The West Somerset Singers

Transcription

1 The West Somerset Singers Saturday 7 th December 2013 Taunton Baptist Church, Silver Street The West Somerset Singers welcome you and present Joyful and Triumphant

2 Programme Welcome! This evening s programme has been chosen to celebrate 100 years since the birth of Benjamin Britten and 200 years since the birth of Giuseppe Verdi. To celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the Queen s coronation we are also performing Zadok the Priest by Handel. It is one of the four Coronation Anthems that Handel composed for the coronation of George II of Great Britain in 1727 and has been sung at every subsequent British coronation Our soloists for this evening are; David Fouracre Baritone Kate Knight Clarinet and saxophones Zadok the Priest Handel ***** Agnus Dei (from the Requiem) - Verdi, arr. David Knight. Soprano soloist: Pat Phillips La Vergine degli Angeli (O Virgin of the Angel Host from La Forza del Destina) - Verdi, transcribed David Knight. Soprano soloist: Pat Phillips Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (from Nabucco ) - Verdi, transcribed David Knight The Holy City - Stephen Adams (arr. David Knight for alto saxophone and organ) Sonatina no. 1 (2nd movement) for oboe and piano -Thomas Attwood Walmisley (transcribed for soprano saxophone by David Knight)

3 Programme Jubilate in C Benjamin Britten. Written for St. George s Chapel, Windsor, at the request of H.R.H The Duke of Edinburgh. Rejoice in the Lamb Benjamin Britten. Soprano soloist: Pat Phillips Bass Soloist: John Gillard Psalm 150 Benjamin Britten Written for the centenary celebrations of Old Buckenham Hall School formerly South Lodge School, Lowestoft. INTERVAL We wish you a merry Christmas (arr. Arthur Warrell) Carol for audience: Good King Wenceslas (arr. Reginald Jacques) Two Carols from Eastern Europe: Zither Carol (Czech, arr. Malcolm Sargent) Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (Polish, arr. David Knight) Songs for Baritone and piano Two Carols by John Rutter: Nativity Carol Shepherd's Pipe Carol Carol for audience: O Come, All Ye Faithful A Christmas Collection (arr. David Knight)

4 Selected Programme Notes George Frideric Handel ( ) Zadok the Priest Zadok the Priest is one of the four anthems that Handel wrote for the coronation of George II and Queen Caroline which took place in Westminster Abbey on 11 October It has been sung at the coronation of every British monarch since. Despite the grand occasion, with 160 instrumentalists drowning the 40 voices of the combined choirs of the Abbey and the Chapel Royal, the full potential of the music was not realised at the first performance, with the Archbishop of Canterbury adding the comment "Anthem in confusion". Zadok the Priest accompanied the Anointing during the ceremony, and the God Save the King with which it ends provided a transition to the Crowning itself. The words are taken from the First Book of Kings which refers to the anointing of Solomon by Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet. Here Handel is writing in his ceremonial manner, in festive mood, and the anthem contains no recitatives or arias. Following the long orchestral introduction the first vocal entry is one which makes an immediate impact. The writing for seven-part chorus is entirely homophonic, with scarcely a hint of counterpoint. It is Handel making a unique statement with a minimum of technical means. Author: John Dalton (September 2008) This programme note was written by John Dalton and supplied through Making Music's programme note service.

5 Selected Programme Notes Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi ( ) Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from "Nabucco" (1842) Following Napoleon's campaigns, Italy previously a patchwork of small city-states was unified into a single Kingdom for the first time since the fall of the Roman Empire. The Italians liked Napoleon; they admired his success against their enemies the Austrians and were attracted by the concepts of equality and republicanism. But Napoleon's defeat in 1814 brought renewed fragmentation: Italy was broken up again into smaller states some under the control of Austria, some belonging to the Pope, and others ruled by various Dukes and Kings. Yet many Italians were all the more determined to create a unified, republican Italy, free of foreign domination. Thus began the long movement known as the Risorgimento, leading eventually to a united Italy under a single constitutional monarch, Vittorio Emanuele I. For much of his life Verdi was associated (if not always of his own volition) with the Risorgimento; in its early stages it was a movement of secret societies, daring political writers, spontaneous civic disturbances and diplomatic and military intrigue. Verdi's early operas, especially Nabucco, inspired public support for the movement. Although Nabucco was ostensibly about the Israelites' battle against the tyrant Nebuchadnezzar, Verdi's audiences recognised the story as a metaphor for Italy's struggle against Austrian oppression. The chorus Va, pensiero, sull' ali dorate (Fly, thought, on golden wings), which expresses the Israelites' longing for their homeland, was the first part of the opera that Verdi composed. It stirred the Italian public so deeply that it became a sort of patriotic hymn; it was sung on the streets, and was the main reason why, of all Verdi's early operas, Nabucco became so popular. Verdi went on to include catchy patriotic choruses in subsequent operas but none of them achieved the same degree of mass popularity. Verdi's very name became an acronym for the revolution. Italians who wanted to express their patriotic fervour without getting into trouble would

