Music at Buckfast Abbey

Transcription

1 Music at Buckfast Abbey Music at Buckfast Abbey Concerts and Organ Recitals 2019

2 Welcome to Buckfast Abbey, the home of a community of Benedictine monks. Music is an important element in the daily life of a monk. As well as at daily Mass, the community stops work to sing six services each day. The monks draw upon the beautiful and ancient Gregorian Chant melodies. In addition to the monastic community, we are delighted to have a professional choir at the Abbey, which sings our Sunday 10:30 Solemn Mass and on certain feast days, as well as giving concert performances throughout the year. The glorious acoustic in the Abbey Church, along with our newly installed pipe organ means that the church is an attractive place to sing for the many visiting choirs we host. We very much look forward to welcoming you to experience the music in our special place. Abbot David Charlesworth O.S.B. Buckfast Abbey

3 Our 2019 Series How could we ever follow the success of our millennium concert series? Well, perhaps with even more of the same! Buckfast continues to thrive as a centre of music and culture in the South West. The glorious acoustic of the Abbey Church enchants both choirs and audiences alike, whilst the addition of our new Ruffatti organ has given us the ability to accompany performances with musical authenticity and depth of tonal colour. Two performances this year by the Abbey Choir with orchestra are not to be missed, featuring Mozart s Mass in C minor and Vespers in July, and Handel s great oratorio Messiah in December. This year s organ recitalists are world renowned, and we are excited at the appointment of David Davies as our Organist from January this year. David will give his inaugural recital in October. Keep a look out for information in early 2019 regarding an exciting new venture by the Abbey into the world of recording, and make sure you sign up to the website to receive the latest information about forthcoming performances. Enjoy the series! PHILIP ARKWRIGHT, ORGANIST & MASTER OF THE MUSIC Music at Buckfast Abbey pages 6-39 Events page 40 Facilities and How to Book pages Diary of events

4 Sunday 6th January 16:00 Saturday 26th January 19:30 Messiaen: La Nativité du Seigneur Associate Organist, Richard Lester performs Olivier Messiaen s organ mediation inspired by the birth of Christ. Each movement of La Nativité serves as a musical commentary on a different aspect of the Christmas story. There will be a short pre-recital talk at in the Monastic Guest Hall about this fascinating work. Richard Lester organ Free Entry, with retiring collection. ORGAN RECITAL Shoah: A Holocaust Cantata On the eve of Holocaust memorial Day, Brent Singers will join with the Choristers of Buckfast Abbey for an emotive performance of Philip Arkwright s Holocaust Cantata, Shoah. Brent Singers Choristers of Buckfast Abbey Matthew Searles director Philip Arkwright organ Tickets 10, available from or from the Abbey Bookshop. Richard Lester 6 7

5 Saturday 2nd March Saturday 16th March 19:30 19:30 Music for Voices, Organ and Cello Matthew Coleridge, who is conducting this concert, wrote his Requiem in This melodic, deeply moving, quietly powerful and intensely beautiful work weaves vocal harmonies and soaring cello lines into rich tapestries of sound. Vaughan Williams Five Mystical Songs sets four Easter poems by George Herbert for baritone solo and choir, the best known being Let all the World in every corner sing. Dartington Community Choir and Workshop Singers Matthew Coleridge director Isabelle Wagner soprano Matthew Hulbert baritone Tickets 10, available from or from the Abbey Bookshop. Have Mercy Beauty, penitence and redemption reflected in acapella choral music of the 16th century. Voces Martyn Warren director Tickets 10, available from or from the Abbey Bookshop. Two-course pre-concert fine dining meal available in the Abbey s Grange Restaurant. Matthew Coleridge Voces 8 9

6 Saturday 23rd March Saturday 13th April 16:30 19:30 Stainer: Crucifixion Fauré: Requiem and other works A Come and Sing performance of Stainer s Crucifixion organised by the Royal School of Church Music. To register as a participant, visit the RSCM Devon Local Area website. Philip Arkwright director Matthew Searles organ Free Entry, with retiring collection. Fauré s sonerous Requiem (in the original chamber orchestration) is performed alongside music by Maurice Duruflé, Camille Saint Saëns and others. Brent Singers and Orchestra Matthew Searles director Ellie Sperling soprano Jamie Sperling baritone Tickets 10, available from or from Ellie Sperling Jamie Sperling 10 11

