The Gaudete Singers - Jubilate Deo
Jubilate Deo
Music by Britten and Walton
The Gaudete Singers
Directed by David Leigh
Organ: Tristan Russcher
This concert features two of the titans of 20th century music, William Walton and Benjamin Britten and includes these works.
William Walton composed the Coronation Te Deum for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey on 2nd June 1953. The original version is for a large choir, full orchestra and organ and is a mighty work. We are singing a slightly rearranged version for performance by smaller choirs and organ accompaniment and it is still a mighty work!
The Twelve, commissioned Cuthbert Simpson, Dean of Christ Church Oxford, is one of Walton’s later works. It was first performed in Oxford on 16th May 1965 and orchestrated by Walton for the 900th celebrations of Westminster Abbey in January 1966.
Britten composed A Hymn of St Columba on 29th December 1962. The work was commissioned by Derek Hill to commemorate the 1400th anniversary of a voyage by Columba from Ireland to Iona Island, where he founded Iona Abbey. Britten set a hymn attributed to St Columba, in three stanzas of five lines each. The first line, "Regis regum rectissimi", freely translated to "King of kings and of lords most high", is also the last line of all three stanzas. It was premiered outdoors in Church Hill, Co. Donegal, where Columba is said to have preached, but was not easily audible due to the strong wind.
We shouldn’t have that difficulty in St Bartholomew’s Church where we will be to singing this wonderful music in beautiful surroundings. We hope to see you on 7th March and please join us for a glass of wine after the concert (included in the ticket price).
Tickets on the door: €20, conc. €15, students €5 with ID, all including a glass of wine/soft drink afterwards.