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September Newsletter
Thu, 18 Sep 2025Printable version
Thursday 18 September
Dear Supporter,
Please delete the first email you received - I had given wrong posctcodes for two concerts. Please refer to this updated email instead. Also please delete the old March one if you receved it. No idea why the system decided to choose that one.
Welcome to Harlow Chorus' 50th Anniversary Season. Rehearsals have just begun for the first concert under our new MD James Potter who is taking us through the intricacies of Rossini's slightly outrageous Petite Messe Solennelle with aplomb. The Mass, neither petite nor solemn by the way, was written some 40 years after the operas Rossini was famous for and was meant for private salon performance only, hence the unusual accompaniment of two pianos and harmonium. It is set in the normal Catholic liturgy, and does start with a gentle Kyrie, but Rossini's irrepressible operatic exuberance soon manifests itself – quiet moments give way to fanfares, dramatic solos and choruses full of joy and musical bravado. We are performing it in St John's Church, Epping CM16 5DN at 7.30pm on Saturday 1st November and hope you will enjoy listening as much as we will enjoy singing.
Tiickets are £15, unde 18s £5, available online at www.ticketsource.org.uk/harlowchorus and from our box office via email at tickets@harlowchorus.org.uk or phone o1277 363440.
The season continues with a traditional Christmas carol concert on December 6th followwd by a spring concert on April 18th and culminates in a performance of Mendelssohn's magnificent oratorio Elijah with full orchestra on July 11th in Saffron Hall. I have listed further details below.
With best wishes
Val Brockbank on behalf of Harlow Chorus
Dear Supporter,
Please delete the first email you received - I had given wrong posctcodes for two concerts. Please refer to this updated email instead. Also please delete the old March one if you receved it. No idea why the system decided to choose that one.
Welcome to Harlow Chorus' 50th Anniversary Season. Rehearsals have just begun for the first concert under our new MD James Potter who is taking us through the intricacies of Rossini's slightly outrageous Petite Messe Solennelle with aplomb. The Mass, neither petite nor solemn by the way, was written some 40 years after the operas Rossini was famous for and was meant for private salon performance only, hence the unusual accompaniment of two pianos and harmonium. It is set in the normal Catholic liturgy, and does start with a gentle Kyrie, but Rossini's irrepressible operatic exuberance soon manifests itself – quiet moments give way to fanfares, dramatic solos and choruses full of joy and musical bravado. We are performing it in St John's Church, Epping CM16 5DN at 7.30pm on Saturday 1st November and hope you will enjoy listening as much as we will enjoy singing.
Tiickets are £15, unde 18s £5, available online at www.ticketsource.org.uk/harlowchorus and from our box office via email at tickets@harlowchorus.org.uk or phone o1277 363440.
The season continues with a traditional Christmas carol concert on December 6th followwd by a spring concert on April 18th and culminates in a performance of Mendelssohn's magnificent oratorio Elijah with full orchestra on July 11th in Saffron Hall. I have listed further details below.
With best wishes
Val Brockbank on behalf of Harlow Chorus
HARLOW CHORUS 50TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
Saturday December 6th 2025 at 7.30pm
St Stephen's Church, Harlow CM18 6QR at 6.00pm
CAROLS FOR CHOIR AND AUDIENCE
Including Michael Higgin's Christmas Fantasy, a sparkling work which draws together four well-known carols that reflect the joys of being together with friends and family to celebrate the season.
Saturday April 18th 2026 at 7.30pm
St Michael's Church, Bishop's Stortford CM23 2DY
SONGS OF TRAVEL
Spring arrives, and our thoughts begin to turn to travel. Wonderfully ebullient naval songs by Stanford, dramatic songs by Vaughan Williams and Herbert Sumsion, and the allure of the sea...these twentieth-century composers take us away physically on the ocean, metaphysically in the journey of life, and even in aeroplanes.
Saturday July 11th 2026 at 7.30pm
Saffron Hall, Saffron Walden CB11 4UH. https://www.saffronhall.com
MENDELSSOHN – ELIJAH
With the British Sinfonietta and the renowned bass-baritone Edward Grint as Elijah
The Chorus will run coaches for this concert, details nearer the time. Concert tickets should be available shortly –bookings can only be made via Saffron Hall's box office either on the website, via 0845 548 7650 or via the Tourist Info Centre in Saffron Walden.
