2024
2023
December 2023
William Byrd’s magnificent choral music resounded in the lovely acoustic of St Nicholas Church, West Pennard, to a large and appreciative audience. It was Cantilena’s first visit there and, given the warmth of our welcome, we are likely to return.
It was a challenging programme for the choir, and they rose to the occasion. All the pieces bar one were unaccompanied, including Byrd’s wonderfully meandering Mass for Four Voices and the exquisite Ave Verum Corpus.
In between, organist Matthew Redman enthralled with music by Byrd and his contemporaries.
The programme was devised in recognition of this year being the fourth century of Byrd’s death. In the programme notes, conductor Tony Bevan wrote of Byrd being described as the “father of music”. It was moving to sing the magnificent pieces, keeping alive our musical heritage.
It was also an opportunity for the choir and audience to support St Margaret’s Hospice Care, and a representative spoke of the invaluable service that the hospice provides. Mince pies and mulled wine were enjoyed in the interval.
We look forward to our next concert and yet another challenging and exciting programme – Handel’s Dixit Dominus and J S Bach’s Cantanta No 4 – at St Mary’s Church, Glastonbury, on Friday 12 April 2024. Save the date!
July 2023
Once again, Cantilena was pleased to say a warm ‘Thank You’ to the community and all our supporters who help us to keep sharing our love of singing and the gift of music.
Our 2023 summer concert ‘Sea Pictures’ took place at the Croscombe Village Hall on July 8th, with a light and fun programme of songs of the sea.
The programme included a delightful mix of Edward Elgar, Vaughan Williams, John Ireland, Alec Rowley and Charles Wood. We were privileged to be joined by tenor, Richard Rowntree (Wells Cathedral Vicar Choral), who sang four additional sea-themed solos to complement our programme. There wasn’t a dry eye in Croscombe after Richard’s enchanting rendition of Charles Didbin’s Tom Bowling!
A gorgeous light buffet supper served to our guests, wine flowing, laughter and joy, were the perfect close to our year.
We hope to you see all at our Christmas concert on Friday 8thDecember 2023 in West Pennard.
March 2023
Dvorak’s Mass in D is typical of his gentler style, with lilting melodies and freedom of expression. He said of it: “This could be called faith, hope and love for God almighty and an expression of thanks for this great gift”. The Mass includes beautiful contrasts in vocal texture and composition.
Cantilena will be singing all six movements of the Mass, interspersed with two beautifully harmonious and dramatic motets by Bruckner to celebrate the season.
December 2022
Cantilena Choir’s 2022 Christmas concert was a sequence of sacred works by English composers, highlighting the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, whose 150th anniversary was in October.
Two of his best loved pieces, the ‘Five Mystical Songs’ and ‘Fantasia on Christmas Carols’, were the main features of this concert, which also included seasonal works by Holst, Britten and Tavener.
These glorious pieces, plus readings and carols, mulled wine and mince pies, not to mention the choir’s support for St Margaret’s Hospice Care, truly made this an evening to savour.
July 2022
Cantilena Choir teamed up with the recorder consort ‘Pink Noise’ in a programme of madrigals, airs, and an assortment of instrumental music, old and new.
The eternal themes of love and courtship are explored through the incomparable works of the Elizabethan age, featuring composers such as Morley, Gibbons, Farnaby and Wilbye.
April 2022
Despite all the nerves felt by the singers at the prospect of performing this demanding programme, Cantilena Choir is not one to shy away from any challenge presented by our Choir Director, Tony Bevan!
Bach’s cantatas were composed from the texts of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible and express both the pain and suffering of the human state, as well as the hope and trust we still hold.
December 2021
After a 2-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Cantilena Choir were delighted to be able to perform together once again in St John’s Church, Glastonbury.
We were grateful to St John’s Church for providing a Covid-secure venue in which to rehearse from September to December, and to our conductor, Tony Bevan, for making this possible. We were especially delighted to warmly welcome new singers to the choir.
Renaissance was a fantastic concert polyphony, featuring Missa de Beata Virgine by Josquin des Prez, and the works of his contemporaries from the 15th and 16th centuries.
Missa de Beata Virgine was a work much loved by our former Chairperson, Julia Barrett. Julia sadly passed away in March 2021 and the concert was dedicated to her memory, her love of music, and her outstanding commitment to Cantilena for over 30 years.
The audience was treated to sumptuous evening and a great atmosphere, topped with mulled wine and mince pies during the interval.
From the proceeds of the concert, Cantilena were especially proud to make a donation to St Margaret’s Hospice.
2020 ~ There were no concerts during this year
December 2019
Cantilena’s Christmas offering was well received by concert goers, who were particularly struck by the mystery and beauty of the Bernat Vivancos ‘Lux Surgit Aurea’ as they were by Morten Lauridsen’s ‘O Nata Lux’ and
Robert White’s ‘Christe Qui Lux Es’.
Mulled wine and mince pies added to the festive feel of proceedings.
July 2019
In front of an appreciative audience, Cantilena recently celebrated their 40th Anniversary with a concert entitled Songs of Summer at The Pavilion, Edgarley Hall (Millfield Prep School), at which they performed a specially commissioned piece, ‘Nightingales’, by the well-known composer, David Bednall.
