27
July
7pm, Saturday 1 July
St. German’s Church, Adamsdown
Conductor Thomas Blunt
Organist Carleton Etherington
We’re excited to present a summer concert that explores the rich heritage of choral anthems. Join us as we celebrate the enduring legacy of the British choral tradition with a range of works, predominantly by British composers.
The centrepiece of our concert is Benjamin Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, a setting of Christopher Smart’s extraordinary poem, Jubilate Agno. Written during Smart’s confinement in a psychiatric hospital, the poem portrays devastating pain, loneliness, wit, humour, and ultimately, hope. Britten’s interpretation captures these emotions and more. It is a timeless anthem that explores the wonder and beauty of the natural world and offers a message of hope amongst darkness and chaos.
The concert also features two works by female composers: Judith Bingham’s God be in my head, a hauntingly beautiful anthem that showcases intricate choral harmonies, and Sarah MacDonald’s Crux Fidelis, a work that explores the themes of love and sacrifice with soaring melodies and rich harmonies.
We are delighted to be presenting The Souls of the Righteous by Geraint Lewis. As a Cardiff-based composer, Lewis’s music is particularly poignant for us, and this performance promises to be a moving tribute to the strong choral tradition of Wales.
We hope that our performances of these, and the other anthems we are presenting, will move and inspire you with the beauty of choral music.
Edward Elgar, Great is the Lord
Jonathan Dove, Ecce Beatam Lucem
Geraint Lewis, The Souls of the Righteous
John Ireland, Greater Love
Gustav Holst, Nunc Dimittis
Judith Bingham, God be in my head
Gerald Finzi, Lo, the full, final sacrifice
Sarah Macdonald, Crux Fidelis
Benjamin Britten, Rejoice in the Lamb
Tickets are available from Ticketsource
