Magnificat!
Magnificat! – “Christmas always rustled. It rustled every time, mysteriously, with silver and gold paper, tissue paper and a rich abundance of shiny paper, decorating and hiding everything and giving a feeling of reckless extravagance.” (Tove Jansson)
Christmas abounds with music: the music of crackers popping; the music of paper rustling; when we’re lucky the soft music of snow falling; and the music of voices joining together to sing in celebration of the season.
For singers it is a magical time of year, and this year Solway Singers is performing its first Christmas concert under the direction of new Musical Director Edward Taylor. Edward is Assistant Organist at Carlisle Cathedral as well as being the Director of several other choirs locally, and also has his own solo career as a concert organist: you can hear him on his YouTube channel www.youtube.com/c/edwardtaylororganist
We asked Edward why he chose this particular music for this concert: whilst many of the tunes are familiar (Ding Dong Merrily on High; Fantasia on Christmas Carols; The Twelve Days of Christmas), there is a modern twist to all of them and Edward has then also included some more contemplative music such as Morten Lauridsen’s absolutely gorgeous O Magnum Mysterium (O Great Mystery).
The main piece of the concert is John Rutter’s Magnificat. Written in 1990, this piece is in seven movements and not only sets the Latin words of the Magnificat as used at Evensong and Vespers, but other lyrics such as Of a Rose, a Lovely Rose. The contrasting moods of the various movements provide an ultimately joyful start to the Christmas season and reflect Mary’s awe that she is bearing the son of God.
The settings for well-known carols are, in Edward’s words, “not run of the mill”. Chilcott’s Twelve Days of Christmas contains the traditional words and music interspersed with ‘five gold rings’ in a variety of musical styles – listen out for rock, barber shop, and Lakme’s Flower Duet (as used in a British Airways advertisement). Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols is a medley of folk carols arranged for baritone soloist and a choir that splits at times into 6 harmony parts.
The choir will be accompanied by its usual and beloved accompanist Avril Tisdall, and by organist Jordan English, who recently played for Her Late Majesty’s lying in State at St Giles Cathedral. Other soloists – singing, cello and drums – come from within the choir.
The concert takes place at St. Cuthberts Church, Carlisle and tickets cost £12 (under 18s free).
They can be booked through www.trybooking.co.uk/BWEG
www.solwaysingers.org or on the door.
Looking forward, the choir has a busy programme ahead with the Carlisle Music Festival in March, and then a May concert (13th) including Brahms’ German Requiem and other European Music. If you are looking for a choir which is ambitious to develop and widen its repertoire, please contact [email protected] or send a message via Facebook www.facebook.com/SolwaySingersChoir/
:they are a friendly bunch and welcome new singers.
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