Dear all
As mentioned in the last Roundup, we are looking to add another piece to the repertoire for a concert in June. There is a Doodle Poll at this link – https://doodle.com/poll/kkg8c95cxn5btakn?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link – for you to vote for your favourite! We are looking for something not too long but substantial, with a bit of a challenge but not too much so. Not an easy list of requirements!
I’ve complied the list of possibilities below, mostly from suggestions from the choir but also from my own repertoire and tried to give some brief info on each. You can vote for as many as you like and I have presented them in alphabetical order to avoid bias!
Faure Requiem – one of the most popular pieces, fits the bill in terms of length and difficulty, but perhaps a bit overdone (several other amateur choirs have restarted with this). 2 solos (Soprano and Baritone), easy to do with just organ accompaniment.
Haydn Mass in a Time of War – one of Hayden’s most popular masses and a real showcase of his style! It’s a really rewarding piece to sing. Needs 4 soloists (SATB) and harder to do without the orchestra (medium-sized). About 40mins long, which is about the limit of the timing we need.
Jenkins The Armed Man (A Mass for Peace) – a great piece, more modern than the others on this list, can be done with a small ensemble which is useful for us. I’m including this as it was a popular suggestion before but, at just over an hour, it is probably too long for what we need.
Rutter Requiem – I know it’s Rutter but, as with most of his bigger works, it’s not all pretty tunes sung by adorable trebles that we usually associate with his music. Although Rutter’s talent for pretty tunes shines though, it’s a work with very serious undertones and interpolates a psalm setting and an anthem. Much like the Faure, this is very singable but challenging in the right way. Can be done with just organ and soprano soloist.
PLEASE complete this by Saturday 19th February so we can hopefully announce at the next rehearsal.
Have a good week off!
Dave