The Exeter Bach Society choir, conducted by its musical director David Davies, will perform a concert entitled 'Hail, Bright Cecilia!' to celebrate St Cecilia, the patroness of musicians.
This will take place at 7.30pm on Saturday, November 23, the day after St Cecilia's Day, at the Southernhay United Reformed Church, Exeter.
The programme comprises the title work by Purcell, the last and the finest of his four settings of Odes for St Cecilia's day (1682, 1683, unknown date, 1692); two Coronation Anthems by Handel: 'My Heart is Inditing' and 'Zadok the Priest', both based on the texts that had been used at the coronation of James II in 1685; and 'Cantantibus Organis' by Peter Philips, which is a little antiphon composed in the early 17th century and which at times is very similar in texture to a madrigal; The only 20th century piece is 'Rejoice in the Lamb' by Britten, who was born 100 years ago on St Cecilia's Day, November 22, 1913.
The words of this cantata are by Christopher Smart, written between 1758 and 1763 while he was confined to a home for the insane, St Luke's Hospital in Bethnal Green, but not published until 1939. Smart's derangement took the form of 'a compulsion to public prayer'.
There are four sane soloists, Alison Burnett (soprano), Laurence Blyth (counter tenor), Michael Graham (tenor) and Matthew Cann (bass), and the organist is Jonathan Watts.
Tickets are £10 in advance from Exeter Phoenix Ticket Agency, Gandy Street (01392 667080) or through http://exeterbachsociety.wordpress.com or £12 at the door. Full-time students are half price.
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