7 Monday 6th May Saturday 25th May 14:30 19:30 Bank Holiday Organ Recital Timothy Parsons, Assistant Director of Music at Exeter Cathedral, performs a popular programme including William Walton s Suite from Henry V, Bach s monumental Passacoglia and Timothy s own transcription of the Cavatina from Beethoven s String Quartet in B flat Op.130. Timothy Parsons organ Free Entry, with retiring collection. ORGAN RECITAL Bach: Motets The Motets are considered the pinnacle of the Baroque choral repertoire and are amongst the most celebrated and formidable music of the period. They radiate deep abiding faith and confidence in the Almighty and offer great spiritual sustenance in time of human difficulty. The opportunity to hear all six live is rare and one not to be missed. Early Music Collective Ben Horden director Tickets 10, available from or from the Abbey Bookshop. Ben Horden BACH Timothy Parsons 12 13

8 Monday 27th May Saturday 15th June 14:30 19:30 Bank Holiday Organ Recital From virtuosic orchestral transcriptions to works from some of the organ repertory s most recognised contributors, as well as a wild-card ending, this recital will be sure to put the Abbey s organ through its paces! Ben Horden organ Free Entry, with retiring collection. ORGAN RECITAL French Choral Classics The Alvington Singers perform Fauré s Requiem alongside other French choral music including pieces by Olivier Messiaen, César Franck, Alexandre Guilmant and François Couperin. Alvington Singers Tim Matthews director Tickets 10, available from or from the Abbey Bookshop. The Alvington Singers 14 15

9 Saturday 13th July Grand-Orgue Recital: Peter Stevens Peter Stevens, Assistant Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral and former Organ Scholar of King s College, Cambridge, performs an exquisite programme including Charles-Marie Widor s Symphonie Romane, César Franck s Choral No.1 and Marcel Dupre s Deuxiéme Symphonie. Peter Stevens organ 19:30 ORGAN RECITAL Tickets 15 ( 10 restricted view), available from or from the Abbey Bookshop. Two-course pre-concert fine dining meal available in the Abbey s Grange Restuarant. Peter Stevens 16 17

10 Saturday 27th July Mozart: Mass and Vespers Join the Abbey Choir and Orchestra for a summer evening in the company of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. They will perform the Mass in C minor and the Vesperae solennes de confessore. The Choir and Orchestra of Buckfast Abbey Philip Arkwright director 19:30 Tickets 10, available from or from the Abbey Bookshop. Two-course pre-concert fine dining meal available in the Abbey s Grange Restaurant. The Choir of Buckfast Abbey 18 19

11 Saturday 10th August Grand-Orgue Recitial: Olivier Latry Hailed as one of the brightest stars of the organ world, Olivier Latry performs a virtuosic programme centred around the music of Bach and those who have paid him homeage. The concert includes the Fantasia and Fugue in G minor (after the piano version by Franz Liszt) plus music by Widor, Schumann, Saint-Saëns and others. Known for his consumate skill in extemporisation, Latry will end the evening with an improvisation. 19:30 ORGAN RECITAL Olivier Latry organ Tickets 15 ( 10 restricted view), available from or from the Abbey Bookshop. Two-course pre-concert fine dining meal available in the Abbey s Grange Restaurant

12 Monday 26th August Saturday 7th September 14:30 19:30 Bank Holiday Organ Recital A rare opportunity to hear Verdi s masterful Requiem performed in this version for two organists (four hands and four feet!) Mark James organ Alberto Brigandí organ Free Entry, with retiring collection. ORGAN RECITAL Come and Sing Charity Concert Join over 150 voices to perform Mozart s magnificent Requiem, together with other sacred music. Register with the Rotary Club of Ashburton/ Buckfastleigh on to sing, or just come and enjoy the concert! Rotary Choir Christopher Fletcher director Tickets 10, available from or from the Abbey Bookshop. Alberto Brigandí Mark James 22 23

