Our next concert
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Saturday 4 February 2012
St Peter’s Church 7.30pm
Elizabethan Jubilee
John Gibbons conductor
Tom Winpenny organ
In Elizabethan Jubilee St Albans Chamber Choir celebrates in music the two Elizabeths, our own Queen Elizabeth II and her predecessor Elizabeth I. Our Queen came to the throne almost exactly sixty years ago to the date of this concert, on 6 February 1952, and 2012 sees the celebrations of her Diamond Jubilee. Her coronation was held in 1953 and some of the music from that splendid occasion features in this programme, contrasted with works from the reign of the earlier Elizabeth, known as ‘our Glorious Oriana’.
The concert opens and closes with two much-loved and gloriously celebratory anthems. Handel’s thrilling Zadok the Priest was written between these two periods, for the coronation of George II in 1727, but has been sung at every coronation since; Parry’s I was Glad was originally composed for Edward VII in 1902.
Sir William Walton (1902–1983) was commissioned to write two pieces for the 1953 coronation, the ceremonial march Orb and Sceptre and the Te Deum; both feature in this programme, together with his famous Crown Imperial.
William Byrd (1543–1623) was justly called ‘a father of music’ during his lifetime, and his vocal music in particular stands supreme in the Tudor period. Appointed to the prestigious post of ‘Gentleman of Her Maiesties Chappell’ in 1572, he adapted Psalm 21 for his direct homage to Elizabeth I, O Lord make thy servant Elizabeth.
Long live fair Oriana by Ellis Gibbons (1573–1603), older brother of the more famous Orlando, featured in The Triumphs of Oriana, a book of English madrigals compiled in 1601 in honour of Elizabeth I, along with John Bennet’s All creatures now. The programme also includes Orlando Gibbons’ famous anthem O clap your hands and his Fantasie for organ, performed by Tom Winpenny of St Albans Cathedral.
Buy tickets online
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Forthcoming concerts 2012
Saturday 17 March 2012
St Saviour’s Church 7.30pm
Double Bill
Exciting works for two choirs including Martin’s stunning Mass for double choir and Stanford’s Magnificat for double choir
with Isabel Beyer and Harvey Dagul piano duet
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Saturday 19 May 2012
St Albans Cathedral 7.30pm
Monteverdi
Vespers of 1610
with vocal soloists from I Fagiolini
The English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble
Robert Hollingworth organ continuo
£25, £18, £14 (reserved), £8 (unreserved)
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Saturday 22 September 2012
St Peter’s Church 7.30pm
A Night with the Birds
A bird-themed selection of music old and new, including works by Josquin, Monteverdi, Elgar, Stanford, Grainger, Bridge and Jonathan Dove
With piano solos from Messiaen’s Oiseaux exotiques
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Tickets for all events £13 unless otherwise shown
£1 tickets for children and full-time students available for all concerts
Call 07570 454744 or email tickets@stalbanschamberchoir.org.uk