6 Selected Programme Notes shout "Viva Verdi!" in the streets the letters VERDI standing for Vittorio Emanuele, Re d'italia ('Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy). At Verdi's funeral procession the assembled company from La Scala sang the Va, pensiero chorus, joined by thousands of people lining the streets. Translation: Fly, thought, on golden wings; go settle on the slopes and hills where the warm gentle breezes of our native land waft fragrantly. Greet the banks of the Jordan and Zion's fallen towers. O my country, so beautiful and abandoned! O precious and fateful memories! Golden harp of the prophetic seers, why do you hang silent on the willow? Rekindle memories in our hearts and tell us about times gone by. Like Jerusalem calling upon the fates, may you give forth bitter lamentation, or may the Lord inspire harmony in you to give us courage to bear our sufferings! Author: Thomas Radice, translation by Jennifer Radice (June 2011) This programme note was written by Thomas Radice and supplied through Making Music's programme note service.

7 Selected Programme Notes Benjamin Britten ( ) Rejoice in the Lamb, Op. 30 Britten composed the festival cantata Rejoice in the Lamb for four soloists, choir and organ, in It was commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the consecration of St Matthew's Church, Northampton. For the text of this delightful and sometimes moving piece, Britten selected passages from Jubilate Agno, a long. rambling poem written by the 18th-century poet Christopher Smart while he was in a lunatic asylum. The poem has been aptly described as a kind of Benedicite, full of naïve joy and innocence, to which Britten's response is inspired. The cantata falls into several sections, detailing how animals praise their creator by just being what they are, the blessings of flowers, Smart's personal tribulations, and the mystical nature of four letters of the alphabet. The cantata starts with a ritualistic injunction to rejoice in God and His son Jesus, "the Lamb", and a summoning of beasts and men to do homage. It closes with a lively chorus dwelling on the association between the sounds of instruments and of words, at the end of which comes a passage of calm and tranquillity, in which Smart's tortured mind finds repose. The repeat of a soft but ecstatic Hallelujah heard earlier in the work forms a gentle, unifying coda. Author: William Gould (1994 ) This programme note was written by William Gould and supplied through Making Music's programme note service.

8 Biographies Musical Director David Knight MA, MMus, LRAM, ARCM, ARCO David was educated at the Royal Academy of Music and the University of London. He has held posts as Director of Music at a comprehensive school and a college of higher education. During this time he also had posts as accompanist and conductor of a selection of choral societies. He has been a church organist for over forty years, not only for the Church of England, but also for the United Reformed Church and the Church of Norway. He has taught at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and was an examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. He has performed in cathedrals in England, Ireland, Norway and Hong Kong. In addition to his post with the West Somerset Singers, he is Music Director of All Saints Church, Dulverton, and Casterbridge Male Voice Choir. Organ Chris Manners Chris was born in Surrey, but moved to Weston-super-Mare with his parents in He studied the organ initially with W. T. Hooper, FRCO, at his home church of St. Paul, Weston-super-Mare, and later with Garth Benson at St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol. In 1961 he joined Percy Daniel & Co. Ltd., the Clevedon Organ Builders, becoming Managing Director in the late 1980's. Chris has been Director of Music at All Saints' Church, Weston-super- Mare, since In retirement he enjoys teaching organ, piano and theory, and is regularly called upon to accompany singers and instrumentalists for examinations and music festivals.

9 Biographies Piano Rachel Robinson Rachel gained a degree in music at Cardiff university after which she began piano teaching. She first taught at a music centre in West Sussex for two years followed by a move to Somerset where she began teaching in a music studio. At this time Rachel gained her Certificate of Teaching from the ABRSM and began working for Somerset Music in primary and secondary schools as well as privately at home. Since having children Rachel teaches at home and accompanies two other local choirs, New Horizon Singers and North Curry village choir in addition to the West Somerset Singers. Clarinet / Saxophones Kate Knight Kate gained her first degree in English literature, drama and music at Worcester College of Higher Education. She then taught the saxophone and clarinet to children in Norway for a year. Having returned to the UK, she decided to pursue a career as a librarian, keeping music as a hobby. She completed a higher degree in library management and information studies at University College London, and became a Chartered Librarian whilst working at Imperial College London. She has played in numerous bands and sung in various choirs both here in the UK and abroad. Baritone David Fouracre David Fouracre was born in Taunton (his family have lived in Milverton since the sixteenth century) and was educated at Huish s Grammar School. After reading chemistry at university he spent 20 years travelling throughout England and Scotland pursuing a career in retail management. He returned to his Westcountry roots in 1992 when he and his wife acquired a business of their own in Colyton, East Devon. He has been actively involved in choral music-making all his life, and has performed as a soloist with choirs from Dundee to Torquay. Since settling in Colyton he has been increasingly in demand as a bass-baritone soloist with choral societies throughout the West of England, and has been fortunate to perform a wide repertoire of choral music during that time. He has a particular personal affection for twentieth-century English song.

