East Grinstead Choral Societywith The Lingfield Silver Band (Leader - Roy Fuller)

plus harp and organ

Directed by Richard Jenkinson

Saturday 13 December 7.00pmThe Church of St Peter and St Paul

Old Town, Lingfield, Surrey

w w w. e g c s. co. u kRegistered charity number 801961

Carols and Christmas

Cheer!

Programme: £1

East Grinstead Choral Society

presents

Carols andChristmas Cheer!

with Lingfield Silver Band (leader - Roy Fuller)

Ray Maulkin - organAlexandra King - harp

George Clifford - baritone

Directed by Richard Jenkinson

Programme

• Ding dong! merrily on high

• Once in royal David’s city – for choir and audience

• Down in yon forest• Christe, Redemptor omnium – Monteverdi• Sing we to this merry company – John Stevens• Angelus ad virginem – Trad. 14th century

• Lingfield Silver Band

• Lute Book Lullaby• Blessed Son of God• Three Kings

• O come, all ye faithful – for choir and audience

• Ceremony of Carols – Britten

I N T E R V A L (15 minutes)

• Lingfield Silver Band

• Messiah (highlights) – Handel:• And the glory• O thou that tellest• For unto us• Short Pifa• Four recits• Glory to God

• While shepherds watched – for choir and audience

• Myn Lyking• Savoy Christmas Medley - arrd. Debroy Somers

• Hark! the herald angels sing – for choir and audience

• Christmas Finale – arrd. Richard Jenkinson and Chris Yate

A Ceremony of Carols – Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976)

In 1939, Britten left England because he didn’t really feel at home there. He spent three years in the States and learned that he really belonged back in England. He returned to Britain by ship in May 1942. On the way during a stop in Nova Scotia he purchased a copy of “The English Galaxy of Shorter Poems”, which seems to have sparked an idea for a carol sequence. He was also carrying with him two harp manuals since he had been commissioned to write a harp concerto and the two came together in his hugely popular “A Ceremony of Carols.”

It is an unusual setting for treble voices, or as in tonight’s performance for female voices, and harp. The “carols” are largely the product of 15th and 16th century writers, most of whom are anonymous.  They retain their unique flavour by Britten’s extensive use of middle English language. 

The work opens and ends with plainsong, and the sections in-between deal with the traditional stories surrounding the birth of Christ.  The piece in its entirety shows Britten’s mastery of choral music, with each movement in contrast with the next, ranging from the plangent solos of That Yonge Childe and In Freezing Winter Night through the smooth polyphony of Balulalow and There is no Rose to the angularity and dynamism of I Sing and This Little Babe.

The Messiah – George F Handel (1685 - 1759)

In 1741 Handel had already begun work on a new work, Messiah, when he received an invitation from the Duke of Devonshire, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to visit Dublin. He accepted the invitation, taking his Messiah score with him. It was first performed at the New Music Hall, Dublin, in April 1742, and was an unqualified success. One effusive review ran:

‘Words are wanting, to express the exquisite Delight [Messiah] afforded to the admiring, crowded Audience. The Sublime, the Grand and the Tender, adapted to the most elevated, majestick and moving Words, conspired to transport and charm the ravished Heart and Ear.’

In addition to its musical impact, its success was also due to the general approval of the donation of a large part of the proceeds to various Dublin charitable institutions, a pattern later repeated in London with Handel’s association with the Foundling Hospital.

Tonight we will hear just those highlights from the work that celebrate the birth of Christ.

Lingfield Silver Band• Cornet: Richard Weller, Nick Hadland, Kieran Johnstone, Amelia Weller,

Maddy Groom, Liz Hadland, Julie Scrace, Andrew Corish, Tracey Ferris, Sean Hines (soprano)

• Horn: Margaret Weller, Eddie Young, Barbara Franklin, Tom Littlewood, Lorraine Ford

• Baritone: Chris Yate, Sarah Corish• Euphonium: Emma Fuller• Trombone: Peter Franklin, Jamie Hines (bass)• Bass: Steve Moran, Katherine Scrace, Bob Serle, Robin Pocock• Percussion: Raphael Moran

Roy Fuller started to play the cornet in the Edenbridge Town Band in the 1950s. He progressed through the ranks to become principal cornet, a position he held for eight years. He then became the band’s conductor in 1973. He also played in Dormansland Village Band until it disbanded in the 1970s.

He joined Mayfield Band as a player in 1985, playing various instruments: cornet, flugel, tenor horn and

euphonium. He then took over as conductor in the 1990s. He has achieved many successes in the contesting field with all three bands. He hopes you, the audience, enjoy tonight’s concert and wishes you all a very happy Christmas!

Alexandra King is an experienced and versatile harpist who has been in demand since her graduation in 2007. She has enjoyed a varied career so far performing all over the country for international corporations, MP's, celebrities and royalty.Previous engagements include performances for HRH Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to the University of Huddersfield, live on television for Channel 4's popular cooking and chat show Sunday Brunch, and at a party hosted by Robert Smith (The Cure). Corporate bookings have included numerous performances for RBS, the Football Association, and also PRS for Music where she played alongside Rick Wakeman for guests including Jon Lord (Deep Purple), Sir John Tavener and John Rutter. She has worked at many prestigious venues such as The Houses of Parliament, Wembley Stadium, St Alban's Cathedral, Glyndebourne Opera House and Hampton Court Palace.

During his years at the Royal College of Music, Richard Jenkinson studied conducting, choir-training and composition, in addition to the keyboard skills of organ, piano and harpsichord. He won many prizes, and was also awarded the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

Since student days, Richard has concentrated increasingly on working with choirs and choral societies, and now has a very busy life as a Choral Director, Accompanist, Coach, organist and composer.

