Elgar's 'The Spirit of England'

Chiswick Choir concert at St. Peter's Southfield Road

On Saturday 19 March, 7.30pm at St Peter's, Southfield Road, W4 1BB,
The Chiswick Choir sing Edward Elgar's 'The Spirit of England' and Ralph Vaughan William's 'Sancta Civitas' (The Holy City), the latter with the Music Makers of London, a small choir based in Barnes and Tiffin Boys School Choir.

Sancta Civitas, Vaughn William's only oratorio is seldom performed because of the substantial choral forces and large orchestra required, so this is a rare opportunity to hear this majestic work in the wonderful acoustics of St Peter's. Vaughn Williams declared Sancta Civitas to the one of his choral works that he most liked. The Choir have been most fortunate to receive a grant of £2000 from The Vaughn Williams Charitable Trust as they are keen that the piece should be played more often.

2016 is a most appropriate year in which to sing Elgar's 'Spirit of England', written a hundred years ago. It sets three of Laurence Binyon's war poems, including the well known 'For the Fallen'. The Chiswick Choir sang the long forgotten setting of this poem, by Cyril Rootham five years ago. This programme of emotional 20th Century English music, is in marked contrast to the measured harmonies of the French music sung at the December concert.

Hilary Campbell will be conducting Sancta Civitas again with the Chiswick Choir and one of her other choirs at the Voices of London Festival in early July. Hilary is a founder and musical director of the Festival.

The Chiswick Choir has now been in existence for exactly forty years. One of the current members Sue Thackray, widow of the Choir founder John Thackray, recalls that at the first rehearsal in March 1976 there were just 33 singers. The Choir now numbers 80 singing members. At this concert, with the three choirs involved there will be around 110 singers.
Tickets available at the door or online.

March 13, 2016