16th December – JOYEUX NOËL
ST MARTIN'S SINGERS conducted by Fergus Black
Our own acclaimed choir of female voices in its fifth annual Christmas Concert.
The choice of music spans a thousand years, from the early works of the Notre-Dame school, through some charming carol arrangements, and culminating in the (rather lush) Grand'Messe de Noël by François-Auguste Gevaert, who, like many famous Frenchmen was actually Belgian. No matter!
17th October – ELIJAH CHORAL WORKSHOP
Mendelssohn's Elijah, led by Christopher Gower
Great workshop, with famous choruses from this magnificent work!
Study and rehearsal during the afternoon, culminated with a performance of excerpts with soloists.
July and August – MENDELSSOHN ORGAN SONATAS
A series of 50 minute recitals featuring all six Organ Sonatas by Felix Mendelssohn
Andrew Reid - including Sonata No. 5
James Parsons - including Sonata No. 1
Paul Parsons - including Sonata No. 2
Kenneth Court - including Sonata No. 3
Fergus Black - including Sonata No.6
Stephen Powell - including Sonata No. 4
4th July – DIVERS VOYCES
Divers Voyces presented a programme of music to celebrate feast days religious and secular.
Sacred music for a private "Chapelle" by Continental and English composers such as Byrd and Gesualdo was complemented by duets, trios and scenas by Monteverdi and Purcell for a Mansion garlanded for festivities.
25th April – ST MARTIN'S SINGERS
Conducted by Fergus Black
with Chris Brown, organ
Choral music by Russian composers in the first half (Chesnov and Bortniansky - his setting of the Divine Liturgy), then Mendelssohn's the three motets for upper voices, Op.39, which are wonderful. To finish, Schubert's 23rd Psalm.
28th March – ST PETER'S SINGERS
Choral and organ music by Bach and Mendelssohn
With Claire Innes-Hopkins Organist
The programme included Mendelssohn's Six Seasonal Motets, and his very famous Hear my prayer (O for the wings of a dove)
with Bach's dramatic motet Jesu meine Freude
