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We are constantly
adding to our already wide repertoire.
The mediaeval pieces are almost all 'anon',
inevitably, and include many Christmas introits, carols and
jolly pieces about angels and Good News, such as
Ecce novum gaudium, There is no rose of such vertu,
Nowell sing we, both all and some, and
Gabriel from hevenking sent.
Later works for Christmas include pieces by Byrd, Tallis,
Power, Gombert, Lassus, Carver, Henry VIII and, more up to
date, works by Poulenc, Joubert, Tavener, Holst, Warlock and
Lauridsen, and Britten's Ceremony of Carols,
which we performed with harpist Jean Altshuler.
In Spring and Summer we sing troubadour, trouvère and
minnesinger songs of courtly love, such as
Cedit frigus hiemale, A l'entrade del tens clar, Kalenda
maya and Quant je oi chanter l'aloete,
and we have explored some early French
repertoire including works by Passereau and Le Jeune - Il
est bel et bon always goes down well, as
does Revecy venir du printemps -
and the later chansons of Roquelay, Sermisy, Hesdin and Jannequin.
Included in our church music repertoire
are masses and motets by Byrd, Victoria, Charpentier, Lassus,
Carver, Tallis and many more, for one, two and even three
choirs (quite logistically challenging for a small group).
The Tudor period supplies a large part of our madrigal repertoire,
including several from 'The Triumphs of Oriana', and many
of the 'standard' pieces such as
The Silver Swan, Come away, Sweet love, All Creatures
now are merry minded and Draw on
Sweet Night while small groups of us have
ventured into the Italian field, with madrigals by Monteverdi,
Gesualdo and Marenzio.
Our Director has made numerous arrangements, not only of the
mediaeval songs, but traditional folksongs (even in Gaelic
and Welsh!), and a particular favourite is Whistle,
Daughter, Whistle, - a good closing number
or encore. (It is always fun watching the ladies trying to
whistle). He has also composed pieces especially for the choir,
as have Dr Philip Wood and Matthew
Curtis. (visit Canasg
Choral Music Publishing to find published work by Douglas
& Philip) We are always ready to tackle contemporary music,
as we did a couple of years ago by special request at St.
Andrew's, Greystoke, with Et Omnes Eandem
by Gary Higginson.
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