St. Luke Passion at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Friday 4th April 2014 I attended the Oriole Singers lunchtime Concert Performance of the St Luke Passion (attributed to J S Bach) at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich. The Oriole Singers were conducted by Martin Wyatt. The concert also featured pianist Heather Wyatt, flautist Meryl Dempsey and cellist Frank Pond.

This was a fine performance of the St. Luke Passion which included wonderful contributions from Paul Appleby, Pamela Quantrill and Evelyn Crow. This was a fantastic opportunity to hear this rarely performed piece which I greatly enjoyed along with the rest of the enthusiastic audience.

Julian Haggett Organ Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church

After my morning at Norwich Cathedral on Wednesday 1st January 2014 I made my way to the St. Peter Mancroft Church next to Norwich Marketplace for the Julian Haggett New Year's Day Organ Recital 2014 at 12 noon. As Organist at St. Peter Mancroft Julian Haggett provides voluntaries sensitive to the liturgical focus of services, ranging from 17th Century French and North European organ music of Tunder and Buxtehude to French 20th Century organ music by Alain and Messiaen.

The programme for this New Year's Day Organ Recital consisted of Piece d'Orgue BWV 572 - Bach, Noel avec variations - Langlais, Chorale Prelude In dulci jubilo Bux WV 197 - Buxtehude, Suisse Noel - Daquin, Chorale Prelude In dir ist Freude BWV 615 - Bach, Paean - Leighton and Toccata from Symphony V - Widor.

Two brilliant Organ Recitals on New Year's Day was a splendid start to the year. The highlight of the Recital at St. Peter Mancroft was the Widor Toccata from Symphony V which filled the church with the sound of beautiful music.

Viva Voce Singers Candlelit Family Christmas Concert

On Saturday 21st December 2013 I attended the Viva Voce Singers Candlelit Family Christmas Concert at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich. This concert was in aid of the Mancroft Advice Project. This performance was directed by Jody Butler and featured Organist Julian Haggett.

The Viva Voce Singers is a small and friendly Norwich based chamber choir of around twenty five singers and winner of the BBC Radio Norfolk Choir of the Year 2011 competition. The choir has a reputation for high quality performances around Norfolk.

The programme consisted of This is the truth sent from above - Trad. English arr. Vaughan Williams, Es ist ein Ros entsprungen - Brahms, A Christmas Carol - Zoltan Kodaly, Torches - John Joubert, I sing of a maiden from Make we joye - Peter Aston, Away in a manger - William Kirkpatrick arr. David Willcocks, The Queens came late - Norma Farber, A Christmas tree at Windsor - Eric Finney, Once in Royal David's City - H.J. Gauntlett arr. David Willcocks, A round of carols - Bryan Kelly, God rest ye merry, Gentlemen - Trad English arr. David Willcocks, A naughty boy tale - Peter Dixon, Messiah (Christmas Portions) - Mark Doty, A Shepherd's Carol - Britten, A boy was born - Peter Willis, The Lamb - John Tavener, Deck the Hall - Peter Aston, O come, all ye faithful - arr, Willcocks and A Merry Christmas - Trad. West Country carol arr. Arthur Warrell.

This concert was a wonderful celebration of Christmas which I greatly enjoyed along with the large audience in attendance. O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant. The Viva Voce Singers are a fantastic Choir who filled St. Peter Mancroft Church full of Christmas joy.

Preparing for Christmas at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On the afternoon of Saturday 7th December 2013 I attended the Mancroft Music Preparing for Christmas Autumn Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich which featured The Girls' Choir and Choral Scholars of St. Peter Mancroft, Julian Haggett and Harry Sullivan - Organ, Camilla Pay - Harp and Jody Butler - Director. The programme was entitled Preparing for Christmas as we were now in the season of Advent, when we prepare for the coming of the Lord at Christmas and ultimately the end of time.

