Monday 2 December 2013

In Terra Pax

Christmas seems to have landed! At Cantilena we are working hard to polish our Christmas Concert. We have entitled it "Peace on Earth". There are so many parts of the world where peace is but a distant memory and we wanted to remind ourselves of the Christmas message.

The centrepiece of the programme in "In Terra Pax by Gerald Finzi. Finzi wrote this towards the end of his life for his local choir and orchestra to perform. He set "Noel - Christmas Eve 1913" by Robert Bridges, combining it with the traditional story of the shepherds.

To have a taste of this masterpiece, follow this link.


We are performing a range of other seasonal works, including contemporary American composer Morten Lauridsen's haunting "O Magnum Mysterium".

Do come along - you will also have a chance to sing a few of your favourite carols and support St Margaret's Hospice at the same time.

All the details are on the poster to the right. Start the final run-up to Christmas in the best possible way!





Friday 21 June 2013

Delights for a Summer Afternoon




This Summer we have come up with a very special way to spend a Summer Sunday afternoon. Our "Afternoon Delight" concert is being held at The Abbey House In Glastonbury on Sunday 7 July at 3.30pm. We will be performing a range of folk song arrangements and parts songs and will be joined by the Pilton Youth Wind Quintet.

The concert itself will be in the comfort of the Abbey House's Drawing room and afterwards we invite you to join us for a cream tea. If the weather is kind we will be able to enjoy this in the grounds of the House.

 Accommodation at the Abbey House is limited so we advise you to call the number on the poster to book your ticket.

We hope to see you there!

Follow this link for directions to The Abbey House


Tuesday 2 April 2013

Ascension


This Spring the Cantilena Spring concert will be on 11 May. Ascension Day is on 9 May, so what better theme for the concert?

We have chosen Bach's Cantata 11 - "Lobet Gott" "Praise God" - a joyful dramatic description of the ascension. The opening trumpets invite us to celebrate.

Click on this link to hear the opening chorus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzvH0p9zsuc

We are coupling this with Haydn's "Harmony Mass". Harmonious it certainly is with all Haydn's Age of Enlightenment assurance, but also his unexpected flashes of humour.

There'll be more on this soon - in the meantime, put this date in your diary and also in those of all your friends