The concert opens evoking all the joy of an English high summer with three uplifting settings of Poems of Robert Bridges, by Gerald Finzi and Thou my love, art fair, is a beautifully elegant setting of a sixteenth-century English poem by William Baldwin, arranged by Bob Chilcott. In contrast, the choir will sing an Appalachian spiritual As I went down to the river to pray, in a modern setting by Phillip Lawson, made famous by the King's Singers and also With a lily in your hand is a wonderfully playful and energetic piece by American composer Eric Whitacre. The fun continues with more Bob Chilcott, three highly entertaining arrangements: Feller from Fortune is a traditional Newfoundland fishing song with a dizzying mix of vocal spaghetti! The Gift to be simple winds its way skilfully in and around outbursts of the tune ‘I danced in the morning’ and We Are, another King's Singers favourite, adds a refreshing, modern twist. At the heart of the programme are two modern classics: The Canticles of Light by Bob Chilcott and Lux Aeterna (eternal light) by Morten Lauridsen.

The Canticles of Light were commissioned in 2000 by Winchester Music Club and present a darker core to the evening as they explore the theme of light. It opens with tubular bells tolling the close of day, and this leads into the first two pieces that set ancient Latin hymns - prayers for protection and comfort through the darkness. The third and final piece sets a Latin morning prayer as the light grows once again into day. Bob Chilcott returns to Winchester in June to lead a Come & Sing workshop on this very piece with the Winchester Philharmonic Choir, and we hope that singers and Wintonians will enjoy the chance to hear the work, once again, in its entirety and with its full instrumental accompaniment. Morten Lauridsen is perhaps best known for his Christmas work O magnum mysterium, with its sumptuous harmonies and signature style. Lux Aeterna most definitely has Lauridsen’s fingerprints on it and rather neatly offers a celebration of eternal light that sits very well with this midsummer concert. The work is, in fact, a requiem, but not as we know it. It is in 5 movements with the central 3 set to non-liturgical words: Te Deum, O Nata Lux, and Veni, Sancte Spiritus. The music is described as tranquil, light-filled and approachable, exploring the universality of light. Text aside, the music could almost be interpreted as a modern journey around the cosmos reminiscent of Holst’s famous Planet Suite. It is most certainly a new American classic. Both of these main works will be accompanied by Southern Voices Consort, who will also perform two lighter works taken from Gerald Finzi’s delightful 5 Bagatelles for Clarinet and Strings: Forlana and Romance – Andante tranquillo.

Conductor: JAMAL SUTTON