Recent Concert Programmes
2018-2019
Nineteen Eighteen
Saturday 13th October 2018, 7:30pm
The Chapter House, York Minster
Director: Benjamin Morris
Chapter House Youth Choir Director: Charlie Gower-Smith
The final concert from our series on the theme of exile, reconciliation and peace marks three significant 100-year anniversaries: Hubert Parry’s death, the granting of women’s suffrage and later the right for women to be elected to parliament, and the forthcoming 100th anniversary on 11/11/18 of the armistice in the First World War.
- The Chapter House Choir
- Never weather-beaten sail – Hubert PARRY
- Psalm 23 – Ivor GURNEY
- The Chapter House Youth Choir
- Call to remembrance – Richard FARRANT
- They are at rest – Edward ELGAR
- The Chapter House Choir
- A Short Requiem – Henry WALFORD DAVIES
- There is an old belief – Hubert PARRY
- At the round earth’s imagined corners – Hubert PARRY
- The Chapter House Youth Choir
- Ubi Caritas – Ola GJEILO
- Crossing the bar – Hubert PARRY
- Mother of God, here I stand – John TAVENER
- Combined Choirs
- The Pankhurst Anthem – Lucy PANKHURST
- The Chapter House Choir
- Magnificat – Charles Villiers STANFORD
2017-2018
Continuing our series of concerts of exile, reconciliation and peace, this programme explored music in and about exile, including Tippett’s wonderful spirituals from A Child of our Time.
- Super flumina Babylonis – Philippe de MONTE
- Semi-chorus: Cathy Cooper, Fran Guilding, Lorna Hamilton, Tina Sanderson, Rachel Hicks, Helen Korndorffer, Andrew Acaster, Adrian Fuller, Christopher Davies, Mark Simmonds
- Quomodo cantabimus – William BYRD
- Spritual from Child of Our Time: Steal Away – Michael TIPPETT
- Soloists: Ruth Bellinger, David Penn
- Ave verum corpus – William BYRD
- Spritual from Child of Our Time: Nobody knows – Michael TIPPETT
- Soloists: Ruth Bellinger, Dan Hunt
- Spritual from Child of Our Time: Go down, Moses – Michael TIPPETT
- Soloists: Lorna Hamilton, Richard Long
- Cunctis diebus – William BYRD
- Spritual from Child of Our Time: By and by – Michael TIPPETT
- Soloist: Vikki Pendry
- Ne irascaris – Civitas sancti tui – William BYRD
- Spritual from Child of Our Time: Deep river – Michael TIPPETT
- Semi-chorus: Vikki Pendry, Natasha Brice, David Tomlinson, Mark Simmonds
- The Lamentations of Jeremiah – Alberto GINASTERA
Voices from the East
Saturday 10th March 2018, 7:30pm
Chapter House, York Minster
Director: Benjamin Morris
Eastern Europe produced some of the most distinctive choral music of the 20th Century. This concert celebrated the unveiling of the Great East Window of York Minster with music from Russia, Poland and the Baltic states.
- Tebe poem – Sergei RACHMANINOV
- Soloist: Anna Hughes
- Magnificat – Arvo PÄRT
- Ave Maria – Igor STRAVINSKY
- Song to the Virgin Mary – Andrzej PANUFNIK
- Nunc Dimittis – Pavel CHESNOKOV
- Three Sacred Hymns – Alfred SCHNITTKE
- Bogoroditse Devo – Sergei RACHMANINOV
- …Which was the son of… – Arvo PÄRT
- Angelis suis Deus – Vytautas MIŠKINIS
- Ubi caritas et amor – Ēriks EŠENVALDS
- Stetit angelus – Rihards DUBRA
- Bogoroditse Devo – Arvo PÄRT
- Amen – Henryk Mikolaj GÓRECKI
- Only in sleep – Ēriks EŠENVALDS
- Soloist: Lydia Eyre
Carols by Candlelight
Wednesday 20th December 2017, 7:30pm
Chapter House, York Minster
Guest conductor: Andrew Carter
With the Handbell Ringers of the Chapter House Choir
The Chapter House Choir returned to its original home to perform its trademark Carols by Candlelight with special guest conductor Andrew Carter, founder Director of the choir, and organist John Scott Whiteley.
Read the press review here
- The Choir
- Processional: Personent hodie – arr. Andrew CARTER
- Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen – Michael PRAETORIUS
- Lute-book lullaby – arr. Geoffrey SHAW
- Resonet in laudibus – arr. Jakob HÄNDL
- Solo Organ
- Fantasia on Wir Christenleut, BWV 1090 – Johann Sebastian BACH
- Prelude on In dulci jubilo – Friedrich Wilhelm ZACHOW
- Fughetta on Vom Himmel hoch, BWV 701 – Johann Sebastian BACH
- The Choir
- The holly and the ivy – arr. Henry WALFORD-DAVIES
- Still, still, still – arr. Philip LEDGER
- A child is born in Bethlehem – Samuel SCHEIDT
- The Handbell Ringers
- O come, O come Emmanuel – arr. John HASTIE
- Coventry Carol – arr. John HASTIE
- The Choir
- Jesus Christ the apple tree – Elizabeth POSTON
- Soloist: Ruth Bellinger
- Sing Lullaby – Herbert HOWELLS
- The little road to Bethlehem – Michael HEAD
- Solo Organ
- Sarabande from Georgian Suite – Francis JACKSON
- Carols from Recuerdos (Remembrances) – Alan SPEDDING
- The Choir
- Tomorrow shall be my dancing day – arr. David WILCOCKS
- Soloist: Emily Chattle
- I sing of a maiden – Patrick HADLEY
- Ding dong, merrily on high – arr. Charles WOOD
- The Handbell Ringers
- Past three o’clock – arr. Phil REDDING
- Good King Wenceslas – arr. Andrew CARTER
- The Choir
- A spotless rose – Herbert HOWELLS
- Soloist: Mark Latham
- Can I not syng but hoy? – Francis JACKSON
- Soloist: John Gill
- Spanish Carol – arr. Andrew CARTER
- Encore: Stille Nacht – Franz GRÜBER arr. Andrew CARTER
- Soloist: Helen Blythe
Christmas Carol Concert
Friday 22nd December 2017, 7:30pm
St Michael-le-Belfrey Church, York
Guest conductor: Timothy Burke
With the Chapter House Youth Choir
and the Handbell Ringers of the Chapter House Choir
A festive celebration with carols old and new to herald in this most joyful season.
