Cecilia Consort Premieres New Choral Work at Newbury Church

The Cecilia Consort unveiled an exciting new choral work titled A Season to Sing at St Nicolas’ Church in Newbury on October 7, 2023. Under the direction of founder and musical director Janet Coxwell, the performance featured a diverse array of vocal compositions that captivated the audience.

The concert commenced with A Hymn for St Cecilia by British composer Herbert Howells. This bold piece set a vibrant tone for the evening, showcasing the choir’s beautifully blended and balanced sound. Following this stirring opening, the ensemble performed Lux Aeterna by American composer Morten Lauridsen. This piece, described as a non-liturgical requiem, presented a tranquil yet challenging contrast. The choir demonstrated impressive dynamic range and delivered soaring phrases, supported by the skilled organ accompaniment of Steve Bowey. Notable highlights included confident lower voice entries and haunting a cappella segments.

The first half of the concert concluded with the renowned A Hymn to St Cecilia by Benjamin Britten. The choir effectively captured the playful innocence of the libretto by W.H. Auden, showcasing beautifully held solo lines that brought Britten’s distinctive sound world to life.

Following a warm introduction by composer Joanna Forbes L’Estrange, the second half featured her newly arranged version of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Commissioned by the choir to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the original composition, this arrangement was framed by two brief settings of verses from Ecclesiastes. The performance transformed into a joyous celebration of the seasonal cycle, with the choir employing various vocal techniques, including whistling, scat singing, and body percussion.

The singers animated the texts added to Vivaldi’s original score, and the changes in mood were accentuated by the expert lighting designed by Simon Pike and John Cordery. The choir’s passionate delivery, combined with Bowey’s extraordinary organ accompaniment, resonated deeply with the rapt audience.

The premiere of A Season to Sing marked a heartwarming conclusion to an impressive evening of music, leaving attendees inspired by the performance’s emotional depth and artistic innovation. This event not only celebrated the talents of the Cecilia Consort but also highlighted the enduring power of choral music in bringing communities together.