Birmingham Town Hall.

5 David Coulson Bass David hails from Kidderminster. Here he sang in various church and school choirs, but his love of performing was confirmed when he joined the local operatic society as one of the children in The Sound of Music. On leaving school he gained a place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where he studied under Rudolph Piernay. Here his musical repertoire was broadened considerably and opportunities also arose for small parts in opera at a number of London Theatres. However, he decided that making a living in music was rather precarious and so he joined the Metropolitan Police. By taking part in their choir he was able to sing as a soloist at many of the great London venues including The Royal Festival Hall, St Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. Transferring to West Mercia Constabulary in 1988, he soon joined the Hereford Police Choir and continued his singing in earnest. He has performed some solo work elsewhere when duty allowed and counts a number of high points including taking the baritone part in Carmina Burana in Cambridge, Fauré s Requiem in Southwark Cathedral and the Bach Cantata Ich habe genug in Walsall. His particular favourite, however, is to make people smile by singing the songs of Michael Flanders and Donald Swann, and more recently those of Richard Stilgoe and Peter Skellern.

6 Barnt Green Choral Society Sopranos Fiona Bowen, Maureen Clark, Gillian Cloke, Sarah Cowen-Strong, Izzy Cowan, Eileen Felton, Amanda Gear, Karen Harvey, Siobhan Hughes, Janet Lee, Betty Lucas, June Luckock, Pat Newbold, Cynthia Newton, Anne O'Loughlin, Joan Prescott, Mysie Raine, Marian Reavenal, Jane Shirley, Sue Skidmore, Ally Taft, Frances Taft, Wendy Tricklebank, Wendy Walker, Susan Wright. Altos: Irene Barclay, Jess Baker, Sarah Belshah, Pauline Barton, Fiona Brown, Margaret Caten, Amanda Dauncey, Jenny Edwards, Heather Elrick, Hazel Flinn, Julie Flower, Julie Johnson,Pam Jones, Maggie Kelly, Louisa Long, Margaret Maybee, Edna Neal, Rosemary Parker, Margaret Parry, Elizabeth Rogers, Jane Saunder, Diane Scrivens, Alyson Williams, Aileen Winwood, Ros Wright Tenors: Michael Davenport, Sue Douglas, Rob Fieldson, James Jarvis, Peter Rose, James Tattrie, Jonathan Treml, Kevin Ward, Alburt Whurr Bases: Simon Charles, Robin Daniels, Wally Davies, Noel Davis, Simon Edwards, John Felton, Roger Flinn, Chris Hackney, Richard Harvey, Brian Jones, Len Kedge, Mike Rogers, Mark Thacker, Brian Williams

7 Orchestra 1 st Violins: Graham Longfils, Peter Mitchell, David Powis, Liz Grainger, Anita Porter. 2 nd Violins: Robert Wilson, Rachel Fowler, Linda Thompson, Chris Eldridge, Kirsa White. Violas: Dorothy Longfils, Kathy Young, Guy Harrington. Cello: Olivia Goodborn, Jenny Powis, Mark Walkem. Bass: Oliver Bouckley. Flute/Piccolo: Helen Foster Trumpets: Trevor Jones, Edward Malpass, Amy Swallow Percussion: Bryn Bowen, Matthew Firkins

8 Programme Notes Cantique de Jean Racine Gabriel Fauré ( ) Fauré s Cantique de Jean Racine has enjoyed considerable popularity in recent years; a student work, Fauré composed it at the age of twenty in his final year at the Ecole Niedermeyer (an establishment dedicated to the training of church musicians) in Paris. The work duly won the school s composition prize. Even at this early stage in his career Fauré s gift for melody is apparent, and the simplicity of the melodic lines is undoubtedly the most attractive feature of the writing. The text is one collected by Racine and is a translation of a latin hymn, Consors paterni luminis Agnus Dei Samuel Barber ( ) In 1936, Barber wrote his only work for string quartet and almost immediately arranged its second movement for a full string orchestra. The new piece, Adagio for Strings became an overnight sensation. The Adagio has gone on to become something of a universal expression of grief, and in arranging it for choir in 1968, Barber pulls the music even closer to this notion by laying it over the Agnus Dei from the Roman Catholic mass. The result is a meditation which unfolds itself in endless spirals before the bottom drops out and it rises to its climax. Then the supplicating cries waft gently back into the ether. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace. -sung in Latin In Remembrance Eleanor Daley (b1955) - "Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep." An evocative and deeply moving work by Canadian composer Eleanor Daley is presented with rich harmonic tapestries and seamless legato melodic lines. Warmly expressive and hopeful, it continues to appear on concert and festival programmes since its premiere in 1993.