March Newsletter
Mon, 24 Mar 2025Printable version
Dear Supporter,
Our next concert is only a few weeks away on Saturday 26th April. We hope to see you at St John's Church, Epping CM16 5DN, 7.30pm, when Sarah Tenant-Flowers will conduct the Chorus, soloists and British Sinfonietta orchestra in Handel's mighty oratorio JUDAS MACCABAEUS.
Written in 1747, Judas Maccabaeus tells the story of an oppressed people's struggle and eventual triumphant liberation in music of high drama and glorious pageantry. Full of rousing choruses, ravishing duets and fiery arias this is Handel at his heroic best. It's most famous tune, 'See, the conqu'ring hero comes' was actually written for Handel's next oratorio, Joshua, but proved so popular that he added it to Judas in 1751 where it has remained ever since. Handel's audience could readily identify with the anxieties and triumphs of a 'chosen people' under the threat of rebellion at home and invasion from abroad (the Jacobite Rising had just been put down), as did the audiences for the next two centuries who made it second only to Messiah in popularity. It is also eerily resonant today.
Meanwhile, we said farewell to Edward Rhys-Harry after our Christmas concert since when our committee has been pondering the credentials of applicants for the post of Harlow Chorus Musical Director (Sarah is with us until our summer concert on 12th July). After interviews, four candidates have been invited to audition, at rehearsals tonight and next Monday, an hour each for choir members to experience their approach and also for the candidates to assess our level. Exciting times! We hope to announce the result by the beginning of April but it sounds as though it will be a very difficult decision as all four are excellent prospects.
Tickets for the Judas Maccabaeus experience are £15, under 18s £5, avaiable from our box office via email at tickets@harlowchorus.org.uk or phone 01277 362440; also online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/harlowchorus
With best wishes
Val Brockbank on behalf of Harlow Chorus
Our next concert is only a few weeks away on Saturday 26th April. We hope to see you at St John's Church, Epping CM16 5DN, 7.30pm, when Sarah Tenant-Flowers will conduct the Chorus, soloists and British Sinfonietta orchestra in Handel's mighty oratorio JUDAS MACCABAEUS.
Written in 1747, Judas Maccabaeus tells the story of an oppressed people's struggle and eventual triumphant liberation in music of high drama and glorious pageantry. Full of rousing choruses, ravishing duets and fiery arias this is Handel at his heroic best. It's most famous tune, 'See, the conqu'ring hero comes' was actually written for Handel's next oratorio, Joshua, but proved so popular that he added it to Judas in 1751 where it has remained ever since. Handel's audience could readily identify with the anxieties and triumphs of a 'chosen people' under the threat of rebellion at home and invasion from abroad (the Jacobite Rising had just been put down), as did the audiences for the next two centuries who made it second only to Messiah in popularity. It is also eerily resonant today.
Meanwhile, we said farewell to Edward Rhys-Harry after our Christmas concert since when our committee has been pondering the credentials of applicants for the post of Harlow Chorus Musical Director (Sarah is with us until our summer concert on 12th July). After interviews, four candidates have been invited to audition, at rehearsals tonight and next Monday, an hour each for choir members to experience their approach and also for the candidates to assess our level. Exciting times! We hope to announce the result by the beginning of April but it sounds as though it will be a very difficult decision as all four are excellent prospects.
Tickets for the Judas Maccabaeus experience are £15, under 18s £5, avaiable from our box office via email at tickets@harlowchorus.org.uk or phone 01277 362440; also online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/harlowchorus
With best wishes
Val Brockbank on behalf of Harlow Chorus
November Newsletter
Sun, 24 Nov 2024Printable version
Dear Supporter,
Despite sometimes wishing that time would slow down, Christmas is fast approaching and with it the date of our Christmas Concert on Saturday 14th December at St Stephen's Church, Harlow CM18 6QR. Please note the early start time of 6.00pm. There will be carols for both choir and audience so bring your voices while the Chorus will also sing some excerpts from Vivaldi's joyful Gloria. We are delighted to welcome back the legendary Henry Moore Primary School Choir who will no doubt, as always, steal the show. Tickets @£12, under 18s Free, are available online at www.ticket source.co.uk/harlowchorus and from our box office on 01277 362440 or email tickets@harlowchorus.org.uk
This, sadly, will be Dr Edward-Rhys Harry's last concert with us as he has just been appointed as Development Manager for the charity Military Wives Choirs, around 2000 singers in 70 choirs across the UK and internationally. We wish him well in this endeavour and thank him for his leadership over the last seven years, including steering us through those pandemic months when many choirs just folded. In January we welcome back Dr Sarah Tenant-Flowers who many of you will remember from her previous time as our Musical Director. Sarah's first concert with us will be Handel's wonderful dramatic oratorio Judas Maccabaeus on Saturday 26th April 2025.
