Choir Trip to St Feock's Church, Cornwall, October 2024
The church of St Feock, near the lovely Cornish town of Falmouth, very kindly invited Cwmbran Baroque Singers to sing a concert there on the evening of Saturday 12th October.
The programme followed the theme Sun, Sea and Tranquillity. Works included music by, among others, Dering (16th century), Purcell (17th century), Bruckner and Mendelssohn (19th century), Mansel Thomas and Leonard Bernstein (20th century). Eric Whitacre and Philip Stopford represented the 21st century.
The weather was gloriously warm and sunny all weekend and we received an equally warm, sunny welcome from the lovely folk of Feock. There was plenty of time to enjoy a meal together, a stay at The Royal Duchy Hotel on the seafront in Falmouth, some hours of sightseeing and shopping in the town and a visit to Trelissick House and Gardens, before gathering at the church to rehearse.
After rehearsing we were treated to some substantial refreshments in the church. In addition, the whole audience and choir were plyed with freshly baked Cornish Pasties at the end of the evening's concert. Thank you so much, St Feock's Church.
Spring concert 2023 - Music for a Coronation
Musical Director Carol Williams chose a selection of music to mark the Coronation. The Concert took place on Saturday 22nd April in St John the Baptist Church, Risca Road, Newport
Works included Mozart's Coronation Mass in C, Handel's Coronation Anthems, Walton's Coronation Te Deum and Parry's I was glad.
The evening was the most glorious celebration of some absolutely joyful Coronation music. So many choir members have since said that they simply could not help singing along with the music as they watched King Charles III's Coronation on television. We hope this was not a mixed blessing for some of the families and friends affected.
Carols at Leadon Court Care Home
At Christmas 2022 we were made very welcome by the residents and staff of
Leadon Court Care Home, Thornhill, Cwmbran
We sang a selection of traditional carols and Christmas music with them on the evening of Wednesday 14th December. It was a joy to see and hear residents joining in, beating and clapping time and to feel the warm, Christmassy atmosphere.
Thank you for inviting us, Leadon Court!
Concerts
Saturday 3rd December 2022
Our Christmas Concert took place in St John the Baptist Church, Risca Road Newport, accompanied by Runaway Brass, on Saturday 3rd December 2022.
We enjoyed singing a selection of Christmas music through the ages, ranging from some tricky two choir works by the sixteenth century composers, Gabrieli and Schutz to works by Vaughan Williams, the Welsh composer William Mathias and John Rutter, who is, of course, still composing.
Here is the full programme:
- O Clap Your Hands - Vaughan Williams
- Benedictus - Vaughan Williams
- Im Advent - Mendelssohn
- Weihnachten (Frohlocket) - Mendelssohn
- In Dulci Jubilo - Praetorius
- Sweet was the Song - Mansel Thomas
- Runaway Brass: A Carol Fantasy from ‘Christmas Crackers’ arr. John Iveson
- Alleluja! Lobet den Herren in seinem Heiligtum (Psalm 150) - Schütz
- Jesus….of Humble Birth - Meyerbeer
- Hodie Christus Natus Est - Gabrieli
- O Come all ye faithful (trad)
- Magnificat in C - Stanford
- A Maiden Most Gentle - Carter
- See amid the winter’s snow
- Sussex Carol
- It Came Upon the midnight clear
- Jesus Child - Rutter
- Put Memory Away - Chilcott
- The 3 Kings
- Runaway Brass: Jingle Bells/Deck the Halls from ‘Christmas Crackers’ arr. John Iveson
- A Christmas Blessing - Stopford
- Sir Christemas - Mathias
- Hark! The Herald
Rehearsals now continue as normal in Richmond Road Baptist Church Hall, Pontnewydd on Wednesday night at 7pm.