The William Byrd Singers: Blessed Cecilia

The William Byrd Singers with conductor Keith Orrell and organist Stephen Hargreaves present a programme dedicated to Saint Cecilia on her feast day. We are singing three settings of hymns to the patron saint of music, of which Britten's is the best known and a true classic of the chamber choir repertoire.

Centuries earlier, Peter Philips set a latin text in glorious double choir sonorities which you might associate with an Italian master.

Herbert Howells gives us an unmistakably English setting, and the centrepiece of our concert will be his hauntingly beautiful Take him Earth for Cherishing written for the tragic death of President Kennedy and first performed on Saint Cecilia's day exactly fifty years ago. The text by the fourth century Prudentius speaks to us across the centuries and inspires the opening unison theme.

Our third piece of Howells is Like as the Hart; and we finish the concert with Britten's delightful and ever-popular Rejoice in the Lamb with solos by members of the choir and organ solos and accompaniments performed by Stephen Hargreaves.

Come and join us!