Before that concert there will be another Chorus Quiz to help you beat the winter blues, on Friday 17th January, start time 7.00pm, at the St John's ARC OLd Harlow CM17 6QR. Tickets @£15 include a delicious 2-course supper and beer, wine and soft drinks will be available from the bar. Tables are for a maximum of eight people, or just come along, be introduced to other tables and make new friends. To book please contact Rosemary Davis at chair@harlowchorus.org.uk
With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year,
Val Brockbank on behalf of Harlow Chorus
October Newsletter
Mon, 7 Oct 2024Printable version
Dear Subscriber,
Its been a busy start to the new season with many of our singers taking part in a concert on 28th September to celebrate the life of our founder, Michael Kibblewhite, who sadly died last year. Six of the choirs he founded each sang some of his favourite repertoire and also came together for a rousing rendition of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus. Ely Cathedral was rocking as the audience was full of ex-choir members meeting each other for perhaps the first time in years.
Now, we are fully focussed on rehearsing three works for our autumn concert in St John's Church, Epping on Saturday 9th November, directed as ever by Edward-Rhys Harry. Vivaldi's joyous 'Gloria', composed in 1715, needs no introduction and is one of sacred music's most uplifting choral works. Vivaldi's fame contrasts with the neglect of Marianna Martines (1744-1812), one of 18th century Vienna's most prominent composers. Famous and lauded in her lifetime by musicians such as Mozart and Haydn, the acclaim died with her, but happily her music has been rediscovered in recent years. We will be singing Martines' 1774 setting of Psalm 109, 'Dixit Dominus', which she acknowledged was influenced by Handel's earlier setting. Full of rapid runs, melodic leaps, trills and melodic ornaments, reviews of this gorgeous piece are sprinkled with words like charming and delightful. William Mathias (1934-1992) was a Welsh composer who wrote much of his music for the Anglican choral tradition as well as several symphonies and piano concertos. He is quoted as saying "I wrote my most complicated music when I was about seventeen! Since then I've been cutting things out in order to try and get to the centre of what has to be said". His powerful 'Missa Brevis' from 1973 is a tour de force for the organ as much as a full-on choral piece. Our Accompanist, Aeron Preston, will enjoy putting St John's great instrument through its paces!
This is going to be an amazing concert (those of you who attended an extremely cold 'Messiah' in St John's last December will be relieved to hear that a new heating system is now up and running). Concert tickets @£15, under 18s £5, are available online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/harlowchorus and from our box office on 01277 362440 or email tickets@harlowchorus.org.uk
With best wishes
Val Brockbank on behalf of Harlow Chorus
Its been a busy start to the new season with many of our singers taking part in a concert on 28th September to celebrate the life of our founder, Michael Kibblewhite, who sadly died last year. Six of the choirs he founded each sang some of his favourite repertoire and also came together for a rousing rendition of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus. Ely Cathedral was rocking as the audience was full of ex-choir members meeting each other for perhaps the first time in years.
Now, we are fully focussed on rehearsing three works for our autumn concert in St John's Church, Epping on Saturday 9th November, directed as ever by Edward-Rhys Harry. Vivaldi's joyous 'Gloria', composed in 1715, needs no introduction and is one of sacred music's most uplifting choral works. Vivaldi's fame contrasts with the neglect of Marianna Martines (1744-1812), one of 18th century Vienna's most prominent composers. Famous and lauded in her lifetime by musicians such as Mozart and Haydn, the acclaim died with her, but happily her music has been rediscovered in recent years. We will be singing Martines' 1774 setting of Psalm 109, 'Dixit Dominus', which she acknowledged was influenced by Handel's earlier setting. Full of rapid runs, melodic leaps, trills and melodic ornaments, reviews of this gorgeous piece are sprinkled with words like charming and delightful. William Mathias (1934-1992) was a Welsh composer who wrote much of his music for the Anglican choral tradition as well as several symphonies and piano concertos. He is quoted as saying "I wrote my most complicated music when I was about seventeen! Since then I've been cutting things out in order to try and get to the centre of what has to be said". His powerful 'Missa Brevis' from 1973 is a tour de force for the organ as much as a full-on choral piece. Our Accompanist, Aeron Preston, will enjoy putting St John's great instrument through its paces!
