3 February 2009
Choir widens its musical horizons
With some promising voices emerging on the treble line, this term is seeing Romsey Abbey Choir setting its musical sights even higher – literally. It has doubled the frequency of Choral Evensongs to at least twice a month and is tackling some interesting new repertoire.
The term began with the Epiphany Gift Service, for which choir members Geoff Mordan, Rob Gower and Chris Lindsay dressed up as the Magi. The first Choral Evensong of the year, featuring Herbert Howells' Collegium Regale service, followed that evening.
Candlemas (1 February) saw the first performance by the choir of two works by the Abbey's Organist and Master of the Choristers, Robert Fielding: his Responses and an Introit that set words by Jeremy Davies, Precentor of Salisbury Cathedral, When Mary brought her child.
One of the highlights of the term, on Ash Wednesday (25 February), must surely be the first performance by the choir of Gregorio Allegri's sublime setting for the Sistine Chapel of Psalm 51, Miserere mei, Deus. Its ethereal top C's by a solo treble are sure to send a shiver down the spine of members of the congregation.
Later in Lent, the Second Service by the Tudor composer Thomas Tomkins makes its first appearance for many years. Bruckner's stark motet Christus factus est (Christ was made for us faithful even unto death) will make a suitably austere impact at Choral Evensong on Palm Sunday.
The last first performance of the term will be the Messe Solennelle by Jean Langlais, to be sung on Easter Eve and Easter Sunday morning. Suggestive in places of plainsong, this exhilarating work will bring the term to an end in jubilant style.