13 Saturday 21st September Grand-Orgue Recital: James O Donnell Organist and Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey, James O Donnell presents a thrilling programme including J. S. Bach s Partita diverse sopra Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig, extracts from Messiaen s cycle L Ascension, culminating in Maurice Duruflé s Suite, Op :30 ORGAN RECITAL James O Donnell organ Tickets 15 ( 10 restricted view), available from or from the Abbey Bookshop. Two-course pre-concert fine dining meal available in the Abbey s Grange Restaurant. James O Donnell 24 25

14 Saturday 29th September Saturday 5th October 16:30 19:30 Music for Male Voice Choir Rushmoor Male Voice Choir present an eclectic programme of sacred music including an arrangement of Mozart s Ave Verum corpus by Morley Glover which was commissioned by one of our baritones, Mark Sleep, to celebrate the life of choir baritone Niall Shalloe. Rushmore Odd Fellows Male Voice Choir Stephen Petch director Free Entry, with retiring collection. Choral Classics A programme featuring two major unaccompanied choral works of the twentieth century: the hauntingly beautiful Requiem by IIdebrando Pizzetti of 1922 and the Missa Rigensis, the startingly original mass setting written in 2003 by Latvian Ugis Praulins. West Devon Chorale Michael Johnson director Matthew Searles organ Tickets 10, available from or from the Abbey Bookshop. West Devon Chorale 26 27

15 Saturday 19th October Grand-Orgue Recital: David Davies David Davies gives his inaugural recital as Organist at Buckfast. His virtuosic programme includes Joesph Jongen s Sonata Eroïca, Jehan Alain s Trois Danses and music by Saint-Saëns and Langlais. The concert concludes with Julius Reubke s mighty Sonata on the 94th Psalm. David Davies 19:30 ORGAN RECITAL David Davies organ Tickets 15 ( 10 restricted view), available from or from the Abbey Bookshop. Two-course pre-concert fine dining meal available in the Abbey s Grange Restaurant

16 Sunday 27th October Saturday 2nd November 16:30 19:30 Choral Recital An informal recital of sacred music given by the choir of St Bartholomew, Rainhill. Choir of St Bartholomew s Church, Rainhill Peter Kwater director Free Entry, with retiring collection. Music by Palestrina, Rachmaninov and Berstein Palestrina s Missa Brevis is perhaps the most performed of his mass settings. Racmaninov s choral works are influenced by the music of the Russian Orthodox Church was the centenary of Bernstein s birth and the Chichester Psalms remains one of his most popular pieces. Collati Singers Trefor Farrow director Peter King organ Tickets 10, available from or from the Abbey Bookshop. Collati Singers Choir of St Bartholomew s Church 30 31

17 Saturday 16th November Saturday 30th November 19:30 16:30 On This Rock Following closely from the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, this concert focuses on music written by the Lateran s various musical directors during the Renaissance era, and particularly on music written for the dedication of a church. St John Lateran is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and the oldest public church in that city, dedicated in AD324. It played a large part in the musical life of the Roman Catholic church in the 16th century, and its alumni include Palestrina, Lassus, Anerio and Dragoni. RSCM Advent Carol Service A Come and Sing Carol Service for Advent sung by associated choirs of the Royal School of Church Music. Philip Arkwright director David Davies organ Free Entry, with retiring collection. SERVICE Voces Martyn Warren director Tickets 10, available from or from the Abbey Bookshop. Two-course pre-concert fine dining meal available in the Abbey s Grange Restaurant

18 Saturday 7th December Sunday 8th December 19:30 15:00 A celebration of Christmas Primrose Carol Service Exeter Chamber Choir presents an a capella concert in celebration of the festive season. Stanborough Chorus lead a service of popular carols, raising money for the Primrose Foundation. SERVICE Exeter Chamber Choir Andrew Daldorph director Tickets 10, available from or from the Abbey Bookshop. Stanborough Chorus Christopher Fletcher director Free Entry, with retiring collection. Exeter Chamber Choir 34 35