9 For the Fallen Douglas Guest ( ) They shall grow not old, the verse from Laurence Binyon s poem which is at the core of every remembrance ceremony is here sung in a setting by Douglas Guest. It was composed in 1971 for the choir of Westminster Abbey where he was Organist and Mater of the Choristers. Douglas Guest held a similar post at Worcester Cathedral for a time, from 1957 to The Armed Man Karl Jenkins (b1944) - `The armed man must be feared; Everywhere it has been decreed That everyman should arm himself With an iron coat of mail'. (Anon c ). `The Armed Man' is the result of a special millennial commission from the Royal Armouries, and the latest in a six-century-old tradition of Armed Man masses that take the fifteenth century French song `L'Homme Armé' as their starting point. According to Guy Wilson, Master of the Royal Armouries, "The theme that `the armed man must be feared', which is the message of the song, seemed to me painfully relevant to the 20th'. century, and so the idea was born to commission a modern `Armed Man Mass'. What better way both to look back and reflect as we leave behind the most war-torn and destructive century in human history, and to look ahead with hope and commit ourselves to a new and more peaceful millennium. Large in both scope and scale, `The Armed Man' is a profoundly moving and accessible work that uses the most traditional means to explore an all too-contemporary subject. `The Armed Man' interpolates a number of different texts within the usual Mass form. Malory, Dryden, Swift, Tennyson, Kipling, The Koran and the Hindu Mahabharata contibute to a compelling

10 account of descent into, and the terrible consequences of war. Nevertheless the work concludes with a `Ring' of hope, and a peaceful chorale-like finale ( God shall wipe away all tears ) The styles he adopts in two other movements underline Karl's fondness for music of the past and provide apt vehicles for the atmosphere he wants to create. In the central section of the Kyrie he imitates the compositional techniques of Palestrina, with a cantus firmus in one of the tenor parts which is the last line of L homme Arme in very long notes. Then, in movement four, `Save Me from Bloody Men', he resorts to the sixth century method of Gregorian Chant, associated with Pope Gregory l, which became the fundamental music of the Roman Catholic Church. The Armed Man' received its world premiere in April 2000 at London's Royal Albert Hall, to rapturous applause. The Mass was "a firebomb of orchestral and human voices" (The Times) that drew "prolonged shouts of approval from the audience" (The Independent). Karl's composition is constantly voted one of the most popular pieces of music by Classic FM listeners.

11 Programme Cantique de Jean Racine, Op Gabriel Fauré Agnus Dei - Samuel Barber Transcribed from Adagio for Strings, Op. 11 In Remembrance - Eleanor Daley From Requiem For The Fallen - Douglas Guest The Armed Man - Karl Jenkins A Mass for Peace The Armed Man (L Homme Armé) The Call to Prayer Kyrie Save Me from Bloody Men Sanctus Hymn Before Action Charge Angry Flames Torches Agnus Dei Now the Guns Have Stopped Benedictus Better is Peace. There will be no interval tonight but you are cordially invited to join us in the foyer after the performance.

12 Texts Cantique de Jean Racine. Verbe, égal au Très-Haut, notre unique espérance, Jour éternel de la terre et des cieux ; De la paisible nuit nous rompons le silence, Divin Sauveur, jette sur nous les yeux! Répands sur nous le feu de ta grâce puissante, Que tout l'enfer fuie au son de ta voix ; Dissipe le sommeil d'une âme languissante, Qui la conduit à l'oubli de tes lois! O Christ, sois favorable à ce peuple fidèle Pour te bénir maintenant rassemblé. Reçois les chants qu'il offre à ta gloire immortelle, Et de tes dons qu'il retourne comblé! Word of God the most high, our sole hope, eternal day of the earth and heavens as we break the silence of the peaceful night divine saviour, look down upon us. Imbue us with the fire of thy great mercy so that hell itself will flee at the sound of your voice disperse the sleep which leads our languishing souls to stray from the path of righteousness. O Christ show your favour to your faithful people who have come together to worship you receive the praises that they offer up to your immortal glory and may they come back laden with the gift of your grace. Agnus Dei Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.

13 In Remembrance. Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glint on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle morning rain. And when you wake in the morning s hush, I am the sweet uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there, I did not die. For the Fallen. They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old, Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them, We will remember them.

