CHOIR OF KING'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE
St John's Smith Square 2 December 2005
Stephen Cleobury conductor

Bach Choral Prelude Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland Hammerschmidt Machet die Tore weit
Schütz Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt
Leighton Fantasy on Veni Emmanuel
Tavener The Lamb; Hymn to the Mother of God (I);
Hymn to the Mother of God (II); The Annunciation;
Hymn for the Dormition of the Mother of God
Howells A Spotless Rose; Here is the little door
Britten Hymn to the Virgin; A Boy was Born (theme only)
Bingham God would be born in thee;
Incarnation with shepherds dancing
Brahms Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen
Bruckner Virga Jesse
Mendelssohn Ave Maria
MacMillan Seinte Mari, Moder mild

A full house came to St John's for this early Christmas concert.

The programme looked attractive beforehand but was less so in the event. The programme book gave little indication about how the concert was to be structured. The audience remained devoutly silent for the first few items,, each of them quite brief, then began to applaud, tentatively at first. From then on, it was applause after every item, recalling the bad old days in Wigmore Hall when singers of an older generation expected and received applause after avery song. That has changed long since, with the groups clearly marked. The programme, buy a relative of the conductor, was too anecdotal, and lacked the essential information of the dates of composition (when known).

The music was all pleasant, and the gorgeous sound of the choir resounded through the grateful church acoustic, which was what everyone came for. But for a critic it was not "meaty" enough. There was less differentation in manner for the composers ancient and modern, and the contemporary ones were represented by small pieces without greatly individual character. Mercifully, Tavener's were brief - for that composer! One also got used to the oddity of the organ, played by two organ scholars, sounding behind us, so that the music came from before and behind. The synchronization was however mainly good. Leighton's Fantasy was a strong piece, and MacMillan's made for a rousing ending to the advertised programme.

20 DECEMBER AT 7.30

NB: 6.40 - Pre-concert talk given by Robert Hollingworth

Hazard Chase Christmas Festival

I FAGIOLINI
THE ENGLISH CORNETT AND SACKBUT ENSEMBLE
Robert Hollingworth director

Christmas Vespers in Venice

Monteverdi Dixit Dominus; Confitebor tibi; Beatus vir;
Laudate pueri; Laudate Dominum
Grandi Plorabo die ac nocte
G. Gabrieli Quem vidistis pastores; Magnificat