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…and all that Jazz [2007-05-19]

Subject:
'…and all that JAZZ'. Will Todd: Mass in Blue; Rutter: Gloria; Chilcott: A Little Jazz Mass
Classification:
Sub-classification:
Location:
Year:
2007
Date:
May 19th, 2007
Text content:

Bob Chilcott: A Little Jazz Mass

John Rutter: Gloria
Will Todd: Mass in Blue,
Three Anthems, A Jazz Set
Conductor: Jeremy Backhouse
Soprano: Bethany Halliday

The Will Todd Jazz Band

- Saturday

19th May 2007
7.30pm Guildford Cathedral
www.VivaceChorus.org
Vivace Chorus was formerly Guildford Philharmonic Choir

Registered Charity No 1026337

ANNA ARTHUR & ASSOCIATES
SOLICITORS

EVERY SUCCESS FOR THIS EVENING

FIERI FACIAS HOUSE, HIGH STREET
RIPLEY, SURREY GU23 6AF
TEL: 01483 222499 — FAX: 01483 222766

Vivace

Chorus

...and all that JAZZ
Bob Chilcott

A Little Jazz Mass

Will Todd

Lighting The Way

The Christ-child
Every Stone Shall Cry
John Rutter

Gloria

Will Todd

A Jazz Set
Mass in Blue

Bethany Halliday

Soprano

Will Todd

Piano

The Will Todd Trio
The Will Todd Jazz Band

conductor
Jeremy Backhouse

Vivace Chorus

PRE-CONCERT TALK
'Trying not to kill Jazz'

This will start at 6.30pm in the Chapter House of the Cathedral. The

speaker will be tonight's main composer and pianist Will Todd, who will
talk about retaining the spirit of jazz in his Mass in Blue.

Please note: Members of the audience who wish to attend can reserve

their seats for the concert beforehand, in the Cathedral. The talk should
finish at 7.10pm, allowing time to order refreshments etc.

Bob Chilcott is one of the most active
composers

and

choral

conductors

in

Britain today. He has been involved in

choral music most of his life - he was a
chorister in the choir of King's College,

Cambridge, and sang the Pie Jesu on
the renowned 1967 King's recording of
Fauré’s

Requiem,

conducted

by

Sir

David Willcocks. He returned to King's
as a Choral Scholar, and from 1985
sang tenor in The King’s Singers for 12
years,

until his departure in 1997 to
focus on composing. Bob has been a full
time composer ever since, and has
poured
his
energy
into
choral
composition, conducting and promoting choral singing throughout the
world. He is passionately committed to the belief that music can unite
people worldwide. He is well-known for his compositions for children’s
choir, and is equally active as a composer of mixed-voice music. He has
been the commissioned composer for recent festivals for the Alliance for
Arts and Understanding, promoting singing for boys' and men’s voices.

As a conductor Bob has worked extensively with choirs and festivals
throughout the world. For 7 years he was conductor of the Chorus at the

4

Vivace Chorus

Royal College of Music, and is Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC
Singers, with whom he works regularly in studio recordings and concerts.
He has also guest conducted the RIAS Kammerchor in Berlin, and the

Elmer Iseler Singers in Toronto.
He has twice been featured conductor for the youth project at Festival

500 in Newfoundland, and has conducted at festivals throughout Canada
and the United States; in 2003 he was the first non-American to conduct
a National Honor Choir for the American Choral Directors Association, in

New York City.
He

has

been

a featured

conductor for Europa

Cantat in

Sweden,

Germany and Belgium, also for the Japan Choral Association, and in

2004 was the first foreign conductor to conduct at the Song Festival in
Tallinn, Estonia. In 2005 he conducted for the first time at the Dartington
International Music Festival.

A Little Jazz Mass
A Little Jazz Mass (it lasts only 12 minutes) is a highly original and

effective setting of the Latin Missa Brevis, for chorus, piano and optional
bass and drum kit. The five movements embrace a variety of jazz styles.
It was originally written for upper voices (SSA) and was first performed at
the 2004 Crescent City Festival in New Orleans by the New Orleans
Children’s Chorus. It has since been arranged for mixed voices (SATB).

1. Kyrie
Kyrie eleison.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christe eleison.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Kyrie eleison.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

2. Gloria
Gloria in excelsis Deo,

Glory be to God on high,

et in terra pax hominibus

and on earth peace

bonae voluntatis.

to men of goodwill.

