FESTIVAL OF PSALMS: 2020 Choral Workshop on Saturday July 25th
Since 2012 St Mary’s choir has welcomed visiting singers from the surrounding area to an annual choral event, to study and explore a range of repertoire. Music has included Handel’s Messiah, a Vierne Mass, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Faure’s requiem, Gospel songs, a Mussorgsky mass, a 12 hour Hymnathon and more.
We were directed by Richard King (Chalfont St Peter) in 2018 and by Geraldine Latty (Birmingham) in 2015 but most sessions have been run by Tring musician, Richard Grylls. Richard’s wealth of experience, artistry and enthusiasm are outstanding and that is why singers return each year to sing under his leadership,
This year, Richard Grylls will direct ‘A Festival of Psalms’ and we will be joined by Colin Stevens as accompanist. Colin, also from Tring, is a brilliant pianist and organist; he also directs The Icknield Sixteen and Tring Choral Society. Colin recalls singing in the St Mary’s choir as a very young boy, so we are delighted to welcome him back.
The centre piece of the workshop will be 4 or 5 movements from John Rutter’s Psalmfest. As with so much Rutter, it is accessible and enjoyable to listen to, but often a challenge to performers to make it sound that easy! In addition, we will sing one of Mendelssohn’s very beautiful psalm settings, the Onslow Psalm (Psalm 122), Stanford’s rousing chant setting of Psalm 150, and there will be more musical surprises to be revealed on the day!
Music will be available from early July.
If you have your own copy of Psalmfest, please bring it along, but do ensure that your name is in it and that you let us know you do not need a hire copy.
Please note, there is a pre-rehearsal available at no extra cost on Thursday July 23rd. Meet in church at 7.45pm to collect music. This is an opportunity to work on harder aspects of the music, especially if the works are entirely new to you. Music will be at the Thursday rehearsal and on the day, but can be collected prior to that by arrangement with Jenny Hoare (to collect from St Mary’s) or Richard Grylls (to collect from his home). Please ensure you arrange this with us directly.
Jenny Hoare
St Mary’s Church, Northchurch
Organist & Choir Master
