Carol Singing
Saturday 22nd December 2018, Kendal Library (10am) and Westmorland Shopping Centre (from approx 10.30 a.m.)
We sang in Kendal's town centre for festive carol singing.
Saturday 22nd December 2018, Kendal Library (10am) and Westmorland Shopping Centre (from approx 10.30 a.m.)
We sang in Kendal's town centre for festive carol singing.
Review
If I still had the stamina I would love to rise to the challenge of singing with Levens Choir! On Sunday they gave a concert of glorious music in praise of Mary, Mother of Jesus, in St Mary’s Church Allithwaite. The concert opened with two early English carols from Britten’s Ceremony of Carols which the choir sang most effectively “sideways on” to the audience from the side chapel. This was one of three arrangements of their vocal forces.
With Mary as the ‘Star’ many of the texts were in Latin, so Finzi’s Magnificat with English words, the major item in the second half, was very welcome. This beautiful, soft and meditative setting came in contrast to the driving energy of many of the contrapuntal motets, in which one choir or two filled the building with cascades of ever rolling sound. An earlier setting of the Magnificat by Buxtehude was the central feature in the first half. Another gem in the collection was Nesciens Mater by Jean Mouton, an early French composer, in which the voices in eight parts tumbled like a waterfall.
Respite for the choir was provided with two organ solos given by Andy Plowman still in keeping with the theme, and two poems read by Keith Hildew, the second being ‘Annunciation’ by John Donne , in which he brilliantly extricated the sense from Donne’s florid English language.
Ian Jones as conductor deserves special mention for his research and compilation of this fascinating programme spanning six centuries of music - an evening of exhilarating and challenging music. Alison Gawith
If I still had the stamina I would love to rise to the challenge of singing with Levens Choir! On Sunday they gave a concert of glorious music in praise of Mary, Mother of Jesus, in St Mary’s Church Allithwaite. The concert opened with two early English carols from Britten’s Ceremony of Carols which the choir sang most effectively “sideways on” to the audience from the side chapel. This was one of three arrangements of their vocal forces.
With Mary as the ‘Star’ many of the texts were in Latin, so Finzi’s Magnificat with English words, the major item in the second half, was very welcome. This beautiful, soft and meditative setting came in contrast to the driving energy of many of the contrapuntal motets, in which one choir or two filled the building with cascades of ever rolling sound. An earlier setting of the Magnificat by Buxtehude was the central feature in the first half. Another gem in the collection was Nesciens Mater by Jean Mouton, an early French composer, in which the voices in eight parts tumbled like a waterfall.
Respite for the choir was provided with two organ solos given by Andy Plowman still in keeping with the theme, and two poems read by Keith Hildew, the second being ‘Annunciation’ by John Donne , in which he brilliantly extricated the sense from Donne’s florid English language.
Ian Jones as conductor deserves special mention for his research and compilation of this fascinating programme spanning six centuries of music - an evening of exhilarating and challenging music. Alison Gawith
Parry Centenary Concert: Songs of Farewell, Songs of love
Saturday 9th June 2018, St Andrew's Church, Sedbergh, 7.30pm (as part of the Sedbergh Music Festival)
and
Tuesday 3rd July 2018, St Anne's Church, Ings, 7.30pm
Programme includes: Parry's Songs of Farewell, Standford's Three Motets and Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzes
Saturday 9th June 2018, St Andrew's Church, Sedbergh, 7.30pm (as part of the Sedbergh Music Festival)
and
Tuesday 3rd July 2018, St Anne's Church, Ings, 7.30pm
Programme includes: Parry's Songs of Farewell, Standford's Three Motets and Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzes
Music of Thomas Tallis with the Marian Consort
Saturday 10th March 2018, St George's Church, Kendal, 7.30pm
Saturday 10th March 2018, St George's Church, Kendal, 7.30pm
Thomas Tallis Concert with Marian Consort. March 2018. Picture: Martin Grace
Music in Quiet Places
Sunday 25th February 2018, Lower Tatham Church
As part of Levens Choir's Music in Quiet Places series, the choir are returning to Lower Tatham Church for an afternoon of joyous singing.
Sunday 25th February 2018, Lower Tatham Church
As part of Levens Choir's Music in Quiet Places series, the choir are returning to Lower Tatham Church for an afternoon of joyous singing.
Study Day with Rory McCleery, Director of The Marian Consort
Saturday 3rd February 2018, St Anne's Church in Ings
Every year Levens Choir hosts at least one Study Day with a reputable choral leader, and they are always a fantastic opportunity for singers to get together for a bit of laughter and to improve their technique. In February Rory McCleery, Director of The Marian Consort will be leading Levens Choir in a choral technique workshop and singers from other choirs are also welcome to join in. More information on how to book a place will be available soon.
Saturday 3rd February 2018, St Anne's Church in Ings
Every year Levens Choir hosts at least one Study Day with a reputable choral leader, and they are always a fantastic opportunity for singers to get together for a bit of laughter and to improve their technique. In February Rory McCleery, Director of The Marian Consort will be leading Levens Choir in a choral technique workshop and singers from other choirs are also welcome to join in. More information on how to book a place will be available soon.
