The 2019 Festival built on the success of the previous year, with the addition of two lunchtime recitals and a children’s singing workshop to the schedule. Please consider supporting the work of the festival for years to come!
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Mon26Aug2019
Choral Evensong
5:30pmBoxgrove Priory, West Sussex
The Boxgrove Choral Festival 2019 kicked off with this service of Choral Evensong, showcasing the music of Holst, Leighton, Owain Park and Tavener, as well as that of Neil Cox whose specially commissioned work was heard at the later Festival Concert.Responses – Leighton
Magnificat in g – Neil Cox
Nunc Dimittis – Holst
Coelos Ascendit Hodie – Owain Park
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Mon26Aug2019
Renaissance Late: Media Vita (Sheppard)
8:30-9:00pmBoxgrove Priory, West Sussex
Media Vita is John Sheppard’s stunning six-part meditation on life, death, faith, and doubt. Taking texts from the New Testament and the Book of Common Prayer, this masterpiece of English polyphony is rarely performed due to its expansive scope. We gave a devotional performance at the end of the first day of the 2019 Festival.
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Tue27Aug2019
Lunchtime Recital: Hugh Cutting & Piers Kennedy
1:00pmBoxgrove Priory, West Sussex
Countertenor Hugh Cutting and pianist Piers Kennedy gave a recital of a wide variety of song from Dowland, Handel and Purcell to Britten, Dvorak and some of Piers’ own compositions.
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Tue27Aug2019
Children’s Singing Workshop
2:15pmBoxgrove Priory, West Sussex
We were delighted to host ‘Come and Sing at Boxgrove’. This event was for children in school years 2-6.
The afternoon consisted of a fun singing workshop with members of The Beaufort Singers, incorporating a range of songs from countries around the world. The afternoon ended with a short informal performance for family and friends at 4:15pm.
The workshop was completely free in our aim to allow anyone to take part: no musical experience was required and we hoped this might provide a unique and exciting opportunity for those who have experienced little music-making outside of the National Curriculum, as well as for more experienced young singers. The emphasis was on enjoying a fun, creative and social afternoon, bringing together local children from across West Sussex alongside young professional musicians.
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Tue27Aug2019
Concert: Lower Voices
7:00pmBoxgrove Priory, West Sussex
The altos, tenors and basses of The Beaufort Singers gave a concert of music for lower voices, featuring music from the Renaissance right through to the present day, and in many languages from Russian to Cornish.
Holy is the true light – William Harris
Look down, O Lord – Jonathan Seers
Pader an arleth – Russell Pascoe
The Lamentations of Jeremiah – Thomas Tallis
Izhe heruvimi – Nikolai Golovanov
Now ye heavenly powers – Alexander Sheremetiev
Ave Maria – Franz Biebl
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Wed28Aug2019
Lunchtime Recital: Joseph Wicks
1:00pmBoxgrove Priory, West Sussex
Festival Director Joseph Wicks performed an organ recital on the beautiful 1875 2-manual organ by William Hill.
Fantasia super ‘Komm, Heiliger Geist’ BWV 651 – Johann Sebastian Bach
A Sad pavan for these distracted times – Thomas Tomkins
O Welt, ich müß dich lassen – Johannes Brahms
Crown Imperial arr. Herbert Murrill – William Walton
Chanson de Matin arr. Herbert Brewer – Edward Elgar
A Song of Sunshine – Alfred Hollins
March on a theme of Handel – Alexandre Guilmant
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Wed28Aug2019
Winchester Consort: Concert
7:00pmBoxgrove Priory, West Sussex
The Boxgrove Choral Festival was delighted to welcome Winchester Consort to give a concert as a guest ensemble. Winchester Consort works with invited guest directors, each one bringing their particular
experience to the music, producing a vibrancy and freshness in the choir’s performances. This time with George Richford, they presented a programme entitled Incomparable Art: Hubert Parry and his British legacy.Songs of Farewell – Hubert Parry
Magnificat (double choir) – Charles Stanford
Prayer to the Father of Heaven – Ralph Vaughan Williams
Requiem – Herbert Howells
The Scribe – Herbert Howells
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Wed28Aug2019
Sung Compline
8:45pmBoxgrove Priory, West Sussex
The most magical of offices. Sung Compline, sung to plainchant and including some gems of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Phos Hilaron – Owain Park
Beati Quorum Via – Owain Park
Keep me as the apple of an eye – Neil Cox
Nunc Dimittis – Arvo Pärt
Salve Regina – Herbert Howells
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Thu29Aug2019
Festival Concert 2019
7:30pmBoxgrove Priory, West Sussex
The culmination of the Boxgrove Choral Festival 2019 featuring music predominantly from the British Isles written in the last 100 years, including Neil Cox’s Festival Commission world premiere performance.
Hymn to the Virgin – Benjamin Britten
Hymn to the Mother of God – John Tavener
Salve Regina – Herbert Howells
Vigilate – James Long
Five Spirituals – Michael Tippett
Phos Hilaron – Owain Park
The Evening-Watch – Piers Kennedy
Nunc Dimittis – Arvo Pärt
Festival Commission – Neil Cox (World Premiere)
Trinity Motets – Owain Park