The philosophy of music: or the music of philosophy ?
Director of Music, Susan Wanless, reflects on the mighty concert with the Chorus and Symphony Orchestra last Saturday on ‘Playing Up…’
Whilst the Chamber Choir takes part in the annual University Carol Service in the candle-lit grandeur of Canterbury Cathedral over on ‘Cantus Firmus.’
The Chamber Choir is travelling across boundaries in a cosmopolitan rehearsal, as it looks at repertoire for the February Crypt concert as well as prepares for Monday’s Carol Service in the Cathedral…
The Medway Choir is about to make its debut in the Universities of Medway Carol Service, also next Monday, which also features music, drama and readings by various Societies as well, in what promises to be a vibrant festive celebration.
‘Tis the season, after all…
Over on ‘Cantus Firmus,’ the University Cecilian Choir is in preparation for Monday’s ‘Cold’ lunchtime concert, as it rehearses Purcell’s ‘Frost Scene’ from King Arthur.
There’s also no time for the Chamber Choir to rest on its laurels, as it heads straight from its Advent concert last Friday into rehearsals for the Carol Service in Canterbury Cathedral on Monday week.
The Medway Music Society pose the biggest conundrum of the season: whether or not to have a Society Ball…
And, unrelated to the University’s musical life but of interest nevertheless, Alex Ross reports over on ‘The Rest is Noise’ on an interesting time at the Met, Philip Glass, protest and the police…
Next Monday, the University Camerata and Cecilian Choir join forces to perform Vivaldi and Purcell in the last of this term’s Lunchtime Concerts.
The Red Priest’s enduringly-popular Winter, a vivid depiction of the season in its brittle textures, moves in its three movements from shivering amidst winter’s harsh wind to the warmth of sitting by the fire, whilst the last movement portrays racing across the ice before it cracks, seeking refuge behind a bolted door whilst winter’s chill fingers reach through the cracks. The violin soloist will be Jeremy Ovenden, leader of the Symphony Orchestra.
The Cecilian Choir will then join the Camerata for the ‘Frost Scene’ from Purcell’s King Arthur, in which Cupid (sung by second-year Music Scholar and soprano, Paris Noble) battles the Cold Genius (baritone and alumnus, Piran Legg) and his wintry revellers to bring warmth and dance to the frozen scene.
The concert begins on Monday 5 December in the Gulbenkian Theatre at 1.10pm; admission is free, with a suggested donation of £3.
Here’s a little taster of the Vivaldi, featuring a live performance by the Trondheim Soloists…
Over on ‘Cantus Firmus,’ the Chamber Choir are in full spate in the run-up to their Advent concert this evening, with Charles Green musing from the bass section about the impact of singing in mixed-voice formation and the use of his eyebrows …
‘On The Beat‘ announces this year’s singer with the University Big Band after a round of auditions: click here to find out who will be gracing the stage with the Big Band this year…
On this day, St Cecilia’s Day, we celebrate the patron saint of music, and this Friday the Chamber Choir will celebrate the start of the Advent season with a concert in Blean Church, Canterbury.
The Choir presents its annual ‘Music for Advent’ concert, with a candlelit sequence of music and readings to launch the beginning of the period of Advent. Combining traditional and modern carols, prose, poetry and the magnificent Advent antiphons, the programme is a meditation on the meaning of Advent and the message of the coming of the Christ-child.
You can follow the Choir’s rehearsals on its blog, ‘Cantus Firmus,’ which has charted our progress towards Friday’s performance.
The concert starts at 7.30pm; proceeds from the event towards the Church Restoration Fund and Blean School Playground Improvements. Ticket-sales and details on our concert diary online here.
There’s only three days to go until we gather in The Gulbenkian to sing Handel’s rousing ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ for Children in Need.
Thursday, 1.10pm in the Gulbenkian Theatre: even if you’ve never sung before, just bring your voice, enthusiasm and a donation as University musicians and members of the community join to raise money for a very special cause. More details online here.
If you can ‘bear’ it…
Acclaimed international pianist Benjamin Frith returns to the Gulbenkian Theatre next Monday, to perform Mussorgsky’s mighty Pictures at an Exhibition.
In its original version for solo piano, this epic showpiece takes the listener on a musical odyssey through a series of paintings by the composer’s friend, the artist and architect Viktor Hartmann, at an exhibition held to commemorate the artist’s early death at the age of only thirty nine.
From the menacing ‘Hut on Fowl’s Legs’ to the lively ‘Ballet of the Chicks in their shells,’ finishing with the grandiose ‘Great Gate of Kiev,’ the piece represents a dazzling display of virtuosity for pianists.
The concert, on Monday 14 November, starts at 1.10pm, and finishes at 1.50pm. Admission free, with a suggested donation of £3.
There will also be an opportunity to hear Ravel’s brilliant orchestration of the piece at the University’s Symphony Orchestra’s concert in December.
More details online here.
