Come and Sing/Play 2019

Come and Sing / Play Workshop

 ZELENKA: Missa Gratias agimus tibi

J.S. BACH: Ascension Oratorio BWV11 (first chorus)

with

Director: Richard Roddis

and

Instrumental Specialist: Nicolette Moonen

on

Saturday 19th January 2019

The Music

The 2019 Come and & Sing & Play explored music by Zelenka - referred to as Bach’s Catholic counterpart. His work is fresh and surprising, and his musical language is similar to Bach’s, especially in its richness of contrapuntal harmonies. However it also contains unexpected harmonic twists and chromatic movement. This mass is scored for four trumpets in addition to woodwind and strings and is full of varied musical ideas. It is known that Zelenka was held in high esteem by Bach. Just over half of Zelenka’s works have been recorded and he certainly deserves to be more widely known.

We also studied the first chorus of Bach’s  Ascension Oratorio, a work full of passionate spiritual yearning. The instrumentation is sumptuous and the opening chorus is bright and brilliant with dance-like features that enliven the texture.

Over the years the Sinfonia Chorale has developed its own distinctive sound based on technical accuracy and a high standard of performance of different styles of music.

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.

Instrumental specialist

Also in attendance was Instrumental specialist Nicolette Moonen, the renowned Baroque violinist who has performed with most of the country’s leading period instrument ensembles and has been increasingly in demand as a leader and teacher. She teaches at the Royal Academy of Music in London and is the Artistic Director of The Bach Players.

Venue for the 2019 Come and Sing/Play event :

St. Michael and All Angels Parish Church, Church Street, Bramcote, Nottingham, NG9 3HD.

The Sinfonia Chorale and Baroque Ensemble will be performing the works studied during the workshop in concert on Saturday 16th March at Beeston Parish Church, Nottingham.

Comments from the 2019 workshop:

“I just turned up and had a play! It’s good fun!”  Violinist

"Nicolette is an inspirational orchestral leader!
It’s a high light for string players due to the detailed information she gives out!”

"The level of complexity was selected, it’s an intermediate to advanced level.”

"I enjoyed the fact that there was no concert to work towards, so you can just play and relax.”

2020 Event

The 2020 Come and Sing event will take place on Saturday 18th January - venue still to be confirmed

We shall be looking at settings of O magnum mysterium through the ages.

Something a bit different (as usual!)

Either watch this space or subscribe to the Sinfonia eNewsletter  for further details.

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