On Saturday, March 2nd, Newbury choral singers The Cecilia Consort heralded the approach of Spring with their concert at St John’s Church, Newbury. The programme celebrated the work of three eminent English composers: Sir Charles Villiers Stanford (who, although born in Dublin, spent most of his life in England), Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry and John Rutter CBE.
2024 is the 100th anniversary of Stanford’s death and the choir marked the occasion by singing his joyful motet, Coelos ascendit hodie, the well-known Te Deum in B flat and his anthem The Lord is my Shepherd.
The choir performed all six of Parry’s ‘Songs of Farewell’. These were written during the First World War when a number of his pupils at the Royal College of Music were being killed or wounded in action. His choice of poignant texts reflect a yearning to escape the violence of war and to find peace in Heaven.
The highlight of the programme was Rutter’s Requiem which he completed in 1985, in memory of his father who had died the previous year. The work presents Rutter at his best, containing instantly memorable tunes but with some beautiful quiet sections. It also includes some wonderful cello solos and the choir were especially delighted to be joined by the accomplished and talented cellist, Charlotte Oates.
The Cecilia Consort, founded in 1990, is an auditioned chamber choir of some forty local singing enthusiasts - performing a minimum of two concerts a year, normally in March and November.
Review by Nigel Winter
8th March 2024 Newbury Weekly News
The 23rd psalm, perhaps the best-known words in the Bible, became the foundation of a moving and well attended concert by the excellent Cecilia Consort.
Photo by Sarah Sladen2024 marks the centenary of Charles Stanford’s death and it was with three of his pieces that the evening began: a bright and stirring declaration of faith in the Te Deum, the joyful Coelis Ascendit Hodie and finally his dramatic setting of that famous psalm. The energetic “but thy loving kindness” section led us at last, gentle step by gentle step, to its calm and peaceful conclusion.
Ernest Moeran’s Prelude for piano and cello, a thoughtful and sensitive performance by Charlotte Oates and Steve Bowey, opened with a suggestion that we may still be in the surroundings of green pastures, but by the time this piece was written two world wars had happened and a haunting sense of loss pervades.
“Uplifting and beautifully performed.” - Nigel Winter