The programme consisted of In dulci jubilo BuxWV 197 - Buxtehude, This is the truth sent from above - Traditional arr. Vaughan Williams, Jesus Christ the apple tree - Somerset folksong arr. Bullard, Let all mortal flesh keep silence - French Carol arr. Cleobury, Impromptu-Caprice - Pierne, Fum, fum, fum - Traditional Catalan arr. Llewellyn, Magnificat in G - Sumsion, Lift up your heads, O ye gates - Mathias, Of the Father's love begotten - Held and A Ceremony of Carols - Britten.

This was a wonderful Autumn Recital at St. Peter Mancroft with the highlight being Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols which as a tradition at the church, is performed each year to mark the start of Advent. There was a large audience in attendance at the last Mancroft Music Recital in the Autumn 2013 series.

Greg Morris Organ Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Saturday 23rd November 2013 I attended the Greg Morris Organ Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich in the Mancroft Music Autumn Recitals 2013 Series. Greg Morris is Associate Organist of the Temple Church in London and Musical Director of Collegium Musicum of London.

The programme consisted of Lo, he comes with clouds descending - Kenneth Leighton, Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland BWV 659 - Bach, Praeludium in D major - Buxtehude, Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland BWV 660 - Bach, Veni Emmanuel - Kenneth Leighton, Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland BWV 661 - Bach, Wachet auf - Bach and Fantasia and Fugue in G minor - Bach.

Greg's solo performances have included concerts at Notre Dame de Paris, the Neubradenburg International Organ Festival, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, King's College, Cambridge and many other cathedrals and major churches. Greg began to study the organ with Andrew Dean at The Manchester Grammar School. He held scholarships at St. George's Chapel, Windsor and Jesus College, Cambridge, studied the organ with Paul Stubbings, John Kitchen and Thomas Trotter and was awarded the top performance prize for the Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists and the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. He then moved to Blackburn Cathedral as Assistant Director of Music.

This was another wonderful Organ Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church in the heart of Norwich with brilliant music by Bach, Kenneth Leighton and Buxtehude. Greg Morris put on a fantastic performance which was greatly appreciated by the enthusiastic audience.

Julian Collings Organ Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Saturday 16th November 2013 I attended the Julian Collings Organ Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich in the Mancroft Music Autumn Recitals 2013 Series. This recital replaced that due to be given by Svyati Duo. Unfortunately Rebecca Hewes sustained a wrist injury and with regret had to withdraw. We were very grateful that Julian was able to put together a solo programme at short notice.

The programme consisted of Fantasia in G BWV 572 - Bach, Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist - Buxtehude, Andante with variations in D - Mendelssohn, Annum per annum - Part, Postlude pour l'office de complies - Alain and Pax vobiscum - Karg-Elert.

Julian Collings was educated as an organ scholar at Tonbridge School in Kent, before winning an organ scholarship to Christ's College, Cambridge in 1999. He is currently Director of Music at St. Cyprian's Church, Clarence Gate and regularly deputises as an organist at St. Bride's Church on Fleet Street. As organist with Svyati Duo, he regularly collaborates with cellist, Rebecca Hewes, performing concerts in the UK, Europe, Asia and the United States of America.

This was another wonderful organ recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church which was greatly enjoyed by the audience in attendance. The Mancroft Music Recital Series is always one of the highlights of the Music Calendar in Norwich both in the Autumn and Summer.

Douglas Hollick Organ Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Saturday 9th November 2013 I attended the Douglas Hollick Organ Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich. Heinrich Scheidemann: a context celebrated the 350th anniversary of Scheidemann's death. This was the latest recital in Mancroft Music's Autumn Recitals 2013 series.

The programme consisted of Fantasia auf die manier eines Echo - Sweelinck, Erbarm dich mein O Herre Gott - Scheidemann, Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, O Herr - Scheidemann, Jesu, wollst uns weisen - Scheidemann, Toccata in G - Scheidemann, Chorale Fantasia - Buxtehude and Nun freut euch, lieben Christen gmein BuxWV 210 - Buxtehude.