This is going to be an amazing concert (those of you who attended an extremely cold 'Messiah' in St John's last December will be relieved to hear that a new heating system is now up and running). Concert tickets @£15, under 18s £5, are available online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/harlowchorus and from our box office on 01277 362440 or email tickets@harlowchorus.org.uk
With best wishes
Val Brockbank on behalf of Harlow Chorus
June 2024 Newsletter
Mon, 17 Jun 2024Printable version
Dear Supporter,
It's not long now until our summer concert, Theatre & Opera Nights, on Saturday 13th July, 7.30pm at St Miichael's Church, Bishop's Stortford CM23 2ND. After a hectic few weeks of the Euros, Wimbledon and a General Election why not come and relax listening to some of the greatest music ever written, both for musicals and for opera. We will variously man the barricades, journey through the circle of life, lament the blood spilt by two brothers, sing of love in Seville and yearn, as slaves in a foreigh land, for our beloved homeland. And, as summer seems to have finally arrived this June day, we'll also be bustin' out all over. There's much more but I think think that's enough for now! Tickets, £15, under 18s £5, are available online at www. ticketsource.co.uk/harlowchorus and from our box office on 01277 362440 or email tickets@harlowchorus.org.uk
Dates for our 2024/2025 season have now been set so here they are for your diaries: Saturday 9th November, Saturday 14th December, Saturday 26th April and Saturday 12th July. Details coming soon.
With best wishes
Val Brockbank on behalf of Harlow Chorus
It's not long now until our summer concert, Theatre & Opera Nights, on Saturday 13th July, 7.30pm at St Miichael's Church, Bishop's Stortford CM23 2ND. After a hectic few weeks of the Euros, Wimbledon and a General Election why not come and relax listening to some of the greatest music ever written, both for musicals and for opera. We will variously man the barricades, journey through the circle of life, lament the blood spilt by two brothers, sing of love in Seville and yearn, as slaves in a foreigh land, for our beloved homeland. And, as summer seems to have finally arrived this June day, we'll also be bustin' out all over. There's much more but I think think that's enough for now! Tickets, £15, under 18s £5, are available online at www. ticketsource.co.uk/harlowchorus and from our box office on 01277 362440 or email tickets@harlowchorus.org.uk
Dates for our 2024/2025 season have now been set so here they are for your diaries: Saturday 9th November, Saturday 14th December, Saturday 26th April and Saturday 12th July. Details coming soon.
With best wishes
Val Brockbank on behalf of Harlow Chorus
February 2024 Newsletter
Tue, 20 Feb 2024Printable version
Dear Supporter,
January 2024 saw Harlow Chorus beginning rehearsals for their spring concert on Saturday 13 April at St John's Church, Epping and, fittingly for the new year, are singing three works entirely new to the Chorus.
This is not to say that the main item is new – Ethel Smyth's majestic Mass in D was premiered in 1893 at the Royal Albert Hall but, just possibly because the composer was a woman, its second perfromance, in a revised form, wasn't until 1924 whereupon it enjoyed quite a revival. George Bernard Shaw remarked to the composer that 'It was your music that cured me for ever of the old delusion that women could not do man's work in art...Your Mass will stand up in the biggest company! Magnificent!' And indeed it is. Sadly, post WW2, the Mass was again forgotten until its American premiere in 1993 and then became known all over the world. It was recently performed at the 2022 BBC Proms. Ethel was one of England's foremost Victorian composers and the first female composer ever to be honoured with a Damehood. She was also a prominent Suffragette, credited with teaching Emmeline Pankhurst how to throw stones! And served two months in Holloway in the early 1920s.
The first half of the concert features two choral works. The Lord is My Light (Psalm 27) by David McGregor is heard for the first time tonight and is the winning entry in Harlow Chorus' Young Composer competiton 2022. Scored for mixed choir and strings, his piece is written with a quiet intensity, almost hypnotic in places. David has already won several awards and his music has been performed in cathedrals and concert halls across the UK. Paul Mealor's Shadows of War, intense, reflective yet uplifting, is a brief setting of the Mass liturgy and poetry by Grahame Davies written in 2016 to commemorate the Battle of the Somme, 1916-2016. Towards the end you may become aware of a strange sound effect as some members of the orchestra circle their fingers on the rims of tuned wine glasses. Paul Mealor is one of the most 'performed' living composers and has written music for some of the most important UK occasions including the Royal wedding and King Charles' coronation.
