Boxgrove Choral Festival 2019

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!

  • Mon
    26
    Aug
    2019

    Choral Evensong

    5:30pm
    Boxgrove 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


  • Mon
    26
    Aug
    2019

    Renaissance Late: Media Vita (Sheppard)

    8:30-9:00pm
    Boxgrove 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.


  • Tue
    27
    Aug
    2019

    Lunchtime Recital: Hugh Cutting & Piers Kennedy

    1:00pm
    Boxgrove 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.


  • Tue
    27
    Aug
    2019

    Children’s Singing Workshop

    2:15pm
    Boxgrove 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.

     


  • Tue
    27
    Aug
    2019

    Concert: Lower Voices

    7:00pm
    Boxgrove 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


  • Wed
    28
    Aug
    2019

    Lunchtime Recital: Joseph Wicks

    1:00pm
    Boxgrove 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


  • Wed
    28
    Aug
    2019

    Winchester Consort: Concert

    7:00pm
    Boxgrove 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


  • Wed
    28
    Aug
    2019

    Sung Compline

    8:45pm
    Boxgrove 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


  • Thu
    29
    Aug
    2019

    Festival Concert 2019

    7:30pm
    Boxgrove 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