Saturday 22 November 6pm
St Francis Church, Bournville

A beautiful concert of choral and organ music to bring light into winter’s darkness
Rutter: Requiem
Rutter: Hymn to the Creator of Light
Kodaly: Laudes Organi

Birmingham Bach Choir
Paul Spicer: conductor
Martyn Rawles: organist
Soloist (soprano): Ciara Preston Myakicheff
Joseph Roberts: cello
Tommy Hill: oboe

Our sincere thanks to The Grimmitt Trust for their generous help funding this concert

ABOUT THIS PROGRAMME
Sir John Rutter is one of the most lauded choral composers of recent times. His Requiem is one of his most popular larger-scale works, and deservedly so. Mixing his wonderfully lyrical gift with a richly colourful accompaniment by cello and oboe it includes a lovely soprano solo. 
Less well-known, however, is his Hymn to the Creator of Light scored for unaccompanied double choir. Written in memory of Herbert Howells and first performed at the dedication of the stained glass window made in his memory at Gloucester Cathedral, it is a work of extraordinary power and beauty.

"Balancing these two works is an unusual work for choir and organ Laudes Organi ("In Praise of the Organ") by the Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodaly. Commissioned by the American Guild of Organists it does, of course, feature a very colourful organ part. The choir sings a 12th century Latin text which resembles a manual of organ instruction. It is a dramatically colourful and exciting contrast to the Rutter works." 
(Paul Spicer)

TICKETS

All tickets from Eventbrite: £22 (+ £2.54 fee), concessions £20 (+ £2.21 fee) Students £12 (+ £1.70 fee)
Disabled plus carer tickets available
Please contact tickets@birmingham.bachchoir.com if any queries

ABOUT SOPRANO CIARÁ

We welcome back Ciará Preston Myakicheff, soprano, who has performed and recorded with us recently.
Ciará grew up in the Lake District and began her musical studies on piano and flute, before turning her focus to singing aged fifteen. She studied Vocal Performance at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire with Louise Crane and was awarded an Ex Cathedra Choral Scholarship for 2020–21, and sang with the newly-formed Scholars’ Consort, directed by Jeffrey Skidmore. Ciará has a particular affinity and interest in early and choral music, and has been engaged as a soloist in major works including Allegri’s Miserere, Bach’s Mass in B minor, Mozart’s Requiem and Haydn’s Creation. She has performed and recorded solos with us recently . Forthcoming projects include an exploration of French song from the Belle Époque to the cabarets of Paris in the 1920s, and vocal consort performances of sacred works by Renaissance and Baroque composers.

The Venue: St Francis, Bournville

Bournville Parish Church, built in 1925, stands in the heart of Bournville village and is vibrant focus for the community. Marking its 100th year we are pleased to be performing during these celebrations.
Alexander Harvey, a local man heavily influenced by the Arts & Crafts Movement, was the architect of the church, appointed by George Cadbury. It is dedicated to St Francis of Assisi

Nine Lessons & Carols Service

Sunday 14 December at 3.30 pm
St Albans Church, Birmingham B15

A traditional Christmas service with beautiful music and readings.
No entry fee - all are welcome

MUSIC PROGRAMME
O Come all ye faithful *
Hodie, Christus natus est
A virgin most pure (Sweelinck)
Come thou redeemer *
Sing lullaby (Howells)
Sir Christemas (David Hughes)
Lully, lulla, though little tiny child (Leighton)
Lo he comes *
Quem pastores (arr. Rutter)
Dormi Jesu (Rutter)
God rest ye merry gentlemen*
Angelus ad virginem (arr. Willcocks)
Once in Royal David’s City*
Magnificat (Collegium Regale) (Howells)
This child of God (Paul Spicer )
Of the Father’s Heart *
Hark the Herald angels sing *
* congregational hymns

Picture: based on a painting by the artist Annael (Angel of Life)

There will be a leaving collection in aid of church funds.
Please wrap up warmly for this service.

Come & Sing with us!
Mendelssohn’s Hymn of Praise (Lobgesang)  

Saturday 31 January
From 2 pm - 6 pm

Selly Oak Methodist church, Langleys Rd, Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 6HT
A terrific afternoon of singing, under the inspired directorship of Paul Spicer.
After the workshop session we enjoy each others friendship over tea and homemade cakes then finish the day with an informal performance.
Soloists: Isaac Boulter & Corinna Gregory
Accompanist: Paul Carr
Tickets for singers @£25 (+£2.80 Eventbrite fee) including music hire, and tea & cakes

Click on button below for tickets 

Any questions or queries do contact: bbchoir.candsing@gmail.com

About Hymn of Praise (Lobgesang) composed for the Leipzig Festival, 1840.

Mendelssohn initially called his masterpiece a symphony for chorus and orchestra, but was persuaded that symphony-cantata would be a more appropriate label for a work so dominated by the chorus and vocal soloists.
We’ll be focussed of course on the cantata part, singing in English, for which Mendelssohn assembled passages from Luther’s translation of the Bible that show the progression of light to darkness.
With fabulous choruses, soprano and tenor solos, and the familiar “Now Thank We All Our God”, this will be a rewarding sing for all who come.