TEWKESBURY CHORAL SOCIETY

Season” in Tewkesbury Abbey consists of five works of the very highest quality from both the 18th and the 20th centuries.

The evening begins with works by Antonio Vivaldi and J S Bach.

At the start of the Christmas story, Mary is told by an angel that she will give birth to Je- sus the son of God who will be the Saviour of the World. On a visit to her cousin, she sings her song of praise, known as the “Magnificat”. Many composers have set these words to music and Vivaldi was no exception. His “Gloria” is one of his most popular works in the choral repertoire and many in the audience will be familiar with it. However this time we are singing his lesser known, but just as thrilling, “Magnificat”. In this lively and joyous piece Vivaldi uses similar melodic lines to those which he used in his “Gloria”.

We move on to Advent and the Cantata 140, “Wachet Auf!” or “Sleepers Awake!” This is Bach at his brilliant best! The theme of the text comes from the gospel of St Matthew, using the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, to urge the listeners to be prepared for the coming of the Messiah. The work is “book-ended” with two chorales and the inner movements are solos for tenor, bass and soprano, although the tenor solo will be sung by the choir on this occasion.

We arrive at the heart of the Christmas story itself with a less well known work, “In Terra Pax” by Gerald Finzi from the middle of the 20th Century. He imaginatively frames words from two verses of Robert Bridges’ fine poem “Noel: Christmas Eve 1913” with St Luke’s account of the angels’ visit to the shepherds so that the “wanderer” of the present day becomes a part of the Nativity narrative itself. It is a “miniature masterpiece” evoking a mystic atmos- phere often experienced on Christmas Eve.

Before the final choral work, the orchestra will play the Christmas Concerto by Corelli which is full of joyful music for the festive season.

In the 150th anniver- panied children of school age and carers for disabled ticket holders - free)

• from members of the Society

• from the Abbey Shop (01684 856148)

• from Alison’s Bookshop (01684 274600)

• on-line: www.ticketsource.co.uk/t-c-s

• at the door on the evening of the perfor- sary of his birth, we close the concert with “Fantasia on Christmas Carols” by Ralph Vaughan Williams. A great collector of English folk songs, Vaughan Williams skilfully weaves the tunes of three English carols (with a fleeting reference to “The First Nowell”) to produce a romanticised and almost Dickensian version of Christmas. As it draws to its conclusion, the carollers leave “the ruler of the house”, wishing all “A Happy New Year” and then they vanish into the distant, snow-covered countryside.

Tickets £18 (accom-

Mance

We pride ourselves on being a friendly choir and welcome new singers of any age and voice part.

We rehearse every Monday evening in term time from 7.30 until 9.30pm in Chance Street School, Tewkesbury.

If you are interested in joining us, to sing Italian music or to travel with us overseas, and would like more details, please go to our website www.tewkesburychoral. org.uk or contact us via email: tewkesburychoral@gmail.com

By Christine Bennett Chairman