Douglas Hollick is an organist and harpsichordist with an international reputation who teaches in Clare College Cambridge. In 1995 he recorded an organ CD entitled The Young Bach for Supraphon in the Czech Republic which attracted very favourable reviews. He was awarded a year 2000 Churchill Fellowship to visit North Germany and Denmark researching organs and other keyboard instruments of Buxtehude and the young J S Bach.

Heinrich Scheidemann, organist of Hamburg's Katharinenkirche, was one of many North German organists who studied with Sweelinck in Amsterdam. Dutch influence in North Germany was also strong in the sphere of organ building, which very rapidly in the early 17th century began to develop a much larger and more independent pedal department than the organ of Sweelinck and indeed much larger organs. The tonal design still largely followed the Dutch pattern, with great variety of reed and solo colours apart from the main principal chorus and flutes.

This was another wonderful organ recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church which highlighted the teacher/pupil link from Sweelinck all the way to the young Bach. It is always brilliant to hear the organ at St. Peter Mancroft Church being played and Douglas Hollick made this one of the highlights of the Autumn Recitals 2013 series.

Oriole Singers concert at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On the afternoon of Friday 5th July 2013 I attended The Oriole Singers Concert Party Celebrating Marriage at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich. The Oriole Singers were conducted by Martin Wyatt with accompanist Heather Wyatt.

The programme consisted of Opening Hymn: For the Beauty of the Earth, Sunrise, Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof - Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, Cello Solo To Marriage - Frank Pond, Reading from The Prophet - Kahlil Gibran, Married from Cabaret - Kander and Ebb, Pipe Solo: An Irish Wedding Jig, Ashokan Farewell - Jay Ungar and Hiawatha's Wedding Feast - Samuel Coleridge Taylor.

The highlight of the concert was Samuel Coleridge Taylor's Hiawatha's Wedding Feast. Based on a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Song of Hiawatha is a trilogy of cantatas composed between 1898 and 1900. The first part, Hiawatha's Wedding Feast, was an immediate sensation, making the composer's name throughout the world. The chorus describes in great detail the wedding guests, their dress and food. Hiawatha was a Native American who was Chief of the Iroquois in the Sixteenth Century.

This was a wonderful concert at St. Peter Mancroft Church which was greatly enjoyed by the audience in attendance. The performance began with us joining in with the singing of For the Beauty of the Earth and included a fantastic playing of Jay Ungar's Ashokan Farewell by Meryl Dempsey.

Dexterity Trio at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Saturday 29th June 2013 I attended the Dexterity Trio Summer Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich which was the last in this season's Mancroft Music Summer Recital Series. The Dexterity Trio are Anna Hopkins - flute, Maja Passchier - cello and David Morgan - piano.

Anna Hopkins studied for four years at the Royal College of Music. She is a private and peripatetic flute teacher and is also an examiner for London's Trinity College. Maja Passchier studied cello at the Utrecht Conservatoire. She now lives in Norwich and teaches cello in schools and privately. David Morgan was a lecturer of music at Norwich City College and he was Organist at St. Edmunds, Acle.

The programme consisted of Trio No.28 in D major - Haydn, Trio Op.36 - Steel and Trio on English Folk Songs - Rowley. They were due to play Sonate en Concert - Damase but played pieces by Elgar, Faure and Mendelssohn instead. The Dexterity Trio told us they would play Sonate en Concert at a later date.

This was a wonderful recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church which proved to be a fantastic finish to this Summer's Recital Series. This has been another successful series for Mancroft Music as yet again they have provided the people of Norwich with lots of splendid music.

Eve Daniell and Tom Primrose at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Saturday 22nd June 2013 I attended the Eve Daniell and Tom Primrose Summer Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich. I just made the start of the Recital after watching The Lions beat Australia with a two minute dash from Timberhill.

The programme consisted of Mio Caro Bene from Rodelinda - Handel, An die Musik - Schubert, Standchen - Schubert, La Diva de L'Empire - Satie, Schlagende Herzen - Richard Strauss, Befreit - Richard Strauss and On this island - Britten.

