Thanks to Fergus for sharing details of this upcoming event. Ed
All Saints, Godshill will be the venue for the Camerata Chamber Choir’s Christmas concert on Saturday 14th December. The choir is delighted to be singing at Godshill’s mediaeval hilltop church and wants to offer more than just the regular, over-familiar carols, and hopes there will be music to appeal to everyone.
All Saints, that most prominent of Isle of Wight landmarks, is a wonderfully historic place. Its 15th century Lily Crucifix, which was hidden for centuries to avoid religious persecution, predates even the renaissance music the choir will be performing.
Enjoy the midwinter celebration
With all the associated hectic preparation, it’s easy for busy families to forget to stop and enjoy their midwinter celebration. This year, why not instead put on hats and scarves and start the perfect Christmas with a stroll up the hill towards the famously spotlit place of worship. This perfect festive evening might even be complete with gently falling flakes of the first light dusting of snow.
The Christmas programme
The programme starts with the haunting soprano solo and devotional plainchant of Allegri’s Miserere mei Deus. Next is music from the renaissance, with two cheeky songs by Orlando di Lasso. The music then moves, via two from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, into the modern era with two by the Swedish romantic composer Otto Ollson.
Please join the singers at the interval for a glass of mulled wine and mince pies. We are also raising money for future concerts and All Saints.
Enjoy and join in
The second half of the programme will start with two beautiful pieces from the Americans Morten Lauridsen and Eric Whitacre and then introduces seasonal songs by the promising young English composers Thomas Hewitt-Jones and Philip Stopford.
Finally, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the familiar carols and everyone is invited to sing along. Children will be welcome to come on stage and join the choir for O little town, Once in Royal, and Ding Dong merrily on high.
Tickets are just £5, including mulled wine and mine pies, and are available online
Image: © Camerata Choir