14 The Armed Man. Karl Jenkins (b. 1944) - (A Mass for Peace). l: The Armed Man (sung in French) The armed man must be feared; Everywhere it has been decreed That every man should arm himself With an iron coat of mail. Anon. Trad. 2: The Call To Prayers (sung in Arabic) Trad. 3: Kyrie (sung in Latin) Lord. have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Ordinary of the Mass. 4: Save Me From Bloody Men. Be merciful unto me O God: For man would swallow me up. He fighting daily oppresseth me. Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: For they be many that fight against me. O thou most high. The Bible, Psalm 56 Defend me from them that rise up against me. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, And save me from bloody men. The Bible, Psalm 59 5: Sanctus (sung in latin) Holy Lord God of Hosts Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory, Hosanna in the highest. Ordinary of the Mass 6: Hymn Before Action The earth is full of anger, The seas are dark with wrath, The Nations in their harness Go up against our path: Ere yet we loose the legions Ere yet we draw the blade, Jehovah of the Thunders, Lord God of Battles, aid! High lust and froward bearing, Proud heart, rebellious brow, Deaf ear and soul uncaring, We see thy mercy now. The sinner that forswore Thee, The fool that passed Thee by, Our times are known before Thee, Lord grant us strength to die! Rudyard Kipling

15 7: Charge! The trumpet's loud Clangor Excites us to Arms, With shrill notes of Anger And mortal Alarms. John Dryden Song. for St. Cecilia's Day How blest is he who for his country dies. Jonathan Swift, (to the Earl of Oxford, after Horace Odes) The double double beat Of the thundering drum Cries, Hark! the Foes come. Charge, Charge, 'tis too late to retreat. John Dryden How blest is he who for his country dies. Jonathan Swift Charge, charge! John Dryden 8: Angry Flames Pushing up through smoke From a world half darkened By overhanging cloud, The shroud that mushroomed out And struck the dome of the sky, Black, Red, Blue, Dance in the air, Merge, Scatter glittering sparks, Already tower Over the whole city. Quivering like seaweed, the mass of flames spurts forward. Popping up in the dense smoke, Crawling out Wreathed in fire, Countless human beings On all fours In a heap of embers that erupt and subside, Hair rent, Rigid in death, There smoulders a curse. Toga Sankichi [written in memory of the victims of Hiroshima] 9: Torches The animals scattered in all directions, screaming terrible screams. Many were burning, others were burnt. All were shattered and scattered mindlessly, their eyes bulging. Some hugged their sons, others their fathers and mothers, unable to let them go, and so they died. Others leapt up in their thousands, faces disfigured and were consumed by the Fire. Everywhere were bodies squirming on the ground, wings, eyes and paws all burning. They breathed their last as living torches. The Mahàbharàta, begun 6th century 10: Agnus Dei (sung in Latin) O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, grant us Thy peace. Ordinary of the Mass

16 11: Now The Guns Have Stopped Silent, So silent, now, Now the guns have stopped. I have survived all, I, who knew I would not. But now you are not here. I shall go home, alone; And must try to live life as before And hide my grief. For you, my dearest friend, Who should be with me now, Not cold, too soon, And in your grave, Alone. Guy Wilson 12: Benedictus (sung in Latin) Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Ordinary of the Mass 13: Better Is Peace Lancelot - Better is peace than always war, Guinevere - And better is peace than evermore war. Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte d,arthur Ring in the thousand years of peace. Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow. The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true. Ring out old shapes of foul disease. The larger heart, the kindlier hand; Ring out the darkness of the land; Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand years of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace. Ring in the valiant man and free, Ring in the Christ that is to be. Alfred Lord Tennyson, (In Memoriam A. H. H.) God shall wipe away all tears... And there shall be no more death, Neither sorrow nor crying, Neither shall there be any more pain. The Bible, Revelations, Praise the Lord. That every man should arm himself With an iron coat of mail. Everywhere it has been decreed The armed man must be feared; Anon Trad Ring out the thousand wars of old,

17 Future Concerts Summer Concert 14 th June 2014 New Songs from the Shows 7.30 p.m. St. Andrew s Church, Barnt Green and afterwards in the Parish Centre. Christmas Celebration Concert 13th December 2014 Are you a professional person? Do you have a trade? Do you offer a service in this area? If so why not tell our audience about yourself? An advertisement in our next programme could earn you money. Rates: One quarter page 10 A half page 15 Full page 25 For further details please contact A choir member, Or Chris Hackney on Tuneful new members in all voices are welcome to join the society. Details from: Fiona Brown (Chairman) Details of the society are also available on its web site at:

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20 Barnt Green Choral Society, is an affiliated member of Making Music (National Federation of Music Societies).