Laudamus te, benedicimus te,

We praise Thee, we bless Thee,

adoramus te, glorificamus te,

we worship Thee,

gratias agimus tibi

we give thanks to Thee

propter magnam gloriam tua.

for Thy great glory.

Vivace Chorus

5

Dominus Deus, Rex coelestis,
Deus Pater omnipotens.
Domine Fili unigenite,
Jesu Christe.

Dominus Deus, Agnus Dei,
Filius Patris,

Qui tollis peccata mundi,
miserere nobis.

Qui tollis peccata mundi,
suscipe deprecationem nostram.

Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris,
miserere nobis.

Quoniam tu solus sanctus.
Tu solus Dominus.

Tu solus altissimus,
Jesu Christe,

Cum sancto Spiritu,
in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.

O Lord God, heavenly King,
God The Father Almighty.
O Lord the only begotten Son,
Jesus Christ.
O Lord, Lamb of God,
Son of the Father,
That takest away the sins of the
world, have mercy upon us.

Thou that takest away the sins of the
world, receive our prayer.

Thou that sittest at the right hand of
the Father, have mercy upon us.

For Thou only art holy.
Thou only art the Lord.
Thou only, O Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
art most high

in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

3. Sanctus

Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus,
Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua.
Hosanna in excelsis.
4. Benedictus

Benedictus qui venit
in nomine Domini.

Hosanna in excelsis.

5. Agnus Dei

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,

Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God of Hosts.

Heaven and Earth are full of Thy
glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who cometh
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Lamb of God, that takest away the

miserere nobis.

sins of the world, have mercy upon

dona nobis pacem.

sins of the world, grant us peace.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,

us. Lamb of God, that takest away the

Vivace Chorus

Will Todd (born 1970)

LR

»

Will Todd has been playing the piano since
he was three and composing works since
he was seven years old. His output includes
opera,

musicals,

religious

works,

performed

oratorio,

and

orchestral

his

work

has

throughout the

UK,

in

and

been

Europe

and in the USA.

Notable

works

include

the

opera

The

Blackened Man, which won second prize in
the

2002

International

Verdi

Opera

Competition, and was subsequently staged
at the 2004 Buxton Festival; the oratorio
Saint Cuthbert which has been performed
many

photo
© Fritz Curzon
of Kitty Genovese,
Theater

Festival,

times

and

recorded

by

the

Hallé

Orchestra; music theatre work The Screams
produced

and

the

most recently at the New York Music

cantata

The

Burning

Road — written

to

celebrate the 60" anniversary of the Jarrow March. His jazz mass

setting, Mass in Blue has been performed more than twenty times since
its 2003 premiere, as well featuring on two commercial recordings — most
recently by the Vasari Singers for Signum Records.

Recent performances include Among Angels — commissioned by the
Genesis

Foundation

and

premiered

by The

Sixteen

in

Salzburg

in

March 2006; Whirlwind — a major new opera for Streetwise Opera,
premiered recently at The Sage Gateshead; and Sweetness and
Badness — an opera for Welsh National Opera's WNO MAX project,
which is touring schools and theatres in Wales and England this autumn.

He is currently working on a new music theatre work with the Royal
Opera House's ROH2 programme, which complements the repertoire on

the

main

stage,

and writing

a

clarinet concerto for the

acclaimed

clarinettist Emma Johnson.

Lighting The Way (a song for pilgrims)
Written for the 'Lighting the Way' Festival in Durham Cathedral in 2000,

this song was sung by thousands of North East school children as part of
their visits to the Cathedral over the course of several weeks. It was
written with the intention of being easy to pick up, and this has made it a
popular worship song, beyond the context of the original commission.

Composer's notes © Will Todd 2006

Vivace Chorus

7

In the stars | see you;
In a flower, you're there;
In a song | hear you,

You are everywhere;
You are the light that starts the day
And with you I'm lighting the way.

When I'm lost you find me;
When [ cry you hear;

When | fall you bind me
And you calm my fear;
You are the path | take each day
And with you I'm finding my way.
In a lighted candle;

In a window fair;
In an ancient building;

You are everywhere;
You are the beacon of each day
And for you I'm lighting the way.
In a friend | touch you;
In a smile you're there;
In a prayer you're near me;
You are everywhere;

Help me to follow you each day
For with you I'm lighting the way.
Will Todd

The Christ-child
A work written (in 1997) for St Oswald's Church Choir where | sang
initially as a treble and where | continued to sing well into my 20s. It was
this experience that cemented my life-long love of choral music and
these beautiful G K Chesterton words seem to cry out for soft, heartfelt
harmonies. The piano part provides the simple chordal harmonies over
which the voices weave their lines. [WT]
The Christ-child lay on Mary's lap,
His hair was like a light.
0 weary, weary were the world,
But here is all aright.

