Stabat Mater at the St. Giles on the Hill Church

On the evening of Friday 31st May 2013 I attended the Sacred Charity Concert at the St. Giles on the Hill Church, Norwich in aid of Cancer Research UK. Charlotte Ellerby, Katherine Horton and Timothy Patient performed the Stabat Mater by Alessandro Scarlatti.

In 1086 St. Giles Church is referred to in the Domesday Book. After the Norman conquest it was one of the three large parishes forming the French Borough, the richest part of Norwich. It's 120 foot tower is not only the tallest in Norwich, but rises from the highest ground.

The building as it is now was built around 1400, when the perpendicular style was first introduced in Norwich. The church is made of knapped flints, apart from the ashlar faced south porch, which was added in the 16th century, and ashlar decoration on the buttresses. The tower which dominates the city was a beacon tower, (the iron basket for the fire is still on view inside) and contains a peal of eight bells, the earliest dating from 1430. The decorative iron fence round the churchyard is famous for its wisteria in spring.

The Stabat Mater is a religious musical work written by Alessandro Scarlatti in 1724, on an order of the Franciscans, the Knights of the virgin of sorrows. The Stabet Mater is based on a liturgical text of the thirteenth century meditating on the suffering of the Virgin Mary. There is a first manuscript of the work dated 1715 and preserved in Naples. Considered outdated even by those who had ordered the piece, it was replaced by the famous Stabat Mater by Pergolesi.

This was a wonderful evening at the St. Giles on the Hill Church which overlooks the Fine City of Norwich. Scarlatti's Stabat Mater was performed brilliantly in this beautiful church. The concert finished with an organ recital from Timothy Patient. This was a great opportunity for me to visit the St. Giles on the Hill Church and to enjoy some splendid choral music.

The Crucifixion at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Sunday 24th March 2013 I attended a liturgical performance of The Crucifixion by Sir John Stainer at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich. This performance on Palm Sunday was given by the St Peter's Singers directed by Jody Butler with Julian Haggett - organ, Joseph Denby - tenor and Edward Kay - bass.

The Crucifixion: A Meditation on the Sacred Passion of the Holy Redeemer is an oratorio composed by Sir John Stainer in 1887. It is scored for a SATB choir and organ, and features solos for bass and tenor. The text was written by W. J. Sparrow Simpson, the librettist of Stainer's two earlier oratorios, The Daughter of Jairus and Mary Magdalene. The work is dedicated "to my pupil and friend W. Hodge and the choir of Marylebone Church", who first performed it on February 24, 1887, the day after Ash Wednesday.

Modelled on the great passion settings of J.S. Bach, Stainer’s Crucifixion is amongst the most popular of all English choral works and vividly portrays the events of the Passion of Christ. This was a moving event at St. Peter Mancroft Church to mark the beginning of Holy Week.

St. John Passion at Norwich Cathedral

On the evening of Saturday 23rd March 2013 I attended the Norwich Cathedral Choir and Norwich Baroque's performance of J S Bach's St. John Passion at Norwich Cathedral. The role of the Evangelist was played by young tenor, William Blake who is one the UK’s rising singing stars. The role of Christ was sung by Bradley Travis, leading bass soloist from the Royal College of Music. The distinguished soprano, Amy Carson was joined by other soloists from within the Norwich Cathedral Choir.

Bach wrote his Passion according to St John for the service of Vespers at St Nicholas’ Church in Leipzig in 1724. It is without doubt one of the most dramatic representations of the Passion story, the striking narration and crowd scenes interspersed with reflective arias and chorales that are amongst the most beautiful Bach ever composed. And when from death you waken me, let my unworthy eyes then see with tears of joy, my soul's reward; my Saviour and my risen Lord! O Jesus Christ, give ear to me, and let me praise Thee endlessly.

This performance directed by Norwich Cathedral's Master of Music Ashley Grote was very inspirational and proved to be a special night. There was a large crowd in attendance as we were moved to reflect on the sufferings of Christ and his joyful resurrection. The concert took place on the eve of Palm Sunday and it marked the start of the Cathedral’s observance of Holy Week and Easter. J S Bach's St. John Passion is a sacred oratorio masterpiece and was performed wonderfully by the Norwich Cathedral Choir, Norwich Baroque and all the soloists.

Norwich Music Group at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On the evening of Saturday 23rd February 2013 I attended the Norwich Music Group concert at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich in support of The Lymphoma Association. The Norwich Music Group is the brainchild of Julian Musgrave, Philip Aldred and Frances Banham and was formed with the express purpose of performing the great choral works in Norwich's fine Churches using the best Singers and Instrumentalists.