19 Saturday 14th December Sunday 15th December 19:30 15:00 Handel: Messiah Rowcroft Carol Service Join the Abbey Choir for a performance of Handel s great oratorio, Messiah. The Choir and Orchestra of Buckfast Abbey Matthew Searles director Dartington Community Choir lead a Carol Service that celebrates the efforts of all those associated with the Rowcroft Hospice, staff, volunteers, patients and their families. We would like to take time in this service to remember all these people during the busyness of preparing for Christmas. SERVICE Tickets 10, available from or from the Abbey Bookshop. Dartington Community Choir Simon Capet director Two-course pre-concert fine dining meal available in the Abbey s Grange Restaurant. Free Entry, with retiring collection

20 Saturday 21st December Sunday 22nd December 15:00 15:00 Organ Music for Christmas ORGAN A popular Christmas Organ Recital RECITAL showcasing the Abbey s magnificent instrument in seasonal music by Daquin, Bach, Hollins and Thomas Trotter s arrangement of Sleigh Ride! Matthew Searles organ Free Entry, with retiring collection. Festival Carol Service A sequence of seasonal music and readings for Christmas, sung by the Abbey Choir. The Choir of Buckfast Abbey Philip Arkwright director David Davies organ Free Entry, with retiring collection. SERVICE Matthew Searles 38 39

21 Facilities and How to Book Diary of Musical Events Attending a concert at the Abbey? Why not make a memorable evening of it and enjoy a pre-concert dinner, drinks or snack in The Grange Restaurant? Sun 6th Jan 16:00 Organ Recital (Richard Lester) Sat 26th Jan 19:30 Concert (Brent Singers) Sat 2nd March 19:30 Concert (Dartington Community Choir) Sat 16th March 19:30 Concert (Voces) Accommodation is also available in the idyllic setting of Northgate House, located here at the Abbey. Reduced rates for concert goers. Call quoting Concert Offer 1 to find out more. Sat 23rd March 16:30 Concert (RSCM Come & Sing) Sat 13th April 19:30 Concert (Brent Singers & Orchestra) Mon 6th May 14:30 Organ Recital (Timothy Parsons) Sat 25th May 19:30 Concert (Early Music Collective) Concert Tickets are available online at or alternatively, you can obtain tickets from the Abbey Bookshop. Mon 27th May 14:30 Organ Recital (Ben Horden) Sat 15th June 19:30 Concert (Alvington Singers) continued overleaf

22 Sat 13th July 14:30 Organ Recital (Peter Stevens) Sat 2nd Nov 19:30 Concert (Collati Singers) Sat 27th July 19:30 Concert (Abbey Choir & Orchestra) Sat 16th Nov 19:30 Concert (Voces) Sat 10th Aug 19:30 Organ Recital (Olivier Latry) Sat 30th Nov 16:30 RSCM Advent Carol Serice Mon 26th Aug 14:30 Organ Recital (Mark James, Alberto Brigandí) Sat 7th Dec 19:30 Concert Exeter Chamber Choir Sat 7th Sept 19:30 Charity Concert (Rotary Choir) Sun 8th Dec 15:00 Primrose Care Service Sat 21st Sept 19:30 Organ Recital (James O Donnell) Sat 14th Dec 19:30 Concert (Abbey Choir & Orchestra) Sun 29th Sept 16:30 Concert (Male Voice Choir) Sun 15th Dec 15:00 Rowcroft Carol Service Sat 5th Oct 19:30 Choral Classics (West Devon Chorale) Sat 21st Dec 15:00 Organ Recital (Matthew Searles) Sat 19th Oct 19:30 Organ Recital (David Davies) Sun 22nd Dec 15:00 Festival Carol Service Sun 27th Oct 16:30 Concert (Choir of Bartholomew s Church) Sign up to the newsletter via our website to receive the latest information about forthcoming performances:

23 Music at Buckfast Abbey Buckfast Abbey Buckfastleigh Devon TQ11 0EE Telephone: music@buckfast.org.uk Buckfast Abbey Trust Registered Charity number