Vivace Chorus

The Christ-child lay on Mary's heart,

His hair was like a fire.
0 weary, weary is the world,

But here the world'’s desire.
The Christ-child stood at Mary's knee,
His hair was like a crown.

And all the flowers looked up at Him,
And all the stars looked down.
G K Chesterton

Every Stone Shall Cry
| came across this poem in an anthology of Christmas writing and was
immediately struck by its rhythmic energy and brightness. The setting is
an MBA song form and the jazzy block chords and added 9ths harmony

reflect the joy of the Christmas message. The syncopated choir rhythms
also make the text bounce along. [WT]
A stable lamp is lighted
Whose glow shall wake the sky;

The stars shall bend their voices
And every stone shall cry.
And every stone shall cry,

And straw like gold will shine;
A barn shall harbour heaven
And an oxen stall become a shrine.

This child through David's city
Shall ride in triumph by.
The palm shall strew its branches
And every stone shall cry.
And every stone shall cry,

Though heavy, dull and dumb,
And lie within the roadway
To pave His kingdom come.

Yet He shall be forsaken
And yielded up to die.
The sky shall groan and darken
And every stone shall cry.

And every stone shall cry,
For stony hearts of men;

Vivace Chorus

9

God's blood upon the spearhead,

God's love refused again.
But now as at the ending
The low is lifted high.
The stars shall bend their voices
And every stone shall cry.

And every stone shall cry,

In praises for the child
By whose descent among us

The world was reconciled.
Amen.
Richard Wilbur
Reprinted by kind permission of Harcourt

John Rutter (born 1945)
John

Rutter

received

his

was

born

first

musical

in

London

and

education

as

a

chorister at Highgate School. He went on to
study music at Clare College, Cambridge.
His

compositions

small-scale

choral

include
works,

both

large-

and

orchestral

and

instrumental music, and specialist writing for
such

groups

as

the

Philip

Jones

Brass

Ensemble and the King's Singers. He has coedited various choral anthologies, including

four Carols for Choirs volumes with Sir David
Willcocks

and,

more

recently,

the

Oxford

Choral Classics series.

From 1975 to 1979 he was Director of Music at Clare College, and after
giving up this position to allow more time for composition, in 1981 he

formed his own choir, the Cambridge Singers, as a professional chamber
choir primarily dedicated to recording.

In 1984 Rutter formed his own record label, Collegium, to bring choral
music to a wider audience through performances of the highest possible
quality. Collegium has achieved great success and wide acclaim over the
years. In addition to showcasing Rutter's own work with the Cambridge
Singers, Collegium CDs feature a wealth of traditional and sacred music.

10

Vivace Chorus

Rutter now divides his time between composition and conducting, and
has guest-conducted or lectured at many concert halls, universities,
churches, music festivals and conferences in Europe, Scandinavia and

North America. He is an honorary Fellow of Westminster Choir College,
Princeton, a Fellow of the Guild of Church Musicians, and in 1996 the
Archbishop of Canterbury conferred a Lambeth Doctorate of Music upon
him in recognition of his contribution to church music. John Rutter has
been described as "the most successful and well-known composer of

choral music in recent British history" (BBC Music Magazine).

Gloria
This work, for mixed voices and small orchestral group, including brass
and percussion, was commissioned by the Voices of Mel Olson and first
performed on 5 May 1974 in Omaha, USA, under the direction of the
composer. It is in three movements.

The introduction consists of drum rolls and spiky fanfares followed by a
joyful outpouring of song which ends on a triumphant note. The second
movement is mystical and reminiscent of Holst, building to a climax and
then receding. The third movement is again in rhythmic mode, with an
off-beat fugue until the Amens, when with brass fanfares, the work

concludes much like the ending of the first movement, with joyous,
ringing high B flats.

Gloria in excelsis Deo,

Glory be to God on high,

et in terra pax

and on earth peace

hominibus bonae voluntatis.

to men of goodwiill.