Philip Aldred conduced the Norwich Music Group with a programme that consisted of Messa Di Gloria - Puccini, Gaelic Blessing - Rutter, The Lord Bless You And Keep You - Rutter, Cantique de Jean Racine - Faure and Requiem - Faure. This was a wonderful selection of music to fill St. Peter Mancroft Church and make this a night to remember.

Daniel Bartlette - Tenor and Fearghus Cooper - Bass featured on Puccini's Messa Di Gloria while June Harrison - Soprano and Fearghus Cooper performed Faure's Requiem. This was a concert of wonderful choral music composed by Giacomo Puccini, John Rutter and Gabriel Faure.  Puccini's Messa Di Gloria composed in 1880 which is distinguished by the beauty of its vocal writing and by a heart warming lyricism underscored by extremely inventive instrumentation opened the evening's music.

Gabriel Fauré composed his Requiem in D minor, Op. 48, between 1887 and 1890. The choral-orchestral setting of the Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead is the best known of his large works. This was a splendid piece of music to finish the evening. The concert was a great success with brilliant performances from the Orchestra and the Choir while at the same time supporting the Lymphoma Association.

The Sixteen at Norwich Cathedral

On the evening of Wednesday 16th May 2012 I attended one of the highlights of this year's Norfolk and Norwich Festival when The Sixteen conducted by Harry Christophers brought their The Earth Resounds Choral Pilgrimage to Norwich Cathedral. The Sixteen are one of the world's most acclaimed early music ensembles and their visit is an eagerly anticipated annual event.

The programme consisted of Praeter rerum seriem - Josquin, Gloria from Missa et ecce terrae motus - Brumel, O Virgo prudentissima - Josquin, Magnificat secundi toni super Praeter rerum seriem - Lassus, Aurora lucis rutilat - Lassus, Huc me sydereo - Josquin - Timor et tremor - Lassus, Sanctus from Missa et ecce terrae motus - Brumel and Magnificat octavi toni super Aurora lucis rutilat - Lassus.

The Earth Resounds celebrates the music of Brumel, Josquin and Lassus who were three of the towering figures of the Franco-Flemish Renaissance. All tickets for this amazing event were sold as The Sixteen brought us a brilliant performance on a night to remember with a programme centred around movements from Brumel's Missa et ecce terrae motus. The sacred music of 15th and 16th Century Flanders made for an evening of expressive and beautiful music with a performance of the highest quality from The Sixteen and Harry Christophers.

Viva Voce Singers 20th Anniversary Concert

On Saturday 19th November 2011 I attended the Viva Voce Singers 20th Anniversary Concert at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich that provided an evening to celebrate the joy of choral singing. The BBC Radio Norfolk Choir of the Year 2011 were directed by Jody Butler as they celebrated this special anniversary.

The programme consisted of Jubilate Deo - Gabrieli, Sicut cervus - da Palestrina, Adoramus te, Christe - de Lassus, O quam gloriosum - Victoria, Hymn to St. Cecilia - Britten, Sing joyfully - Byrd, Justorum animae - Byrd, Ave verum Corpus - Byrd and Songs of Farewell, My soul there is a country, I know my soul hath power to know all things, Never weather-beaten sail, There is an old belief, At the round earth's imagined corners, Lord let me know mine end - Parry.

This was a wonderful evening of choral singing from this small and friendly Norwich based chamber choir who help to raise money for local charities. With a splendid set of 16th century European sacred music pieces to open the concert we were then treated to Benjamin Britten's Hymn to St. Cecilia which is a setting of poetry by Britten's friend W.H. Auden.

Before the interval there was sacred music by William Byrd including Ave verum Corpus which is one of his best known pieces. Fully refreshed by a delicious apple juice during the interval I looked forward to Hubert Parry's Songs of Farewell. The choir were on top form as they performed this set of anthems which contain some of the most moving passages in Romantic a cappella music. 

The Christian Year in Music

A celebration of music at St. Peter
Mancroft Church, Norwich

On Saturday 28th May 2011 it was the second of this year's Mancroft Music Summer Recitals, this time celebrating the Christian Year in Music. A programme of sacred choral music and organ solos were performed by the young musicians of St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich.

This was a delightful way to spend a Saturday afternoon as we were treated to music that covered the whole Christian Year. From Advent being represented by Rejoice in the Lord to Trinity with As truly as God is our Father all the events of the Christian calendar were covered.

I'm sure everyone in attendance enjoyed this Summer Recital which was performed with great enthusiasm. St. Peter Mancroft Church is a splendid place to experience music as well as somewhere in Norwich City Centre for peace and quiet reflection.