Teh evening will feature a programme called ‘The Voice of the Turtle Dove’; which includes English music from the golden age of the Renaissance at the opening event of this year’s Shropshire Music 2014/15 Season.
Director of Shropshire Music Trust, Kate Hogwood said: “We are delighted that the world-renowned choir The Sixteen are returning by popular demand to present its most far-reaching Choral Pilgrimage tour to date, which encompasses over 30 performances in the most beautiful churches and cathedrals for which the music was written. This is a ‘must-hear’ event for music lovers.
For its 14th Choral Pilgrimage The Sixteen and Harry Christophers revisit the golden age of Renaissance polyphony with a stunning programme of music by English composers John Sheppard, Richard Davy and William Mundy.
After decades of world-wide performance, endless accolades and a glittering catalogue of recordings, The Sixteen is recognised as one of the world’s greatest vocal ensembles with its unique reputation for performing a diversity of masterpieces spanning the music of five hundred years – drawn from the passions of conductor and founder, Harry Christophers CBE.
Held in association with St.Chad’s Church, and sponsored by Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors, there will be a Pre-Concert Talk with Harry Christophers at 7pm. The talk will last for approximately 15 minutes and explore the context and performance practice of the repertoire. Tickets are selling fast, so early booking is essential please”.
Harry Christophers said: “For this year’s tour, I have returned to our grass roots to focus on the music of three exceptional Tudor composers. I am delighted to revisit a work we last performed at our first-ever concert and I recall the amazing review we had for it – “not only was the sound of the choir a revelation but so too was the music.”
“The critic was referring to William Mundy’s monumental work Vox patris caelestis, the text of which comes from the Song of Songs. It is full of pictorial imagery with such phrases as “Arise, my dove, my fair one” and “the voice of the turtle dove” to revel in. Mundy is very much the youngest of our composers; he died in 1591 whilst John Sheppard only just managed to see in Queen Elizabeth I by a month or so. His setting of the “Inviolata” prose, Gaude, gaude, gaude Maria is simply glorious and is only bettered by his Libera nos I – I cannot think of a more sublime piece. However, the most extraordinary music of all comes from the earliest of our trio, Richard Davy. The fact that his music survived the reformation is nothing short of a miracle and his remarkable work O Domine caeli terraeque was, according to the Eton copyist, written in just one day at Magdalen College, Oxford. Each one of these works is a real gem just waiting to be discovered by a wider audience. This music is part of our great heritage and I look forward to you joining us on this pilgrimage of discovery.”
Tickets £27, £24 (£13.50 for 25s & under) £1 child 18s & under – available online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/smt, by phone, post and in person from Windband, 9 Greyfriars Road, Shrewsbury SY3 7EN Tel:01743 367482 Email:info@windband.co.uk or any remaining tickets on the door.
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