Laudamus te, benedicimus te,

We praise Thee, we bless Thee,

adoramus te, glorificamus te,

we worship Thee,

gratias agimus tibi

we give thanks to Thee

propter magnam gloriam tuam.

for Thy great glory.

Dominus Deus, Rex coelestis,

O Lord God, heavenly King,

Deus Pater omnipotens.

God The Father Almighty.

Domine Fili unigenite,

O Lord the only begotten Son,

Jesu Christe.

Jesus Christ.

Dominus Deus, Agnus Dei,

O Lord, Lamb of God,

Filius Patris,

Son of the Father,

Qui tollis peccata mundi,

That takest away the sins of the

miserere nobis.

world, have mercy upon us.

Vivace Chorus

11

Qui tollis peccata mundi,

Thou that takest away the sins of the

suscipe deprecationem nostram.

world, receive our prayer.

Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris,

Thou that sittest at the right hand of

miserere nobis.

the Father, have mercy upon us.

Quoniam tu solus sanctus.

For Thou only art holy.

Tu solus Dominus.

Thou only art the Lord.

Tu solus altissimus,

Thou only, O Jesus Christ,

Jesu Christe,

with the Holy Spirit,

Cum sancto Spiritu,

art most high

in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.

in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

~INTERVAL ~

A Jazz Set - The Will Todd Trio
Personent Hodie (arr. Will Todd Trio): melody from Piae Cantiones 1582
Mary’s Lullabye (Rutter arr. Will Todd Trio)
Give me Oil in my Lamp (traditional arr. Will Todd Trio)

WT writes of tonight's trio numbers: “These are wonderful melodies
which | grew up singing, and they feel highly appropriate in the context of
tonight’s other religious music. It's not often you hear a jazz trio playing
hymn tunes, but there is a great tradition of jazz taking older melodies
and breathing a new feeling into them. Enjoy.”

Mass in Blue (Jazz Mass) op 28
Written in 2003 in response to a commission by Hertfordshire Chorus

and originally premiered under the title Jazz Mass, Will Todd's Mass in

Blue is a brilliant blend of driving jazz grooves and clear, strong, choral
writing against which the solo piano and solo soprano voice weave and
blend in a delightful aural tapestry. The work reflects not only the
composer's love of jazz music and his admiration of jazz performers, but
also his own experience as an improviser. It also allows Todd to make
use of his extensive choral skills which he deploys so effectively in works
such as the oratorios The Burning Road and Saint Cuthbert or the
chorus writing of his opera The Blackened Man. It is a confident work by
a composer who understands and responds to the jazz idiom, making

12

Vivace Chorus

free use of the 12-bar blues sequence (which has been fundamental in
the development of jazz music) as well as more complex harmonic
processes.

The Kyrie opens with an energetic cadenza for the trio section which

builds into the first set tempo of the work. Over this the first vocal entry is
heard, a bluesy theme reminiscent of negro spirituals and therefore apt
for the Kyrie eleison text. Gradually other lines join the initial melody until
the full choir is singing. On a move to the subdominant (B flat) the choir
ecstatically bursts forth with Christe eleison and as this music subsides

we hear the soprano enter on a soulful melody with a strong improvised
feel, which builds over the return of the original key of F minor. The
music

of

the

opening

Kyrie

eleison

is

repeated

with

the

soloist

interwoven around the vocal lines in a virtuosic display. The movement
slows and closes on a thrilling F rninor-11 chord.
The Gloria is set up with a fanfare from the brass which punctuates the
whole movement. From the moment the choir enters there is an uplifting

rhythmic drive to this setting with the full brass section adding a
distinctive colour. In the central section of the Gloria a pulsating 5/8 time
is set up which gradually builds until a recapitulation of the opening
material brings the movement to a close.

The Credo features the soprano in a colourful 12-bar blues in 12/8 time.
There is a strong gospel feel with the choir repeating lines from the

soloist and humming soft backing harmony. Again in three sections, the

first blues part gives way to a more sombre section at the Crucifixus, and
after Et sepultus est a piano solo leads the band into a blazing depiction
of the moment of resurrection. The Et resurrexit is set with a scorching
up-tempo

swing

which

eventually

cuts

back

into

the

12/8

as

the

movement builds to a thrilling climax.
Like the Gloria, the Sanctus is set for the choir and band without the
soloist. It is a beautiful, slow ballad set up initially on the piano in which

the

woodwind

players

are

featured,

especially

soprano

sax.