The Bishop's Stortford Sinfonia will accompany all these works and will also play a short orchestral piece, Holst's Green Brook Suite written in 1933 for the junior orchestra at St Paul's Girls School at Brook Green, Hammersmith.
We hope you can join us to enjoy this feast of music. Concert tickets @£15, under 18s £5, are available online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/harlowchorus and from our Box Office on 01277 362440 or email tickets@harlowchorus.org.uk
with best wishes
Val Brockbank on behalf of Harlow Chorus
November 2023 Newsletter
Fri, 17 Nov 2023Printable version
Dear All,
"Our M.D. Edward-Rhys Harry does like to introduce a bit of theatre into performances..." Those of you who came to our last concert in Waltham Abbey will now understand what this mysterious line in the last newsletter meant and, by all accounts, the "play" was well received. The choir was as much in the dark beforehand as the audience!
On Saturday 9th December in St John's Church, Epping, Harlow Chorus will deliver another dramatic performance, Handel's wonderful oratorio, Messiah, has drama and word painting woven all through it and Edward is making sure that, together with our four soloists and a full orchestra, we'll do it full justice. Please note that the concert begins at 7.00pm. Tickets @£15, under 18s £5, are available online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/harlowchorus and from our Box Office on 01277 362440 or email tickets@harlowchorus.org.uk but hurry, they are selling fast. Our spring 2024 concert is on Saturday 13 April, also in Epping, so put that date in your diaries.
There are a few tickets left for 0ur Quiz Night on Friday 24 November, 7.00 for 7.30pm at St John's ARC Old Harlow, Cost is £12 and includes savoury snacks and desserts, with soft drinks, beer and wine available from the bar. Tables can be for up to 8 people but individuals can make up numbers on existing tables. Please contact Rosemary Davis at rosemarydavis131@gmail.com or call 01279 419763. by next Wednesday.
With best wishes
Val Brockbank on behalf of Harlow Chorus
"Our M.D. Edward-Rhys Harry does like to introduce a bit of theatre into performances..." Those of you who came to our last concert in Waltham Abbey will now understand what this mysterious line in the last newsletter meant and, by all accounts, the "play" was well received. The choir was as much in the dark beforehand as the audience!
On Saturday 9th December in St John's Church, Epping, Harlow Chorus will deliver another dramatic performance, Handel's wonderful oratorio, Messiah, has drama and word painting woven all through it and Edward is making sure that, together with our four soloists and a full orchestra, we'll do it full justice. Please note that the concert begins at 7.00pm. Tickets @£15, under 18s £5, are available online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/harlowchorus and from our Box Office on 01277 362440 or email tickets@harlowchorus.org.uk but hurry, they are selling fast. Our spring 2024 concert is on Saturday 13 April, also in Epping, so put that date in your diaries.
There are a few tickets left for 0ur Quiz Night on Friday 24 November, 7.00 for 7.30pm at St John's ARC Old Harlow, Cost is £12 and includes savoury snacks and desserts, with soft drinks, beer and wine available from the bar. Tables can be for up to 8 people but individuals can make up numbers on existing tables. Please contact Rosemary Davis at rosemarydavis131@gmail.com or call 01279 419763. by next Wednesday.
With best wishes
Val Brockbank on behalf of Harlow Chorus
September 2023 Newsletter
Tue, 26 Sep 2023Printable version
Dear Supporter,
The Chorus is well into rehearsals for our forthcoming concert of French music 7.30pm on 14th October in Waltham Abbey Church EN9 1XQ. We are performing both the Fauré and Saint-Saëns Requiems together with Pauline Viardot's delightful song 'En Mer' and Fauré's equally delightful 'Cantique de Jean Racine'. The indefatigable Aeron Preston is accompanist for all this and will also treat us to Gaston Bélier's dazzling showpiece 'Toccata pour grand orgue in D minor'.
All the composers were contemporaries, part of a golden generation of French musicians heralding the modern era and Gabriele Fauré (1845-1924) was one of the most influential. Of the many settings of the Requiem his is probably the best loved, so peaceful and serene. That of Camille Saint-Saëns is more dramatic but just as tuneful, still devotional and entreating with soloists and chorus echoing each other in urgent supplication, while the organ is often used with striking effect. The italicised words are significant and a clue as to how you will experience the piece on the night. Our M.D. Edward-Rhys Harry does like to introduce a bit of theatre into performances...
