Cornwall Calls!
It’s a welcome Spring return for JCS to Cornwall!
Our concert on Saturday 30th April, titled Symphonies for Voices, is in the 15th century church of St Endellion, and is full of melody and beautiful choral writing, drawn almost entirely from music of the 20th century, including John Rutter’s Hymn to the Creator of Light and John Tavener’s Song for Athene – plus James MacMillan’s motet O Radiant Dawn, written in 2007.
The centrepiece is by Malcolm Williamson, who despite being made Master of the Queen’s Music always considered himself an Australian composer. His Symphony for Voices is an extraordinary work for the then 31-year-old composer, setting texts by the Australian poet James MacAuley.
The programme’s second half includes songs from musicals, a tango and probably the best-known collaboration between a Hungarian composer and a French poet!
The next morning, May Day, we’ll be singing in the morning service at the church to celebrate the patronal festival of St Endelienta – who also gave her name to the village.
Our second concert appearance is in Falmouth on Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May, when we are performing with Saxpak, a remarkable saxophone ensemble whose repertoire features many arrangements by the wonderful Ted White, who died recently at the age of 100. The concert is titled Stars & Bars! – Music from the American Songbook and includes arrangements of songs by George & Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Rogers and Hart, Stephen Sondheim and many more.
If you can’t join us in Cornwall, Symphonies for Voices will be repeated in St Gabriel’s church Pimlico on Tuesday 10th May.
Full details – including ticket booking links – for these concerts are on our ‘performances’ page