The

movement provides a welcome period of tranquillity and reflection after
the sheer energy of the previous three movements.

The Benedictus begins with solo double bass over which the choir sings
a theme which builds up from the basses through the rest of the voices.
This music is gradually invaded by a new, more driving beat and the solo
voice

begins to weave

Vivace Chorus

into

the texture once

again.

This

funky riff

13

gradually takes over and the music emerges into a powerful Hosanna
section with punching brass and a jubilant choral sound.
The Agnus Dei grows out of the dying echoes of the Hosanna with a
haunting soprano ballad accompanied by piano. In the stirring maestoso

which follows, we hear the main themes of the work on high trumpet
fanfares and strong trombone chords. Once again the strong 12-bar

blues harmony underpins the texture. A huge climactic entry from the
choir subsides into a gentle A minor section in which intricate choral lines

are woven over a simple, repeated chordal structure. After another big
build this time with the chorus featured, the music returns to the opening
ballad theme, the soprano now accompanied by soft choir and brass.

This is a substantial movement and is more than beautiful: it is painful,
plaintive, a cry for mercy and a prayer for peace. Traditionally the mass
would end here, but in another dramatic masterstroke Will Todd leaves
the altos hanging on a soft E after the last chord of the Agnus Dei. The
air of expectation grows as the sopranos softly recapitulate the Credo

theme. Gradually the music builds with the soloist entering and then the
tenors and basses. Suddenly the driving 12/8 beat of the Credo is forcing
the music forward as the choir sing Et expecto resurrectionem and the

music comes back to the key in which the work began, F minor. The
emphatic

final

chords

of the work

leave the

listener not

in

quiet

contemplation but jerked forward into praise and belief. Credo! Amen!
Notes © Ralph Woodward 2003

1. Kyrie

Kyrie eleison.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christe eleison.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Kyrie eleison.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

2. Gloria

Gloria in excelsis Deo,

Glory be to God on high,

et in terra pax hominibus
bonae voluntatis.

and on earth peace
to men of goodwill.

Laudamus te, benedicimus te,

We praise Thee, we bless Thee,

adoramus te, glorificamus te,
gratias agimus tibi

we worship Thee,
we give thanks to Thee

propter magnam gloriam tua.

for Thy great glory.

14

Vivace Chorus

t

Dominus Deus, Rex coelestis,

O Lord God, heavenly King,

Deus Pater omnipotens.

God The Father Almighty.

Domine Fili unigenite,

O Lord the only begotten Son,

Jesu Christe.

Jesus Christ.

Dominus Deus, Agnus Dei,

O Lord, Lamb of God,

Filius Patris,

Son of the Father,

Qui tollis peccata mundi,

That takest away the sins of the

miserere nobis.

world, have mercy upon us.

Qui tollis peccata mundi,

Thou that takest away the sins of the

suscipe deprecationem nostram.

world, receive our prayer.

Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris,

Thou that sittest at the right hand of

miserere nobis.

the Father, have mercy upon us.

Quoniam tu solus sanctus.

For Thou only art holy.

Tu solus Dominus.

Thou only art the Lord.

Tu solus altissimus,

Thou only, O Jesus Christ,

Jesu Christe,

with the Holy Spirit,

Cum sancto Spiritu,

art most high

in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.

in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

3. Credo

Credo in unum Deum

| believe in one God,

Patrem omnipotentem

the Father almighty,

factorem caeli et terrae,

maker of heaven and earth,

visibilium omnium et invisibilium.

and of all things visible and invisible.

Et in unum Dominum Jesum

And in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum,

Only begotten Son of God,

Et ex Patre natum ante omnia

Begotten of his Father before all

saecula. Deum de Deo,

worlds. God of God,

lumen de lumine,

light of light,

Deum verum de Deo vero.

Very God of very God.

Genitum, non factum,

Begotten, not made, being of one

consubstantialem Patri:

substance with the Father: by whom

per quem omnia facta sunt.

all things were made.

Qui propter nos homines

Who for us men

et propter nostram salutem

and for our salvation

descendit de caelis.

came down from heaven.

Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto

And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost

ex Maria Virgine:

of the Virgin Mary:

et homo factus est.

and was made man.

Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub

And was crucified also for us under

Pontio Pilato:

Pontius Pilate:

passus, et sepultus est.

suffered, and was buried.