Rehearsals for Handel's Messiah (December 9th in Epping) start straight after the Requiem concert and on Monday 23rd October we are holding an open rehearsal so if you, or friends and family want to come along to St John's ARC, Old Harlow CM17 0AJ, 7.00 for 7.30pm, we'd love to see you. Music will be provided or bring your own (Watkins-Shaw edition). Just drop a line to Peter at peter.sandell@hotmail.co.uk to let us know you are coming.
Our popular quiz night returns on Friday 24th November. More details on cost and how to book in the next letter but as ever it's tables of eight, 7.00 for 7.30pm at St John's ARC with a bar and refreshments.
Concert tickets @£15, under 18s £5, are available online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/harlowchorus and from our Box Office on 01277 362440 or email tickets@harlowchorus.org.uk
with best wishes
Val Brockbank on belhalf of Harlow Chorus
The Chorus is well into rehearsals for our forthcoming concert of French music 7.30pm on 14th October in Waltham Abbey Church EN9 1XQ. We are performing both the Fauré and Saint-Saëns Requiems together with Pauline Viardot's delightful song 'En Mer' and Fauré's equally delightful 'Cantique de Jean Racine'. The indefatigable Aeron Preston is accompanist for all this and will also treat us to Gaston Bélier's dazzling showpiece 'Toccata pour grand orgue in D minor'.
All the composers were contemporaries, part of a golden generation of French musicians heralding the modern era and Gabriele Fauré (1845-1924) was one of the most influential. Of the many settings of the Requiem his is probably the best loved, so peaceful and serene. That of Camille Saint-Saëns is more dramatic but just as tuneful, still devotional and entreating with soloists and chorus echoing each other in urgent supplication, while the organ is often used with striking effect. The italicised words are significant and a clue as to how you will experience the piece on the night. Our M.D. Edward-Rhys Harry does like to introduce a bit of theatre into performances...
Rehearsals for Handel's Messiah (December 9th in Epping) start straight after the Requiem concert and on Monday 23rd October we are holding an open rehearsal so if you, or friends and family want to come along to St John's ARC, Old Harlow CM17 0AJ, 7.00 for 7.30pm, we'd love to see you. Music will be provided or bring your own (Watkins-Shaw edition). Just drop a line to Peter at peter.sandell@hotmail.co.uk to let us know you are coming.
Our popular quiz night returns on Friday 24th November. More details on cost and how to book in the next letter but as ever it's tables of eight, 7.00 for 7.30pm at St John's ARC with a bar and refreshments.
Concert tickets @£15, under 18s £5, are available online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/harlowchorus and from our Box Office on 01277 362440 or email tickets@harlowchorus.org.uk
with best wishes
Val Brockbank on belhalf of Harlow Chorus
June 2023 Newsletter
Fri, 2 Jun 2023Printable version
Dear Supporter,
After the last of the bank holdays (which took out a good few of our Monday night rehearsals!), Harlow Chorus is about to enter the run-up to the season finale concert Crossing Continents, 7.30pm on Saturday 8th July at St Michael's Church, Bishop's Stortford. It's a wonderful mix of songs, both sacred and secular, by composers from the Baltic States and North America. Too many to mention them all but here's a flavour.
Estonia is represented by Arvo Pärt with his mesmerising The Deer's Cry and a lightning fast version of Bogoroditse Djevo, the Russian Orthodox prayer to the Morher of God. Should be 60 seconds from start to finish! From Latvia we bring you Rihards Dubra's lovely Ave Maria and pieces by Eriks Esenvalds including a double choir arrangement of Amazing Grace and and his delightful dreamy remembrance of childhood playmates Only in Sleep.
Two of the most performed choral composers working today, Morten Lauridsen and Eric Whitacre, open North America's contribution. Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium is already a favourite with choirs and audiences while Whitacre's Seal Lullaby imagining a mother seal singing to her pup is simply charming – you can almost see the kelp fronds gently swaying as they rest among them. This is the first accompanied song of the evening, but our organist and pianist Aeron Preston will soon be earning his keep as we swing into the syncopated rhthyms of 'I got plenty o' nuttin', Summertime and the like from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, and all the best Bond themes when we ladies get to turn into Shirley Bassey during Diamonds are Forever! Our M.D. Edward-Rhys Harry will conduct this veritable symphony of songs.
