Term 2, 2005

Fauré and Saint-Saëns Feature in Choir's Sunday-Afternoon Concert, August 21

Fauré - Cantique de Jean Racine and Requiem Op 48.

The Cantique is a setting of words by the 17th century dramatist and poet Jean Racine. It was Fauré’s first significant composition, written in 1865 whilst he was in his final year at the École Niedermeyer, the ‘École de musique religieuse et classique’. He submitted the piece for the composition prize, and won, though it was only published eleven years later, with a full orchestral version following in 1906. Fauré went on to write a good deal of religious music – most notably the Requiem, Op 48 written in 1888 which will also be performed at this concert. Of the shorter sacred pieces it is the Cantique that has particularly captured the affections of choirs and audiences. [ John Bawden Musical Director, Fareham Philharmonic Choir].

Requiem Opus 48

The first performance of this work, composed in 1887, was on 16 January 1888 in La Madeleine in Paris. What makes this requiem so different from others is the fact that from the Sequenta (Dies Irae) only the last part remained (Pie Jesu), which ended up in place of the Benedictus. The Benedictus is thus missing. Further normally the Libera Me and the In Paradisum do not appear in a requiem. All in all this requiem has a very peaceful, restful character leaving out the Dies Irae also

His musical style fits in French tradition, which he learned from his friend and mentor Saint-Saëns. This is characterised by its moderacy, great logic and its going back to classic forms. He is seen as someone who paved the road for impressionism (Ravel was one of his pupils).

Chamber Choir

The Chamber Choir will perform works by Saint-Saëns (Calme des Nuits and Ave Verum Corpus) D'Indy and Lambollitte.

Sing Johannes Brahms' great work Ein Deutsches Requiem with us

For the third concert in our Great Hall Series for 2005, the Choir will be performing Johannes Brahms' magnificent work, "A German Requiem", on Saturday, 10 December at 8.00 pm.

As with the very successful Messiah in December 2003, and the outstanding Mendelssohn Elijah in 2004 this will be a special concert, with a guest chorus in which members of the public will have the opportunity to sing. This "George Faunce Allman Chorale" will join the Choir in singing all of Brahms' great choruses. Christopher Bowen will direct this major event, involving a large orchestra and group of soloists.

This is a major event in our choir's history and a very ambitious undertaking.

Musically, the German Requiem marks a turning point in compositional technique by which Brahms influenced the entire world of music. The way he arranged the seven movements and composed individual passages demonstrates that his thinking was free from many musical preconceptions.

Brahms conducted the first performance of the work, comprising six movements, before an audience of 2,500 in Bremen Cathedral on Good Friday 1868, and it met with a positive response from the entire German musical community.

In February 1869 the final version, consisting of seven movements, premiered in Leipzig. Brahms was then thirty-six and had worked on the requiem for more than a decade.