Vivace Chorus

15

Bet hany Halliday with the Will Todd Trio

THE WILL TODD TRIO
Piano:

Will Todd

Bass:

Gareth Huw Davies

Percussion:

Jim Fleeman

THE WILL TODD JAZZ BAND
Saxophon es:

Richard Exall, Paul Fawcus

Baritone saxophone:

Chris Caldwell

Trumpets:

John Blackshaw, Lance Kelly,
Peter Medland, Jonathon Reed

18

Trombones:

Tracey Holloway, Robert Price

Bass trombone:

Rob Burgess

Tuba:

David Powell

Timpani:

Chris Kimber

Organ:

Andrew Earis

Vivace Chorus

Jeremy Backhouse

Photography by Sim Canetty-Clarke

===

Jeremy Backhouse began his musical career in Canterbury Cathedral,
where he was Head Chorister,
University.

and later studied music at Liverpool

He spent 5 years as Music Editor at the Royal

National

Institute for the Blind, where he was responsible for the transcription of
print music into Braille. In 1986 he joined EMI Records as a Literary

Editor and from April 1990 he combined work as a Consultant Editor for
EMI Classics with a career as a freelance conductor. In November 2004,
he took the post of Music Editor at Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers.
In

January

1995,

Jeremy

was

appointed

Chorus

Master

and

subsequently Music Director of the Guildford Philharmonic Choir (now
Vivace Chorus). Major works performed in Guildford Cathedral include
Mahler's Symphony No. 2 and Symphony No. 8, Prokofiev's Alexander
Nevsky, Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius, Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man

and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 2 (Lobgesang).
Jeremy is also the conductor of the Vasari Singers, widely acknowledged

as one of the finest chamber choirs in the country, performing choral
music from the Renaissance right up to contemporary commissions. In
2005, the choir and Jeremy celebrated their 25th anniversary together.

Jeremy has also worked with a number of the leading choirs in the
country,

including

the

Philharmonia

Chorus

(preparing

for Sir

Colin

Davis), the London Choral Society (for Ronald Corp) and the Brighton
Festival Chorus (for Carl Davies). From September 1998 to the end of
2004, Jeremy was the Music Director of the Wooburn Singers, only the
third

conductor

in

the

distinguished

history

of

the

choir,

following

Sir Richard Hickox (who founded the choir in 1967) and most recently,

Stephen Jackson.

Vivace Chorus

19

Vivace Chorus (formerly the Guildford Philharmonic Choir)
The

Guildford

Guildford

in

Philharmonic Choir was

founded

by the

Borough

of

1947 to perform major choral works with the Guildford

Philharmonic Orchestra. Since this

time,

under the

batons of such

eminent British musicians as Sir Charles Groves, Vernon Handley and its
current President, Sir David Willcocks, the Choir has grown both in
stature and reputation to become one of the foremost choruses in the
country.

For some time, the Choir had

been

independent from the

Borough of Guildford, and to reflect its independent status, decided to

'rebrand’ itself, changing its name to Vivace Chorus in May 2005.
Vivace

Chorus

enjoys

a

challenging

and

varied

concert

repertoire,

performing works spanning the last five centuries — some well-known,
but also many rarities deserving to be heard by a wider audience. By

way

of demonstration:

the

2004/05

season

began

with

a

glowing

performance of Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius, followed by the unusual
and

much-appreciated

[talian

Inspirations

non-operatic

works

by

famous composers of Italian opera. This was followed by the first in our
Contemporary Choral

Classics

Cycle,

a

projected

4-year innovative

series of choral works from the late 20th and 21st century — classics of

the future paired with established masterpieces. The chosen pairing was
Vaughan Williams’ Dona nobis pacem (1936) and Karl Jenkins’

The

Armed Man (2000). During the summer break, we were invited to sing a
‘Last Night of the Proms' charity concert for the children's hospice
CHASE at a packed Fairfield Halls, Croydon. This was a big success as
well as great fun, so we were delighted to be invited back to sing operatic
highlights at the 2006 concert — and we've been asked again this year!
The 2005/6 season began with Mendelssohn’s epic choral Symphony
No. 2 (Lobgesang) — a work rarely heard in the UK. By contrast, our next
concert was

devoted

to

Bach

and

Handel.