Photos of this memorable evening can be seen here …
April 2019
Cantilena’s main concert in their 40th year was a memorable occasion, with the Choir, our fabulous soloists and instrumentalists giving their all for an appreciative audience at St Mary’s.
December 2018
‘Joyeux Noel’ attracted a good audience at St Mary’s, keen to hear seasonal music of French Composers of the 20th and late 19th centuries.
From the lilting ‘Cantique de Jean Racine’ by Fauré and the ever popular ‘O Holy Night’ to the mysterious ‘O Sacrum Convivium’ by Messiaen, there was plenty to savour – in addition to the mince pies and mulled wine generously donated by Burns the Bread and The Grape and the Good respectively!
As usual, Cantilena was delighted to support the wonderful work of St Margaret’s Hospice.
June 2018
It was a perfect evening for Cantilena and their guests on Saturday 30th June at ‘The Pavilion’, Edgarley, a beautifully situated and fitting venue for a feast of music and readings on a pastoral theme,
and good food and wine!
April 2018
Cantilena’s recent 2018 Eastertide concert, ‘The Cross and The Crown’, was performed, in front of an enthusiastic and appreciative audience, on Saturday, 21st April at St Mary’s RC Church, Glastonbury, when the choir sang Haydn’s ‘Seven Last Words from the Cross’ in German and two of Handel’s four Coronation Anthems, ‘Let Thy Hand be Strengthened’ and ‘The King Shall Rejoice’.
Cantilena was delighted to be joined by the soprano, Tallulah Horton, alto Finn Lacey, tenor Oliver Chubb, bass David Bevan and organist Michael Cockerham.
December 2017
Our autumn concert, ‘A Sound of Angels’ at St Mary’s RC Church, Glastonbury, featuring traditional and modern music of the season seemed to go down well with a sizeable and enthusiastic audience.
William Byrd’s thrilling ‘Laudibus in Sanctis’ in particular was well received, as were mince pies and mulled wine on offer in the interval!
Once again Cantilena and their Music Director, Tony Bevan, were pleased to be supporting St Margaret’s Hospice.
The Choir, in turn, were most grateful to Burns the Bread of Glastonbury and The Grape and the Good of Wells for their generous support of the concert.
Programme
~Like as the Hart – Herbert Howells (1892–1983)
~Hymn to the Virgin – Benjamin Britten (1913–1976)
~Star of the Mystic East – Edmund Rubbra (1901–1986)
~There is no Rose – John Joubert (1927– )
~Ave Maria – Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901)
~Sweet was the Song – Richard Rodney Bennett (1936–2012)
~Susanni – Richard Rodney Bennett
~Lullay my Liking – Gustav Holst (1874–1934)
~Lux Aurumque – Eric Whitacre (1970– )
~A Sound of Angels – Christopher Tye (1505–1572)
~Laudibus in Sanctis – William Byrd (1543–1623)
July 2017
We Got Rhythm Programme
Choir
~Little David Play on Your Harp
~De Battle of Jericho
~Deep River
~Were You There
Ukulele Band
~Uke-in The Rags
~Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen
~Jambalaya
~I’m Gonna Sing/Oh When the Saints/Swing Low
Choir
~Hawaiian Lullaby
~Black Sheep
~Lil Liza Jane
~Steal Away
Ukulele Band
~I Got Rhythm
~Lazy Bones
~Down by the Riverside
~Shenandoah
~Freight Train
Choir and Ukulele Band
~You Are My Sunshine
April 2017
Bach’s ‘Magnificat’,
Cantata 68, ‘God so Loved the World’.
‘Trumpet Concerto in D’ by Fasch and Buxtehude’s ‘Joy and Treasure’.
Soloists:
Juliet Schiemann and Tallulah Horton
(Soprano)
Benjamin Bevan (Bass)
Edward Ross (Tenor)
Roderick Morris (Counter Tenor)
David Bertie (Trumpet)
December 2016
July 2016
April 2016
December 2015
July 2015
April 2015
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What a concert! Cantilena rose magnificently to the challenge of performing Handel’s Dixit Dominus, filling St Mary’s Church with glorious music. It was an occasion to remember, with many saying it was their best concert with the choir.
We were ably supported by sopranos Anastasia Bevan and Amelia Monaghan, alto Simon Clulow, tenor Peter Harris and bass William Drakett plus organist Matthew Redman and a small string orchestra. Music director Tony Bevan held it all together.
The evening opened with the beautiful Sinfonia IV, Morte e sepultura di Christo, by the early Italian composer Antonio Caldera (1670-1736). Choir and soloists then performed an early Bach Cantata, No. 4 – Christ Lag in Totdesbanden, written in 1707.
After the interval, choir and orchestra launched into the energetic Dixit Dominus, with commitment and verve. It felt special and the audience reaction, and comments sent subsequently, confirmed that we had more than achieved what we had hoped.
Our summer concert will be a lighter affair, at St Benedict’s Church, Glastonbury, at 7pm on Saturday 13 July. We look forward to seeing you there.