An Evening of Sacred Music

Durham Choral Society

An Evening of Sacred Music

Sacred music spans the centuries. Durham Choral Society, Orchestra and soloists will perform three works spanning the 18th to the 21st Century.

Howard Goodall's 'Eternal Light: A Requiem' was premiered in 2008. It mixes the traditional Latin text of the requiem with the words of English poems from across the last 500 years, providing solace to those that mourn. Goodall is a prolific composer and broadcaster who many will have seen on TV.

'Stabat Mater' by Paul Mealor was premiered in 2011. A review in the St Andrews Citizen said "How is it that after half a millenium of what we would recognise as Western tonal music, can a composer still conjure up new and origional, yet beautiful material from what is the same old notes and the limitations of the human voice." Paul Mealor's notable works include 'Ubi Caritas', composed for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton and 'Wherever you are' for the Military Wives Choir.

From the 18th Century, Pergolesi's 'Stabat Mater' will be performed by the soloists and orchestra. Jean-Jacques Rousseau showed appreciation for the work, praising the opening movement as "the most perfect and touching duet to come from the pen of any composer".