Winter Season Christmas Concert

Newbury Choral Society

The Programme is :-

Benjamin Britten: A Ceremony of Carols

Karl Jenkins: A Celebration of Christmas

James Whitbourn: Missa Carolae

Goff Richards: A Merry Little Christmas

From the Renaissance to the 21st Century in one bound!

Newbury Choral Society, fresh from the success of their summer concert of polyphonic music at Douai Abbey, is performing a Christmas concert of festive compositions from some of the best-known of our modern composers, including Benjamin Britten and Karl Jenkins.

One of the major talents of 20th Century English music, Britten is at his best when writing music for young people to sing. His A Ceremony of Carols was written in 1942, originally for treble voices and harp but soon published in the SATB version which the choir will be performing. The work consists of carols, all of medieval or Renaissance origin, set to music which varies from the wistful and lyrical to the driven and pulsating, thereby providing interesting and often thrilling contrasts.

Karl Jenkins, arguably the most performed composer of his generation, is better known for his Adiemus and The Armed Man. His A Celebration of Christmas takes traditional carols, medieval tunes and original compositions and forms them into a harmonious whole.

Missa Carolae, by James Whitbourn, was written for the 1400th anniversary of Rochester Cathedral in 2004. Melodies from traditional carols from all over Europe are incorporated into the mass, which is intended to invoke a light-hearted, joyful spirit, true to the origins of the carol as a simple dance form.

A Merry Little Christmas is a collection of secular Christmas music arranged by Goff Richards. It includes such favourites as White Christmas and Jingle Bells.