Come and Sing 2020

Come and Sing Workshop

 Settings of O MAGNUM MYSTERIUM

including Palestrina & Lauridsen

with

Director: Richard Roddis
Organist: Michael Overbury

took place on

Saturday 18th January 2020

The Music

This was an opportunity to enjoy a wealth of splendid a cappella choral music, and judging by the pictures taken at the event - it certainly was!!

Many composers down the ages have seized on the text O magnum mysterium for all its expressive possibilities, focusing on the mystery of the Incarnation. This was our chance to sing six of the best settings in all their glorious sonorities.

Two settings were from the Renaissance period – real treasures of this golden age. By Spaniard, Tomas de Luis Victoria, a beautiful, simple setting in four parts. By contrast, Italian composer, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina’s setting is in six parts and characteristically flamboyant, particularly the Alleluia.

From the mid-20th century, Francis Poulenc’s setting is typically adventurous but extremely tender and expressive; interestingly, it omits the final Alleluia.

Three settings from the 1990s,

  • a firm favourite by American composer, Morten Lauridsen, with its heartfelt vocal sonorities.
  • a multi-faceted, lyrical and tuneful little gem from a less well-known Basque composer, Javier Busto
  • a magnificent 13 part setting by the Swiss composer Carl Rutti

Sinfonia Chorale Director

Director Richard Roddis is well known throughout the East Midlands for his work with choirs. His conducting experience stretches back more than a quarter of a century and, as a professional singer and a member of several top choirs, he brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to choral conducting. He was appointed Director of the Sinfonia Chorale in June 1991.

Venue for the 2020 Come and Sing event :

Christ Church, Chilwell, 6 College Road, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 4AS.

Concert O Magnum Mysterium - Saturday 14th March 2020

The Sinfonia Chorale performed in concert some of the works which were studied during the workshop on Saturday 14th March 2020 in St Barnabas Cathedral, Nottingham NG1 5AE. 

Comments from the 2020 Come & Sing workshop:

“As usual it was a very enjoyable occasion, the more so as we managed some quite challenging music under Richard's usual masterly direction. I sing in three choirs in Norwich with pretty good conductors but I'd forgotten just how good Richard is at this job.

"Please will you pass on to your splendid team my thanks for a most enjoyable day yesterday. I always enjoy your "Come and Sing" days, so well organised and friendly. I guess the music had something to do with it too so praise to those who chose the programme ....well done

"Just a quick line to say how much I enjoyed the workshop yesterday, with the many variations of O Magnum Mysterium. As always, I was made to feel most welcome, the singing was spine-tingling and Richard’s brief introduction to each piece’s composer was illuminating and helpful. The behind-the-scenes work by your members meant the day ran smoothly so please pass on my appreciation to everyone involved."

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