Tickets are £15, under 18s £5, availble online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/harlowchorus and from our Box office on 01277 362440 or email tickets@harlowchorus.org.uk
With best wishes
Val Brockbank on behalf of Harlow Chorus
After the last of the bank holdays (which took out a good few of our Monday night rehearsals!), Harlow Chorus is about to enter the run-up to the season finale concert Crossing Continents, 7.30pm on Saturday 8th July at St Michael's Church, Bishop's Stortford. It's a wonderful mix of songs, both sacred and secular, by composers from the Baltic States and North America. Too many to mention them all but here's a flavour.
Estonia is represented by Arvo Pärt with his mesmerising The Deer's Cry and a lightning fast version of Bogoroditse Djevo, the Russian Orthodox prayer to the Morher of God. Should be 60 seconds from start to finish! From Latvia we bring you Rihards Dubra's lovely Ave Maria and pieces by Eriks Esenvalds including a double choir arrangement of Amazing Grace and and his delightful dreamy remembrance of childhood playmates Only in Sleep.
Two of the most performed choral composers working today, Morten Lauridsen and Eric Whitacre, open North America's contribution. Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium is already a favourite with choirs and audiences while Whitacre's Seal Lullaby imagining a mother seal singing to her pup is simply charming – you can almost see the kelp fronds gently swaying as they rest among them. This is the first accompanied song of the evening, but our organist and pianist Aeron Preston will soon be earning his keep as we swing into the syncopated rhthyms of 'I got plenty o' nuttin', Summertime and the like from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, and all the best Bond themes when we ladies get to turn into Shirley Bassey during Diamonds are Forever! Our M.D. Edward-Rhys Harry will conduct this veritable symphony of songs.
Tickets are £15, under 18s £5, availble online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/harlowchorus and from our Box office on 01277 362440 or email tickets@harlowchorus.org.uk
With best wishes
Val Brockbank on behalf of Harlow Chorus
February 2023 Newsletter
Wed, 8 Feb 2023Printable version
Dear Supporter,
The Chorus is well into rehearsals for the next concert on Saturday 15th April, 7.30pm at Chingford Parish Church E4 7EN when we, four soloists and the British Sinfonietta will perform Mozart's mighty Requiem and Pergolesi's lighter but equally moving Stabat Mater. A third piece will be given its world premiere: The Nazarene composed by our Musical Director Edward-Rhys Harry, inspired by verses from from St John's gospel and a poem by Victorian writer/philosopher Constance Naden.
Both the Requiem and Stabat Mater were written by composers in the last weeks of their lives giving an added poignancy to the works. The powerful Mediaeval hymn Stabat Mater meditates on the suffering of Jesus' mother as she stood at the foot of the cross. Pergolesi was known for his comic operas and indeed one contemporary critic complained about his Stabat Mater's light operatic style, but the emotional melodic lines come straight from Pergolesi's operatic work and take the listener through darkness and grief to a final prayer of hope. The Requiem is so well known, as is the fact that it had to be completed after Mozart's death by his assistant Süssmayer, that it needs no introduction. Harlow Chorus has performed this magnificent work many times before but, such is the intensity coming from Edward in rehearsal, I feel that this time will be one of those experiences that shake you to your utter foundations.
The choir is also rehearsing music for a conductor's training day on 4th March in St John's, Epping. We will sing choruses from the Requiems by Brahms, Fauré and Mozart conducted by aspiring choral conductors who will receive tips on technique from Edward and our previous M.D. Sarah Tenant-Flowers. We have to forget all our own training and follow whatever the trainees transmit to us via their conducting. Should be fun! Details are on the website if you'd like to come and watch.
This Friday we are holding our first quiz since before covid (sorry, tables are already sold out) and, happily, new singers are appearing at almost every rehearsal so the choir is growing back to its pre-pandemic strength.
We hope to see you in April. No need to drive and find parking - the Chorus has again laid on a return coach picking up in Bishop's Stortford, Sawbridgeworth, Old Harlow and Epping. Email gill.chester@talktalk.net to book your place.
Concert tickets @£15, under 18s £5, are available from our box office tel. 01277 362440 or email tickets@harlowchorus.org.uk and also online at www. ticketsource.co.uk/harlowchorus
With best wishes
Val Brockbank
Harlow Chorus
www.harlowchorus.org.uk