In

addition

to

Brahms'

Schicksalslied and Bruckner's Te Deum, our first concert of the 2006/7
season included three delightful choral works by Hugo Wolf, virtually
unknown repertoire in the UK. Our last concert, The Music Makers, was
devoted entirely to English works, by Elgar, Parry and Vaughan Williams.

Vivace Chorus is always searching for new members to maintain its high
standard. For further details about joining, please contact Jane Sweaney,
membership@vivacechorus.org.

Rehearsals

evenings

in

throughout term

time

central

are

held

Guildford

on

and

Monday

prospective

members are most welcome to attend rehearsals on an informal basis
before committing to an audition. For more information, see our website
at www.vivacechorus.org.
20

Vivace Chorus

Vivace Chorus
FIRST SOPRANOS

FIRST ALTOS

Joanna Andrews

Penny Baxter

Bob Cowell

Noreen Ayton

Monika Boothby

Tim Hardyment

FIRST TENORS

Helen Beevers

Jane Brooks

Chris Robinson

Mary Broughton

Jane Crane

John Trigg

Miranda Champion

Liz Durning

Elaine Chapman

Celia Embleton

SECOND TENORS

Rachel Edmondson

Ingrid Hardiman

John Bawden

Mo Kfouri

Kay McManus

Bob Bromham

Lorna Mann

Christine Medlow

Tony Chantler

Hilary Minor

Rosalind Milton

lan Landsborough

Susan Norton

Mary Moon

Stephen Linton

Robin Onslow

Penny Muray

Rachel Owen

Jacqueline Norman

FIRST BASSES

Sarah Palmer

Penny Overton

John Britten

Margaret Parry

Marjory Rollo

Michael Golden

Margaret Perkins

Isobel Rooth

Keith Hester

Emma Purvis

Lesley Scordellis

Chris Newbery

Gillian Rix

Catherine Shacklady

Chris Peters

Judy Smith

Hilary Trigg

Robin Privett

Carol Terry

Pamela Woodroffe

David Ross

SECOND ALTOS

Kieron Walsh

Nikki Vale
Frances Worpe

Philip Stanford
Valerie Adam

SECOND SOPRANOS

Marion Arbuckle

SECOND BASSES

Jacqueline Alderton

Sally Bailey

Peter Andrews

Anna Arthur

Evelyn Beastall

Roger Barrett

Josephine Field

Mary Clayton

Alan Batterbury

Mandy Freeman

Andrea Dombrowe

Norman Carpenter

Jane Kenney

Valerie Edwards

Geoffrey Forster

Judith Lewy

Valerie Garrow

James Garrow

Krystyna Marsden

Barbara Hilder

Michael Jeffery

Catherine McAulay

Sheila Hodson

Neil Martin

Lois McCabe

Yvonne Hungerford

Maxwell New

Alison Newbery

Brenda Moore

Michael Taylor

Alison Palmer

Beryl Northam

Lucy Percy

Prue Smith

Kate Peters

Rosey Storey

Rosalind Plowright

Elisabeth Yates

Susannah Priede
Vivien Rieden

Ann Sheppard
Maggie Smith
Kathy Stickland
Paula Sutton
Christine Wilks

Vivace Chorus

21

Choir Functionaries
Jeremy Backhouse

Chorus Director

Jeremy Filsell

Accompanist

The Committee

John Trigg

Chairman
email: chairman@yvivacechorus.org

Bob Cowell

Hon. Treasurer
email: treasurer@vivacechorus.org

Hon. Secretary
email: secretary@yvivacechorus.org
Jane Sweaney

Membership Secretary
email: membership@vivacechorus.org

Jackie Alderton

Ladies’ uniforms
Mailings Coordinator

Tel. 01932 343625

email: mailing@vivacechorus.org
Rosey Storey
Hilary Trigg

Minutes Secretary
Publicity

email: publicity@vivacechorus.org
Michael Taylor

Ticket Sales

Tel. 07958 519741

email: tickets@vivacechorus.org
Noreen Ayton

Methodist Church liaison

James Garrow

Fund-raising/Social events

Miranda Champion

Other responsibilities
Christine Medlow
Helen Beevers

Music Librarian

Patrons Liaison
email: patrons@vivacechorus.org

Chris Peters

Website coordinator

Chris Alderton

Front of House

Brenda Moore

Programme notes, soloists’ liaison & advertising

22

Vivace Chorus

Patrons and Friends of
Vivace Chorus
Vivace Chorus is extremely grateful to all Patrons and Friends

for their financial support.

