A Journey to Eastertide: Voices of Solace
The Malmesbury Singers present Mozart, Haydn, and Jenkins in Malmesbury Abbey.
November 1st, 2024 – The Malmesbury Singers, under the direction of Music Director Thomas Mottershead, invite you on a musical journey as we near the end of the Lenten season this spring. “A Journey to Eastertide: Voices of Solace” will offer moments of solemnity with beautiful harmonies, which will fill the beautiful setting of Malmesbury Abbey, offering a concert of reflection and renewal.
The concert features three contrasting yet interconnected pieces:
- Mozart’s ‘Regina Coeli’: This jubilant antiphon is a radiant celebration of the joy of Easter and the resurrection, symbolising hope, and new beginnings. Opening with a triumphant orchestral introduction, the work moves into a series of expressive vocal solos and choral sections, culminating in a glorious ‘Alleluia’.
- Mozart’s “Exsultate, Jubilate”: This motet, scored for soprano solo and piano or organ, is a religious solo work which contains much joy and reflection. The soloist must have a vast skillset – including nimbleness, elegance and much spirit. Also culminating with an ‘Alleluia’ section, this is Mozart at his best. The music shows his own elegance, joy and confidence that his success in opera houses had given him.
- Haydn’s “Little Organ Mass”: This intimate and elegant mass setting blends choral voices with the organ’s rich textures, creating a sense of serenity and spiritual comfort. Known for its lyrical melodies and expressive harmonies, the work highlights Haydn’s mastery of sacred choral music.
- Jenkins’ “The Armed Man Choral Suite”: A selection of movements from this powerful and poignant work, reflecting on the impact of war and the enduring desire for peace. The full work concludes with a message of hope and reconciliation, completing the journey from darkness to light. Drawing on a diverse range of texts and musical styles, “The Armed Man” is a deeply moving and thought-provoking work that will stimulate your mind and touch your heart.
“The programme for our Spring concert is one which contains much reflection,” says Thomas Mottershead, Musical Director of The Malmesbury Singers. “From the radiant joy of W. A. Mozart’s ‘Regina Coeli’ – to the joyous spirit of the ‘Exsultate Jubilate’, the peacefulness (and moments of elation) of Joseph Haydn’s ‘Little Organ Mass’, finishing with the poignant reflection of a selection of movements from Sir Karl Jenkins’ ‘The Armed Man,’ each piece illuminates a different facet of our shared human experience.”
These pieces, performed in the evocative setting of Malmesbury Abbey, will create a tapestry of sound and emotion, offering comfort and inspiration to all who attend.
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