Saturday 18th May 2024
St Peter’s Parish Church, Ruddington
7.30pm
Ruddington and District Choral Society with keyboard continuo, orchestra, vocal soloists
conducted by Paul Hayward
Haydn The Creation (reduced orchestration)
Saturday 8th June 2024
Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene, Newark
12 noon until 12.45pm
Bingham and District Choral Society conducted by Dr Stephen Bullamore
accompanied by Michael Overbury (piano)
Bob Chilcott Five Days that changed the World
John Rutter A Sprig of Thyme
Tuesday 9th July 2024
Selby Abbey
12.30pm until 1.30pm
Michael Overbury (Newark)
Lunchtime Solo Concert on the famous Hill Organ
4′ Mathias (1934-92) Processional
The Welshman was a child prodigy. He was Professor of Music at Bangor. The cheerful, tuneful Processional was written in 1964.
8′ Langlais (1907-91) Messe Alme Pater (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus and Benedictus, Agnus Dei)
The blind Jean Langlais was organist at the Basilica of St Clotilde in Paris. He was a great improviser and a prolific composer. Much of his creativity was inspired by and based on plainsong. In this Mass setting the traditional chant melodies are clothed in the composer’s typical bitter-sweet harmonies.
2′ Anon (c.1525) My Lady Carey’s Dompe
One of the earliest surviving keyboard pieces, My Lady Carey’s Dompe is probably a traditional English melody; its wistful qualities contrast with a rhythmically robust accompaniment.
3′ William Croft (1678-1727) Ground in c minor
Croft was a Boy Chorister at the Chapel Royal, and later Organist. The term Ground refers to a more or less unchanging bass line, together with its harmonies, repeated throughout the piece, over which is constructed a flow of independent melodic material. In Croft’s Ground in c minor, however, the melodic variations alternate with repeats of the opening harmonised Ground material rather like verses and a refrain.
3′ Maurice Greene (1696-1755) [Cornet] Voluntary in G (andante, allegro)
Greene succeeded to every major musical post in England including organist of St Paul`s Cathedral, and Professor of Music at Cambridge. He is chiefly remembered for his church music. His style is Italianate. He composed 24 Voluntaries.
4′ Messiaen (1908-1992) Offrande au Saint Sacrement
Offrande au Saint Sacrement was discovered by Yvonne Messiaen in 1997. It probably dates from about 1930. Two musical ideas alternate. The music seems to depict the worshipping soul in ecstatic communion with God.
29′ Charles Villers Stanford (1852-1924) Sonata Britannica
1. Allegro non troppo ma con fuoco St Mary
2. Larghetto Benedictus
3. Allegro molto e ritmico Hanover
Irish by birth, Stanford had great influence in Britain as a teacher and he breathed fresh air into the composition of Anglican Church Music. His five Organ Sonatas were composed 1917-1918. These are, arguably, the most significant body of organ music in England since Mendelssohn. Sonata Britannica has three movements. The first is based on the hymn tune St Mary. The second is a haunting Benedictus with a middle section of patriotic glory, The third is based on the hymn tune Hanover. It ends exultantly.
Saturday 9th November 2024
St Martin’s Church, Trevose Gardens, Sherwood NG5 3FU
with Sinfonia Chorale directed by Richard Roddis
organ accompaniments and solos
John Bull (1562/3 -1628) Salve Regina organ versets
Bull grew up in the West country, became a musician at the Chapel Royal in London, was probably sent to Europe by Queen Elizabeth as a spy, fled England under accusation of adultery, although he claimed religious persecution, and spent the final years of his life as Organist at Antwerp Cathedral. He was famous for his outstandingly brilliant keyboard playing.
Fauré Requiem
Saturday 16th November 2024
St Peter’s Parish Church, Ruddington
7.30pm
Ruddington and District Choral Society with piano, chamber orchestra, vocal soloists
conducted by Paul Hayward
Brahms A German Requiem (the arrangement for reduced instrumental forces by Ian Farrington)