British/Canadian soprano Eve Daniell is attending the Royal Academy of Music in London. She attended the University of Victoria and holds performing diplomas in voice and piano from the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has performed as Witch and Mother in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel and Sorceress in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas.

Tom Primrose is studying piano accompaniment at the Royal Academy of Music. Before this he was Assistant Organist and Director of the Girls' Choir at Norwich Cathedral. He is director of the Symphony Choir at the UEA, working regularly with the Symphony Orchestra. He is also Artistic Co-Director of the Southrepps Classical Music Festival.

This was a wonderful Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church with both Eve Daniell and Tom Primrose giving splendid performances. Thanks to both of them for standing in at short notice for this Mancroft Music Summer Recital. It was fantastic to hear Benjamin Britten's On this island in his Centenary Year.

Richard Carr Organ Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Saturday 15th June 2013 I attended the Richard Carr Big Screen Summer Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich which featured some wonderful organ music, perfect for summer. It was a bonus to have a big screen installed into the church for this performance and made for an exciting event.

The programme consisted of Piece d'orgue BWV 572, version originale d'apres le manuscrit de J.G. Walther - Bach, Organ Sonata in G major K328 - Scarlatti, Organ Sonata in D major K288 - Scarlatti, Sinfonia from Cantata 156 - Bach, Three Pieces from Richard III - Walton, Sicilienne - von Paradis and Suite Gothique - Boellmann.

Richard Carr began his musical career as a county music scholar at the High Wycombe Music Centre, where he studied piano and cello. He studied music at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge and graduated in 2003. Richard is currently Director of Music at St. Michael's Church, Bishop's Stortford, where he directs the choirs of adults and children and oversees the church's music programme.

This was another fantastic afternoon at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich in this year's Mancroft Music Summer Recital Series. Richard Carr gave us a memorable performance which included a wonderful Suite Gothique. I always enjoy my visits to St. Peter Mancroft Church to listen to the church's splendid organ.

Celebrating Benjamin Britten at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Saturday 8th June 2013 I attended the Celebrating Benjamin Britten Summer Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich which was part of Familiar Fields, celebrating Benjamin Britten's life and music in Norfolk and Suffolk. The Choristers, Girls' Choir and Choral Scholars of St. Peter Mancroft along with Julian Haggett - organ/piano and Jody Butler - director performed a programme of Benjamin Britten songs.

The most celebrated British composer of the 20th century, Benjamin Britten was a giant of the world stage whose roots were firmly in East Anglia, his music inspired by its landscapes and sea. He was born in Lowestoft on 22nd November 1913, schooled at Greshams, Holt, gave numerous performances in Norwich and lived most of his life in Aldeburgh. Under the Familiar Fields banner, musical and artistic organisations across Norfolk and Suffolk have come together to promote events celebrating the centenary.

The programme consisted of Friday Afternoons, The Salley gardens, Little Sir William, Prelude and Fugue on a theme of Vittoria (Organ solo), The Ash Grove, O Waly, Waly and Three two-part songs. This was a wonderful celebration of Benjamin Britten which began with Friday Afternoons, which is a set of 12 songs composed by Benjamin Britten between 1933 and 1935. The simple songs, with witty piano accompaniments, are dedicated to Britten’s schoolmaster brother, Robert, and the boys of Clive House preparatory school, Prestatyn, a school in which choir practice and singing lessons regularly took place on a Friday afternoon.

The next two songs performed were were The Salley gardens which is a Irish tune with words by W.B. Yeats and Little Sir William, a Somerset folksong. Julian Haggett performed the organ solo before The Ash Grove, a welsh tune and O Waly, Waly a folksong from Somerset were sung. The recital finished with Three two-part songs which included The Ship of Rio which ends with a scampering of monkeys across the sand. This was a splendid event at St. Peter Mancroft Church which I greatly enjoyed.

