Lunchtime concert in Newark on June 8th 2024
BDCS Singing Day with Bob Chilcott 24/2/24
The sun shone and the singers came from near and far. One person had got up at dawn and driven up from London that morning. Such is the charisma of Bob Chilcott, one of the leading choral composers and conductors of our time. Bingham and District Choral Society was honoured that he had agreed to lead our first Singing Day since the pandemic. The Minster School at Southwell was an excellent, spacious venue. Ably supported by our superb accompanist Michael Overbury, Bob led us through a selection of his own pieces, some hauntingly lyrical, others challenging us with exciting, complex rhythms. In-between sessions, a magnificent selection of home-baked cakes was eagerly consumed by the singers. In short, we had all the ingredients for a hugely successful day. Our thanks go to Bob, Michael and the volunteers from BDCS who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to enable everything to run so smoothly.
Michael Overbury – Forthcoming Performances
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)
Spreading the Kindness of Christmas
The Bingham & District Choral Society’s Christmas Concert is a hugely popular community event and a highlight of our winter programme. This year’s concert took place last Saturday at Bingham Methodist Church where we were joined once more by the wonderful Carnarvon Children’s choir. After the performance, there was a retiring collection for Framework, a Nottingham-based charity whose mission is to support and house homeless people. The collection raised the splendid sum of £400. Also included were two hearing-aid batteries and a small Euro coin!
Video recording of Jubilee ‘Last Night of the Proms’ concert
With sincere thanks to the students from Nottingham Trent University who created the video: Georgia Alvey (Producer, Editor and Vision Mixer), Hannah Barnaby, Haris Dar, Ollie Ellis (Camera Operators), Adam Oldfield (Production Assistant), Jack Perkins, Tyla Sutton, Joseph Hay, Joshua Thacker, Cameron Patrick, Ethan Stuart (Audio).
Many thanks also to Brad Poulson for his patience and technical wizardry in uploading the video to YouTube
Farewell to Guy
Guy’s Long Walk – Final Round-Up
Guy’s heroic endeavour to walk from Land’s End to John ‘O Groats was followed eagerly by members of the choir in the summer. We are now able to announce that, as one of Guy’s four charities selected to benefit from the funds raised by his walk, Bingham and District Choral Society will receive £3,121.60 . This is a splendid boost to the choir’s finances at a time when extra resources are badly needed. We are hugely grateful to Guy and wish him every success in completing the walk in shorter stages over the next year or two.
LAND’S END TO …. ER …. ELLESMERE
Despite a great start, local musician Guy Turner’s solo attempt to walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats was cut short at Ellesmere. He woke up with a very painful foot, which was diagnosed as Plantar Fasciitis, brought on by constant heavy duty walking, and was forced to call a halt to the walk.
Guy has now returned to Nottinghamshire and his work as a singer in Southwell Minster Choir, and conducting Bingham Choral Society.
Despite the great disappointment, Guy prefers to emphasise the positive! He walked 468 miles in 28 walking days, which averages nearly 17 miles per day. He survived long walks and high hills during the heat wave. He has raised over £18,000 for his four charities. He met lots of interesting people and saw some amazing scenery. Even though shorter than planned it is an adventure he will never forget.
He plans to complete the journey over the next couple of years, but in short sections.
If you would like to read about his walk, all the daily blogs can still be found on his website, as can details of the charities and how to donate.
https://guyscottturner.wixsite.com/guygoesnorth
Jubilee Lunchtime Concert, Lunch and Presentation
Here are some images of our lunchtime concert with Scunthorpe Choral Society at St Mary’s Church Newark on Saturday 18th June 2022, followed by a celebration lunch and a presentation of a set of Jubilee mugs to our founder and first Musical Director, Neville Ward. Our special thanks go to James Turner, the photographer.
BDCS Jubilee Mug
Our splendid 50th anniversary mug is now on sale. It will be a lovely memento of this special year. Sincere thanks to choir member Linda Hunter for her brilliant artwork.
