Preparing for Christmas at St. Peter Mancroft

On Saturday 1st December 2012 I attended the Mancroft Music Autumn Recital Preparing for Christmas at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich. This event was part of Familiar Fields, celebrating Benjamin Britten's life and music in Norfolk and Suffolk. Performing were Julian Haggett - organ, Rhian Hanson - harp, Jody Butler - director. The Girls' Choir, Choral Scholars and Organ Scholars.

The programme consisted of Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist BuxWV 209 - Buxtehude, Creator of the stars of night - Mode iv melody arr. John Scott, Long ago prophets knew - Piae Cantiones arr. Malcolm Archer, How beautiful upon the mountains - John Stainer, Lift up your heads, O ye gates - William Mathias, Chancon dans la Nuit - Salzedo, Corpus Christi Carol - Britten, King Herod and the Cock - Britten, Praeludium in F - Lubeck, Nocturne from Suite for Organ - Clucas and A Ceremony of Carols - Britten.

This was a splendid concert at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich which took place the day before Advent Sunday, the beginning of the season of Advent, when we prepare for the coming of the Lord at Christmas, and ultimately the 'end of time'. The highlight was Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols which has become a tradition to be performed at St. Peter Mancroft to mark the start of Advent.

The UEA Symphony Orchestra bring us Christmas Joy

On Friday 9th December 2011 I made my way to St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich for the UEA Symphony Orchestra and Choir Christmas Concert. This was their first concert since it was announced that the UEA School of Music would close. During the evening Sharon Andrea Choa reassured us that these concerts would continue in the future with support from the UEA.

The programme consisted of Violin Concerto in F minor, Winter - Vivaldi, Gloria RV 589 - Vivaldi, God is With Us - Tavener, What Sweeter Music - Rutter, Sir Christemas from 'Ave Rex' - Mathias and Fantasia on Christmas Carols - Williams.

The conductors for this festive celebration were Sharon Andrea Choa and Tom Primrose. Soloists were Simon Smith - violin, Dhilan Gnadadurai - baritone, Billie Robson and Verity Ransom - soprano, Matthew O'Keeffe - countertenor and Kris Tomsett - organist.

Vivaldi's Winter evokes the cold icy wind while sitting next to the fireside before venturing outside to walk on the ice. After some slips and falls the ice cracks and breaks up and back indoors we hear all the winds battling it out. Simon Smith brought us all the joys of Winter with his fine violin playing.

Oh the glory of Vivaldi's glory, yes Antonio Vivaldi again this time bringing us Gloria in excelsis. This was a glorious performance from the Orchestra and Choir that lifted the spirits of everyone in attendance at St. Andrew's Hall. Glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace to men of goodwill.

After the interval we were treated with Sir John Tavener's God is With Us which is a work commissioned in 1987 for the Choir of Winchester Cathedral. This was followed by John Rutter's What Sweeter Music which sets words adapted from a poem by Robert Herrick.

Next to be performed was Sir Christemas from Ave Rex composed by William Mathias. Ave Rex is a setting of four medieval carol texts composed in 1969. In this piece the choir shout a final Nowell. The concert finished with Ralph Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Christmas Carols written in 1912. This was a wonderful way to finish this splendid and heart warming concert. I'm sure everyone in attendance were put into the Christmas spirit and left St. Andrew's Hall with smile on their faces.

Preparing for Christmas

On Saturday 3rd December 2011 I attended the Mancroft Music Preparing for Christmas Autumn Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich which was the last in the series. This recital was given by The Girls' Choir, Choral Scholars and Organ Scholars of St. Peter Mancroft.

The programme consisted of  In dulci jubilo BWV 729 - Bach, Adam lay ybounden - Ledger, Lift up your heads, O ye gates - Mathias, A round of carols - Kelly, Gottes Sohn ist Kommen - Bach, I saw three ships - Traditional carol arr. Anne MacDearmid, Vom Himmel hoch, da komm'ich her - Zachau and A Ceremony of Carols - Britten.

 This was a wonderful way to celebrate the arrival of Christmas and a delightful way to finish the current series of Autumn Recitals. A large crowd was in attendance who enjoyed splendid and enthusiastic performances from everyone that turned all our thoughts to Christmas.