Andrew Cantrill Organ Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Saturday 1st June 2013 I attended the Andrew Cantrill Organ Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich in the Mancroft Music Summer Recital Series. This was the first of this Summer's Recitals at St. Peter Mancroft which is always one of the highlights of the musical calendar in Norwich.

The programme consisted of Incantation pour un Jour Saint - Langlais, Cantilene improvise - Tournemire, Praeludium in E minor - Bruhns, Variations on Unter der Linden grune - Sweelinck, Seven Allegorical Pictures on Kling no, klokka - Eftestol, Andante in F - Lefeburne-Wely and Sortie in E Flat - Lefebure-Wely.

Andrew Cantrill is one of the UK's most experienced and versatile church musicians. His career has taken him to three continents, working in schools, churches and cathedrals, and he has appeared in some of the world's most prestigious venues as conductor, organist and singer. He now freelances from his home in Suffolk and enjoys a busy career of concerts, teaching and examining.

This was a wonderful programme of organ music which Andrew Cantrill played brilliantly to an enthusiastic audience at St. Peter Mancroft. I always enjoy listening to the organ at this Norwich City Centre Church during the Summer Recital Series.

Khyam Allami at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On the evening of Wednesday 22nd May 2013 I attended the Khyam Allami with Vasilis Sarikis concert at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich. Khyam Allami is an Iraqi virtuoso of the Oud and a composer with an international reputation, but his roots are in rock and punk. He was accompanied by percussionist Vasilis Sarikis at this Norfolk and Norwich Festival event.

For this concert Khyam Allami revisited his 2011 album Resonance/Dissonance, exploring the middle eastern melodic music of Maqam. St. Peter Mancroft Church is a beautiful venue that proved to be perfect for this concert which I witnessed from the choir stalls. The pair provided us with a powerful and dynamic live show.

This was an emotional night as the sounds of classical Arab music which Khyam Allami has given a contemporary feel came to the Norfolk and Norwich Festival. It is always a pleasure to listen to music at this venue and this performance sounded incredible. Both performers seemed to greatly enjoy playing their music at St. Peter Mancroft.

Coronation Music at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On the evening of Saturday 20th April 2013 I attended the Keswick Hall Choir with Norwich Baroque's Coronation Music concert directed by Christopher Duarte at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich. This event was planned to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953.

The programme consisted of Zadok the Priest - Handel, The King shall rejoice HWV - Handel, The Lord God is a sun and a shield - Blow, Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem - Boyce, My heart is inditing Z.30 - Purcell, The King shall rejoice - Boyce, Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem Z.46 - Purcell, The Lord is a sun and a shield - Croft, Let thy hand be strengthened HWV 259 - Handel and My heart is inditing HWV 261 - Handel.

Handel's anthem Zadok the Priest has been a feature of every coronation since that of George II in 1727 and is a great way to start any concert. Zadok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet anointed Solomon King. And all the people rejoiced and said: God save the King! Long live the King! May the King live forever. Alleluia. Amen. As well as George Frideric Handel there was music by John Blow, William Boyce, Henry Purcell and William Croft on a night of royal celebrations at St. Peter Mancroft Church.

This was the first time that the Keswick Hall Choir and Norwich Baroque had performed together. The Coronation Music concert proved to be a great success as a large audience were treated to a wonderful programme of music that filled both this historic church and our hearts. Kings shall be thy nursing fathers and Queens thy nursing mothers.

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.

Aspects of Love at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Friday 15th March 2013 I attended the Aspects of Love concert from The Oriole Singers at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich. This lunchtime concert party featured a choral suite from the operetta by Andrew Lloyd Webber arranged by Francis Shaw. There was a retiring collection for Christian Aid.

