A BOROUGH choir will bring the sounds of the summer to Wokingham
Wokingham Choral Society’s seasonal concert is called A Song For Summer.
Directed by George de Voil, and accompanied by pianist Ben Giddens, with violinists Henry Chandler and Jacob Reina-Caro, the choir will perform songs of the British Isles.
Their programme will include favourite folk songs, partsongs and madrigals.
The audience can expect to hear pieces such as, A Sprig Of Thyme, by John Rutter, and violin solos by Elgar.
Chris Dunning from Wokingham Choral Society, said: “The theme of the concert is very much about English composers and particularly English madrigal and part songs.
“Madrigals are often sung a capella, and are secular pieces for four to six parts.
“We’ll be singing two well known examples, including Thomas Morley’s “Now is the Month of Mayling.
“Another piece, called Summer Is Acumen In, or Summer has Come, is a medieval English round from the 13th century, written in the Wessex dialect of Middle English.
“This manuscript was the first discovered example of a composition written with music notation.
“It was found in Reading Abbey, where it was probably written by one of the monks.
“It’s now in the British Library, but a copy of it in stone is displayed on the wall of the ruined chapter house in the abbey.”
The Wokingham choir has been performing in the borough for more than 70 years, and numbers more than 100 singers.
They perform two concerts featuring major works from the classical repertoire each year with professional soloists and orchestras.
They also run workshops, and perform a family Christmas concert, and a light summer concert.
“At this year’s summer concert we’ll also perform Echoes, written by Arthur Sullivan, (one half of Gilbert and Sullivan), which is written for four voices, and is unaccompanied.
“And no concert of English music would be complete without some works of Eward Elgar.
“We’ll be singing two of his part songs; The Snow, and Fly Singing Bird, the lyrics to which were written by his wife, and also author, Alice Elgar.
This will be followed by two well known and wonderful pieces for solo violin; Chanson de Matin, and Chanson de Nuit.
“Lastly, The Sprig of Thyme, by modern choral composer John Rutter offers a selection of 11 traditional songs of the British Isles.”
The event will take place at All Saints Church, Wokingham, on Saturday, June 15.
Doors open at 7.30pm, with tickets costing £15, or £5 for students and under 18s.
Tickets are available in Wokingham, from:
The Information Centre, Town Hall, Newbury Building Society, and Jay Design & Print.
They can also be ordered online, at: ticketsource.co.uk/wokingham-choral-society or by emailing: [email protected].
Tickets may also be purchased on the door, according to availability.
For information about the choir, visit: www.wokingham-choral-society.org.uk
