Aug 1, 2020 | News articles
Although the choir is currently on Summer Break (Jul-Sep), our Musical Director, Chairman & Committee continue to closely follow the various public discussions regarding the current concerns of group singing – specifically for non-professional choirs, as we are.
We will continue to keep up to date and assess any potential for our choir to return to some form of collective singing together, whenever it may be deemed feasible.
Choral groups with fewer members may be able to return to singing together much sooner than is possible for our choir.
If and when any future guidance is announced/published – please bear with us, as we consider the detail of the guidelines, review the potential of the various options and assess how they may be realistic and feasible for us.
As soon as there is any further development indicating a return to rehearsals:
- Members will receive an email Newsletter
- Our website ‘Rehearsals’ tab will be updated
- We will cascade information via our Facebook and Twitter accounts
Mar 17, 2020 | News articles
Update Message:
Unfortunately, and with sadness, due to the emerging Covid 19 Pandemic, our 28th March 2020 concert had to be cancelled 12 days before it was due to take place.
However, we were keen that the concert’s Programme of Music was only to be postponed, until a future date.
With positive anticipation, we look forward to performing this wonderful programme of music as soon as circumstances allow.
Cancellation of 28th March 2020 Concert:
It is with great sadness, that our much anticipated 28th March concert, is now cancelled.
We do hope and aim to reschedule the concert’s programme of music: Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana & Eric Whitacre’s Lux Aurumque & The Seal Lullaby, to a future date.
Thank you to everyone, for your continued support of our Isle of Wight Cantata Choir.
(Ticket refunds are available from: the Theatre Administrator, Medina Theatre, Fairlee Road, Newport PO30 2EW or Tel: 01983 823880 / 01983 823884)
Jan 6, 2020 | News articles
Spring Concert 2020: Sat 28th March 2020
Carmina Burana: Carl Orff
Version: Schott: 1998
Information Document: Information Document Carmina Burana
Text Translation Document: Carmina Burana Translation
Pronunciation Guidance Document: Carmina Burana Pronunciation
Audio Pronunciation Guide: Carmina Burana Audio Pronunciation
Practice Support: Choralia
Practice Support: John Fletcher Rehearsal Files
Practice Support: ChoraLine/Presto Music
Lux Aurumque: Eric Whitacre
Information Document: Lux Aurumque & The Seal Lullaby
Practice Support: YouTube
Soprano 1 Soprano 2
Alto 1 Alto 2
Tenor 1 Tenor 2
Bass 1 Bass 2
Seal Lullaby: Eric Whitacre
Practice Support: YouTube
Practice Support: YouTube
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass
Dec 8, 2019 | News articles
Post Concert Message:
A hearty THANK YOU – to everyone who took part in, assisted with and attended our concert this afternoon, at Ryde Methodist Church.
We enjoyed singing some fabulous festive pieces:
– The Oxen (Johnny Coppin), Ring the Bells (Paul Fincham), A Feast For Christmas (Alan Bullard), Mid-Winter & On Christmas Night (Bob Chilcott). And the sublimely ethereal Lux Aurumque (Eric Whitacre).
Along with some gloriously uplifting classic Carols.
A truly super and most enjoyable afternoon.
Many thanks also, to Rachel Tweddle, piano accompanist: Richard Wilkins, Rob Tweddle and the Brass Quintet, and violin soloist: Thomas Nash.
Oct 5, 2019 | News articles
Press Release:
The new Season for Isle of Wight Cantata Choir opens with an exciting concert at Medina Theatre at 7:30pm on Saturday 5th October 2019.
Handel’s Four Coronation Anthems and Haydn’s Mass ‘in time of war’ are featured. Local musician, Clive Malabar has composed a piece for the choir – a setting of lovely lyrics ‘Silent Stars’. The performance will be accompanied by many local orchestral players.
The famous ‘Zadok the Priest’ is one of the Four Coronation Anthems, often sung at Coronations and other state occasions. It is a rousing chorus with an impressive introduction from the orchestra; it really builds the drama to the first choral entry which explodes onto the senses.
Working with a living composer is a great privilege and we are delighted that Clive Malabar will be in the audience to hear the first performance of ‘Silent Stars’.
The concert concludes with Haydn’s Mass ‘in time of war’. It is an impressive piece with contrasting movements, both in tempo and dynamics, and we are joined by 4 soloists, many of whom have sung with the choir previously and we welcome them back to the Island.
Tickets can be purchased from Medina Theatre’s website on: https://www.iow.gov.uk/theatrebookings/ticket/diary/mte491
Don’t miss our next concert – a collection of Christmas Carols and seasonal pieces on Sunday 8th December 2019 at 3:00pm at Ryde Methodist Church, 14 Garfield Road, Ryde PO33 2PT.
H.B.
Post Concert Message:
THANK YOU, to everyone who made this evening’s concert a success:
To Rachel Tweddle our inspirational and utterly awesome Musical Director…
To Richard Wilkins our patient and versatile Rehearsal Accompanist…
To our fabulously talented Professional Soloists: Jessica Broad, Kate Warshaw, Edward Ross and David Le Prevost…
To the wonderful Handel, Haydn and Malabar…
To the superb Musicians of the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra…
To our dedicated and ever-cheerful Committee team…
To our amazing support crew of Helpers, Fixers and Suppliers…
To our generous Audience, Contributors, Patrons and Friends…
And not least – To our amazing, steadfast and enthusiastic Choir members.
Concert Review:
The Medina Theatre was sadly only half full on Saturday October 5th for an enterprising and successful concert by the Cantata Choir, under their Musical Director Rachel Tweddle, in which the 18th Century met the 21st.
A spirited rendition of Handel’s ‘Zadok the Priest’ made an ideal opener, followed by the other anthems he wrote for the Coronation of George II.
In these, and in Haydn’s ‘Mass in Time of War’, which filled the second half of the concert, the choir sang with confidence, though at times they were rather overpowered by the orchestra.
There were many memorable moments, aided by well-blended singing from the quartet of soloists, with notable solos from soprano Jessica Broad and bass David le Prevost, and in the Handel bright, soaring lines from lead trumpeter Gareth Balch.
The Haydn Mass, as its title suggests, provides dramatic contrasts between martial trumpets and drums and more lyrical passages, and the dance-like conclusion brought the concert to a very satisfying end.
However, the highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the first performance of island composer Clive Malabar’s ‘Silent Stars’, specially commissioned by the choir. Inspired by a verse from Psalm 19, ‘The heavens declare the glory of the Lord, the skies proclaim the works of His hands’, the piece evokes the experience of looking up to the majesty of a clear night sky, with a message of praise, purpose and hope. The choir clearly enjoyed singing this attractive piece, there were many lovely details in the orchestration, and the audience responded with appropriate enthusiasm.
Charles Paterson