He is Musical Director to London Orpheus Choir, Kent Chorus, Meridian Voices and East Grinstead Choral Society, and works regularly with many other choirs in London and Southern England.

Concert Tours and Choral Exchanges have taken Richard and his choirs to many venues in Europe, often hosting return visits back in the UK. This year has included a memorable trip to conduct singers at the Last Post Ceremony as part of the 1914-2014 commemorations, at the Menin Gate and in the Cathedral in Ypres. Richard also hosted the recent UK Tour by the Royal Dutch Orpheus Choir with a return planned next May; this will include the honour of taking part in Holland’s Martyrs’ Day events.

Ray Maulkin studied at the Purcell School and the Royal Academy of Music. Whilst still at college he was accompanist to the Southend Boys’ Choir and appeared regularly with them in a busy concert schedule which took him into many concert venues both in this country and abroad. He played the piano part of Britten’s Golden Vanity at the Purcell Room and played the organ part for Britten’s Missa Brevis in the Queen Elizabeth Hall as well as in many broadcasts and recordings.

Ray’s interest in church music began when he sang as a chorister in his local church choir where he quickly developed an interest in both the church music repertoire and in organ music. He spent many hours practising in freezing cold churches! After completing the graduate course at the Royal Academy of Music he continued to study the organ. Ray has had the opportunity to play many fine instruments including those of Westminster Abbey, Gloucester and Canterbury Cathedrals, and made a recording of French music by Widor and Vierne.

East Grinstead Choral Society – Join us!Like what you’ve heard? Why not try it yourself? Newcomers are always welcome at any of our rehearsals, which will begin again after Christmas on Thursday 8 January. Please see the back cover for rehearsal times and venue.

East Grinstead Choral SocietyChristine Baelz ∙ Nigel Baelz ∙ Edina Barczi ∙ Alison Barnett ∙ Kim Barnett ∙ Margaret Barnett ∙ Isabella Barton ∙ Basil Beranalto ∙ Joan Bateman ∙ Margaret Beeny ∙ Peter Beynon ∙ Cathy Brooke ∙ Jean Bryant ∙ Gill Chapman ∙ Angela Charlton ∙ Andrew Clifford ∙ Jane Clifford ∙ George Clifford ∙ Marcus Clifford ∙ Janet Cole ∙ Amy Coleman ∙ Sue Cooper ∙ John Cull ∙ Caroline Custard ∙ Ros Dewar ∙ Frances Driscoll ∙ Linda Edwards ∙ David Firshman ∙ Margaret Forde ∙ Kay Fox ∙ Jackie Frewing ∙ Chris Grist ∙ Gwyneth Gwenlan ∙ Audrey Hadfield ∙ Bob Hawley ∙ Aretha Holly ∙ Linda Hope ∙ Maggie Hunt ∙ Martin Jacobs ∙ Sarah Jacobs ∙ Kitty Jenkinson ∙ Matthew Jones ∙ Christine Jordan ∙ Geoff Lamb ∙ Jane Lamb ∙ Tony Larraz ∙ Stephen Lazell ∙ Ros Livesey ∙ Sara Mackenzie ∙ Muriel Mathers ∙ Gill Matson ∙ Christine Matthews ∙ Josi Munns ∙ Catherine Older ∙ John Older ∙ Gill Olliver ∙ Mary Osborne ∙ Chris Parker ∙ Linn Parker ∙ Carolyn Ponder ∙ Peter Puttock ∙ Di Rees ∙ Sandra Rhodes ∙ Christina Robinson ∙ Andrew Saunders ∙ Felicia Shanahan ∙ Sue Sharp ∙ Diane Sherman ∙ Tamsin Spring ∙ Kevin Stacey ∙ Joyce Stevens ∙ Anne Sydney ∙ Joan Thomas ∙ Sheila Walsh ∙ Peter Ward ∙ Judith Wells ∙ Georgina Westlake ∙ Hilary Weston ∙ Anne White ∙ Ray White ∙ David Wildman ∙ Mary Woodroffe ∙ Richard Young

No unauthorised photography, video or sound recording is permitted during the performance. We thank you for your co-operation.

EGCS in 2015:Saturday 21 March 7pm – Jubilee Community Centre, East GrinsteadSpring concert with professional soloists and Meridian Sinfonia

Saturday 27 June 7pm – Imberhorne Lower School, East GrinsteadSupper concert: partsongs, madrigals, show songs

Other forthcoming events

Friday 7 March 7pm – St. James’s, PiccadillyLondon Orpheus Choir: Haydn Stabat Mater and Bach Missa Brevis in G minor with period instrument orchestra, led by George Cliffordwww.londonorpheuschoir.co.uk

Sunday 19 April 4pm – Pamoja Hall, SevenoaksKent Chorus with London Orpheus Choir: Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle with “authentic” instrumentation from the original Parisian versionwww.kentchorus.co.ukkentchorus@gmail.com

Saturday 20 June 7pm –Beechwood School, Tunbridge WellsKent Chorus: Informal summer concert to include Vivaldi Gloria (highlights) and “Les Miserables” selectionwww.kentchorus.co.ukkentchorus@gmail.com

Friday 3 July 7pm – St. James’s, PiccadillyLondon Orpheus Choir: Mozart Great C minor Mass with period instrument orchestra, led by George Cliffordwww.londonorpheuschoir.co.uk

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East Grinstead Choral Society thanks Andy Clare at The PrintRoom, East Grinstead for his help and excellent service in printing our publicity materials and programmes.

www.printroomsussex.co.ukandy@printroomsussex.co.uk

01342 315317

Rehearsals:Thursdays 7:30 pm - 9:45 pmJubilee Community Centre, Charlwoods RoadEast Grinstead RH19 2HL

www . e g c s . c o . u k

Jubilee Community Centre