The Oriole Singers were conducted by Martin Wyatt with Accompanist Heather Wyatt. Beverley McInnes was guest soloist at this wonderful Friday lunchtime concert. The programme consisted of In the still and the peace of the moment - Martin Wyatt, Ode to the Five Senses - Martin Wyatt, Love is the sweetest thing - Ray Noble, Foggy foggy dew - Trad, arranged by Britten, Will she wait up for me? - T Sterndale Bennett, Happy Talk - Rodgers and Hammerstein, Reading from the 4th Century Greek Prelate Eusebius, Excerpt from Cello Suite No.3 - Britten and Vocal Selection from Aspects of Love - Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Aspects of Love tells the dramatic story of a young man's enchantment with an actress. The songs sang gave hints at the different phases of love. Infatuation, lust, joy and sorrow that this overwhelming emotion entails. Love changes everything, Flirtation - Mermaid Song, Courtship - The first man you remember, Elopement - Seeing is believing, Bliss - Chanson d'enfance, Cautionary tale - There is more to love, Gentlemanly rivals defer to each other - She'd be better off with you, Nostalgia - Other pleasures can't compare with you, Desolation - Anything but lonely and Summary - Love changes everything.

This was a fun and enjoyable concert at St. Peter Mancroft Church which proved to be the best place to spend Friday lunchtime as we experienced a wonderful programme of music. In the still and the peace of the moment be still and at peace with God.

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.

Britten and Friends at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Saturday 16th February 2013 I attended the Keswick Hall Choir's Britten and Friends concert at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich which was part of the Familiar Fields events to celebrate Benjamin Britten's life and music in Norfolk and Suffolk in his Centenary Year. The choir were conducted by Christopher Duarte in a programme of choral and organ music written between 1930-1950 by Benjamin Britten, Lennox Berkeley, Aaron Copland and Francis Poulenc. David Dunnett performed on Organ and Piano.

The programme consisted of Festival Te Deum op.32 - Britten, A Festival Anthem op.21 no.2 - Berkeley, Salve Regina - Poulenc, Chorale after an old French Carol - Britten, Five Flower Songs op.47 - Britten, Old American Songs, first set - Copland, Prelude to They Walk Alone - Britten, Prelude and Fugue on a theme of Vittoria - Britten and A.M.D.G. - Britten. This programme was designed to reflect some friendships Benjamin Britten formed and cemented from 1930 to 1950.

This was a wonderful concert to attend with the Keswick Hall Choir putting on a performance of the highest quality to help celebrate Benjamin Britten's Centenary Year. I particularly enjoyed Britten's Five Flower Songs which included the Ballad of Green Broom which plays out a humorous story. There's none like the Boy that sold Broom, Green Broom. Another song I very much enjoyed was Copland's I Bought me a Cat. I fed my cat under yonder tree. My cat says fiddle eye fee.

The Keswick Hall Choir received a well deserved and loud round of applause at the end of the concert to show how much everyone in attended at St. Peter Mancroft Church had enjoyed their performance. This was definitely a night to remember, with the songs and music of Benjamin Britten and his friends filling this historic Norwich City Centre venue with lots of joy.

Epiphany Carol Service at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Sunday 13th January 2013 I attended the Epiphany Carol Service at St. Peter Mancroft Church in Norwich City Centre. This was an evening service that started at 6.30 pm to celebrate the Baptism of Christ. O Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; Bow down before him, his glory proclaim; With gold of obedience and incense of lowliness, kneel and adore him: The Lord is his name. In the Church of England if Epiphany is observed on 6 January or before, the Baptism of Christ is observed on the following Sunday.

The Choir at St. Peter Mancroft Church sang a number of wonderful hymns including When Christ was born of Mary free - John Gardner, Bethlehem Down - Peter Warlock, A New Year Carol - Benjamin Britten, Tomorrow shall be my dancing day - John Gardner, Brightest and best - Malcolm Archer and The Journey - Simon Lole. During the service gifts of gold frankincense and myrrh were laid upon the alter.

The story of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the River Jordan features in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Sing, ye heights of heav'n, His praises; Angels and Archangels, sing! Wheresoe'er ye be, ye faithful, let your joyous anthems ring, ev'ry tongue his name confessing, countless voices answering, evermore and evermore.