Choral aficionados should take note of “Continuum”, a new choir, who gave their inaugural concert in London - appropriately for Twelfth Night, a programme of music for Epiphany.
Byrd - Sing joyfully
Sheppard - Reges Tharsis
Kirbye - Vox in Rama
Poulenc - Quatre Motets pour le temps de Noël
Warlock - Bethlehem Down
Leighton - The Christ Child
Howells - Here is the little door
Arr. Allain: Coventry Carol
Bax - This Worldes Joie
L’Estrange - Epiphany Carol
Miskinis - Angelis suis Deus
Cornelius - The Three Kings
Directed by Harry Guthrie (choral scholar, Trinity College Cambridge), “Continuum” is made up of 18 singers from Trinity, Queens' and King's Colleges in Cambridge, Merton College Oxford and alumni from Wells, Truro & Durham Cathedrals and music colleges.
It was an outstanding set of performances, the tonal and rhythmic security present throughout allowing the tricky Poulenc motets to come across brilliantly and accurately. I’d never heard them live before, ditto the Bax (a piece I’ve loved for ages from the King’s/Cleobury recording) - both revealed things I’d never heard before. The other English pieces (both 16th and 20th century) were pretty ideal listening for me, too.
Impressive début: worth watching out for future concerts.
Byrd - Sing joyfully
Sheppard - Reges Tharsis
Kirbye - Vox in Rama
Poulenc - Quatre Motets pour le temps de Noël
Warlock - Bethlehem Down
Leighton - The Christ Child
Howells - Here is the little door
Arr. Allain: Coventry Carol
Bax - This Worldes Joie
L’Estrange - Epiphany Carol
Miskinis - Angelis suis Deus
Cornelius - The Three Kings
Directed by Harry Guthrie (choral scholar, Trinity College Cambridge), “Continuum” is made up of 18 singers from Trinity, Queens' and King's Colleges in Cambridge, Merton College Oxford and alumni from Wells, Truro & Durham Cathedrals and music colleges.
It was an outstanding set of performances, the tonal and rhythmic security present throughout allowing the tricky Poulenc motets to come across brilliantly and accurately. I’d never heard them live before, ditto the Bax (a piece I’ve loved for ages from the King’s/Cleobury recording) - both revealed things I’d never heard before. The other English pieces (both 16th and 20th century) were pretty ideal listening for me, too.
Impressive début: worth watching out for future concerts.
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