10 The Choir Sopranos Judi Boobyer Marianne Bray Diana Davies Alison Edwards Gillian Greig Jo Hampshire Catherine Hartland Anne Jordan Chris Knapman Julie Pope Pat Phillips Anne Rogers Gill Thompson Pam Whittaker Tenors John Cottrell John Evemy John Page Peter Ravenscroft Basses Chris Evans John Gillard David Greig Bob Hart Malcolm Summers Keith Taylor Bob Town Altos Gill Brown Jo Evans Janet Hall Louise Hayden Marion Jones Ann McCabe Esther Naguib Katy Ravenscroft Sheila Ruff Sue Sutton Dorothy Westman

11 Acknowledgements The West Somerset Singers would like to thank Taunton Baptist Church for their hospitality. Special thanks also to Rachel Robinson for accompanying the choir during their Monday evening rehearsals. Thank you to Somerset Library, Oxford Library and Essex Library for supplying our music copies. Our thanks also to Making Music for programme notes. Future Performances The West Somerset Singers are delighted to have been asked to sing once again at Dunster Castle on Saturday 14th December 2013 between 11am and 2pm. Our next concert will be on Saturday 17th May 2014 when the choir will perform Vaughan Williams Pilgrims Journey, Janacek The Lord s Prayer and Bernstein Chichester Psalms.

12 Join Us! The West Somerset Singers invite you to sing Fauré s Requiem Saturday 1st February 2014 Taunton Baptist Church, Silver Street, Taunton TA1 3DH A wonderful opportunity to sing this beautiful work by Gabriel Fauré, with Musical Director David Knight. An afternoon rehearsal commencing at 2pm with a performance at 4.15pm. Refreshments provided. We can supply music but if you prefer to use your own copy please bring it along. Some experience of singing as part of a choral group and the ability to read music would be helpful. To register your interest, or for more information, please call our Secretary, Chris Knapman on (01823) or secretary@westsomersetsingers.org,uk

13 Carols O Come, All Ye Faithful 1. O come, all ye faithful Joyful and triumphant, O Come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, Born the King of angels; Refrain O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. 2. God of God, Light of Light, Lo! he abhors not the Virgin s womb; Very God, Begotten not created. Chorus 3. See how the shepherds Summoned to his cradle, Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear We too will thither, bend our joyful footsteps Chorus 4.. Lo! Star-led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring, Offer Him incense, gold and myrrh; We to the Christ-Child, Bring our hearts oblations: Chorus 5. Child, for us sinners, Poor and in the manger, Fain we embrace Thee, with awe and love; Who would not love Thee, Loving us so dearly? Cont...

14 Carols Chorus 6. Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation; Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, In the highest; Chorus 7. Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born that happy morning; Jesu, to Thee be glory giv n; Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing. Chorus Good King Wenceslas 1. Good King Wenceslas looked out On the feast of Stephen When the snow lay round about Deep and crisp and even Brightly shone the moon that night Though the frost was cruel When a poor man came in sight Gath'ring winter fuel. 2. "Hither, page, and stand by me If thou know'st it, telling Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?" "Sire, he lives a good league hence Underneath the mountain Right against the forest fence By Saint Agnes' fountain."

15 Carols 3. "Bring me flesh and bring me wine Bring me pine logs hither Thou and I will see him dine When we bear him thither." Page and monarch forth they went Forth they went together Through the rude wind's wild lament And the bitter weather. 4. "Sire, the night is darker now And the wind blows stronger Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer." "Mark my footsteps, good my page Tread thou in them boldly Thou shalt find the winter's rage Freeze thy blood less coldly." 5. In his master's steps he trod Where the snow lay dinted Heat was in the very sod Which the Saint had printed Therefore, Christian men, be sure Wealth or rank possessing Ye who now will bless the poor Shall yourselves find blessing.

16 The West Somerset Singers