Patrons

Dr. J.B.R. Arbuckle

Golden and Associates

Dr. Roger Barrett

Mr. Peter Herbert

Mrs. E.A. Batterbury

Mrs. Carol Hobbs

Mrs. Elizabeth-Claire Bazin

Mr. Laurie James

Mr. Bill Bellerby MBE

Mrs. M. van Koetsveld

Mrs. Doreen Bellerby MBE

Mrs. Christine Medlow

Mr. & Mrs. Peter Bennett

Mr. Ron Medlow

Mr. G.S. Blacker

Dr. Roger Muray

Mrs. J. G. Blacker

Mr. & Mrs. Maxwell S. New

-Mr. & Mrs. R.H.R. Broughton

Mr. & Mrs. John Parry

Mr. H.J.C. Browne

Mrs. Jean Radley

Mrs. Maryel Cowell

Mr. & Mrs. B. Reed

Mr. & Mrs. Philip Davies

Mr. Michael Shortland

Mr. Michael Dawe

Dr. & Mrs. M.G.M. Smith

Mrs. Margaret Dentskevich

Miss Enid Weston

Mr. & Mrs. G. Dombrowe

Friends
Mrs. K.C. Stickland

As a Patron and in return for donating £25 or more per annum, you will

be kept informed of future concerts and given priority booking at our own
concerts. You may book an unlimited number of reserved seats at the

Cathedral where the concert is sponsored by Vivace Chorus.

New Patrons and Friends are always welcome. If you are interested in

participating,

please contact Helen
email: patrons@yvivacechorus.org

Vivace Chorus

Beevers,

Tel.

01252

313963,

29

or

Overheard outside St Martin-in-the-Fields on
25 January

2007

[after

our

performance

of

Mozart's Reguiem):

Audience member [as it transpired, one of a group

of visitors from Chile]: "Were you singing in the
concert just now?"
Vivace singer: "Yes.."

Audience member: "I must tell you that your performance was quite
extraordinary!!"

Vivace singer: [hesitantly] "Er..Thank you; T hope you enjoyed it?"
Audience member: "It was inspiring and I was so thrilled! Thank you so
very much."

Vivace singer: "Well, thank you for coming - we love singing the Mozart -

it's such wonderful music and makes you want to sing the words as though
they mean something."

Audience member: "Yes, and it really showed. You should carry on singing
for ever!"

‘The

Music

Makers':

10

March

2007

"I did so much enjoy your last concert - it was so,

well . quintessentially English, sung and played
beautifully, and from the heart. Wonderful!"

‘The Music Makers': 10 March 2007

“This programme must have been put together with
me in mind. I thought it perfect, both in design and
execution. The choir was terrific, the orchestra a
treat to listen to, and that lark ascending...

All in all, you can all be very proud of yourselves."

24

Vivace Chorus

Dates for Your Diaries
Vivace Chorus announces its opening concert for
next season on

Saturday, 17 November 2007 at Guildford Cathedral
Programme to include:
Widor:

Toccata from Symphonie No.5 (organ solo)

Fauré:

Cantique de Jean Racine (chorus — organ)

Fauré:

Requiem

Some of the printed music for this evening's concert has been hired from
Surrey County Council Performing Arts Library, Tyalgum Press and
Yorkshire Libraries & Information Music & Drama Library.

The staging for this concert is owned by
the Association

hire,

please

of Surrey Choirs.

contact

Penny

To

Peters,

EIRaREnily sesisted by

Guildford Cathedral Office (tel: 01403 | (& SUILPFORD
547860). It was purchased with financial
assistance

from

the

Foundation

for

Sport and Arts, PO Box 20, Liverpool.

Vivace Chorus
Registered Charity No 1026337
in the name of Guildford Philharmonic Choir

Vivace Chorus

25

For Complete
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Extensive range offrames

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with many designer names | Tel: 01483 766800

Richard Broughton FCOptom DipCLP

Resident Partner
Branches also at:
Camberley, Fleet and Guildford

John|Harwood

\

Music Lovers...
You'll find what you want at the

Record Corner
VAST SELECTION OF CDs & DVDs

OPEN 9.00am - 5.30pm '

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Classical Music Specialists
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,

Why not let me ‘orchestrate’ your

decorating’?
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26

Vivace Chorus

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