- The Chapter House Choir
- A child is born in Bethlehem – Samuel SCHEIDT
- Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen – Michael PRAETORIUS
- Can I not syng but hoy? – Francis JACKSON
- Soloist: John Gill
- The Chapter House Youth Choir
- The truth from above – arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams
- In dulci jubilo – arr. Robert Lucas PEARSALL
- Reading: A New Nativity – Alan TITCHMARSH
- The Chapter House Choir
- Sing lullaby – Herbert HOWELLS
- Resonet in laudibus – arr. Jakob HÄNDL
- The Handbell Ringers
- O come, O come Emmanuel – arr. John HASTIE
- Coventry Carol – arr. John HASTIE
- Combined Choirs
- Jesus Christ the apple tree – Elizabeth POSTON
- The little road to Bethlehem – Michael HEAD
- The Chapter House Choir
- Tomorrow shall be my dancing day – arr. David WILCOCKS
- Soloist: Emily Chattle
- Lute-book lullaby – arr. Geoffrey SHAW
- The Holly and the Ivy – arr. Henry WALFORD-DAVIES
- The Handbell Ringers
- Past three o’clock – arr. Phil REDDING
- Good King Wenceslas – arr. Andrew CARTER
- The Chapter House Youth Choir
- Benedicamus Domino – Peter WARLOCK
- The Lamb – John TAVENER
- The twelve days of Christmas – arr. Andrew CARTER
- Reading: Christmas Thank-Yous – Mick GOWAR
- The Chapter House Choir
- Stille Nacht – Franz GRÜBER arr. Andrew CARTER
- Soloist: Helen Blythe
- Spanish Carol – arr. Andrew CARTER
- Combined Choirs
- Ding dong, merrily on high – arr. Charles WOOD
A Christmas Feast
Saturday 23rd December 2017, 7:30pm
The Milton Rooms, Malton
Director: Benjamin Morris
A return to the Milton Rooms in the market town of Malton for a festive celebration of Christmas with carols, handbells, readings – and canapés!
- The Choir
- Ding dong, merrily on high – arr. Charles WOOD
- Sing lullaby – Herbert HOWELLS
- The little road to Bethlehem – Michael HEAD
- Reading: A New Nativity – Alan TITCHMARSH
- The Choir
- Totus Tuus – Henryk Mikolaj GÓRECKI
- The Handbell Ringers
- O come, O come Emmanuel – arr. John HASTIE
- Coventry Carol – arr. John HASTIE
- The Choir
- A child is born in Bethlehem – Samuel SCHEIDT
- A spotless rose – Herbert HOWELLS
- Soloist: Mark Latham
- Can I not syng but hoy? – Francis JACKSON
- Soloist: John Gill
- The Choir
- Gloucestershire Wassail – Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
- The Holly and the Ivy – arr. Henry WALFORD-DAVIES
- Reading: Christmas Dinner – Michael ROSEN
- The Choir
- The little drummer boy – arr. John MCCARTHY
- Tomorrow shall be my dancing day – arr. David WILCOCKS
- Soloist: Emily Chattle
- Stille Nacht – Franz GRÜBER arr. Andrew CARTER
- The Handbell Ringers
- Past three o’clock – arr. Phil REDDING
- Good King Wenceslas – arr. Andrew CARTER
- The Choir
- Resonet in laudibus – arr. Jakob HÄNDL
- Spanish Carol – arr. Andrew CARTER
- Encore: Jingle Bells – arr. Keith WRIGHT
In Paradisum
Saturday 25th November 2017, 7:30pm
Quire, York Minster
Director: Benjamin Morris
Organ: Jeremy Lloyd
A spiritual journey through music of prayer, reflection and remembrance. This was the first concert under our new Musical Director, Benjamin Morris.
- In Paradisum – Gregorian Chant
- Nunc Dimittis – William BYRD
- Funeral Ikos – John TAVENER
- Litanies a la Vierge Noire – Francis POULENC
- Rest – Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
- Song for Athene – John TAVENER
- In Paradisum – Gabriel FAURÉ
- Sainte-Chapelle – Eric WHITACRE
- Miserere Nostri – Thomas TALLIS
- Quatre Petites Prières de Saint François d’Assise – Francis POULENC
- O Sacrum Convivium – Olivier MESSIAEN
- Totus Tuus – Henryk Mikolaj GÓRECKI
2016-2017
Music for a Summer’s Evening
Saturday 24th June 2017, 7pm
St Peter’s Church, Osmotherley
Director: Stephen Williams
The Chapter House Choir travelled north to the lovely village of Osmotherley on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors to sing beautiful music ideal for a balmy (or even not-so-balmy) summer’s evening, making the most of the long evenings in God’s Own County. This concert raised £1400 for essential repairs to St Peter’s Church.
- Magnificat from the Short Service – Orlando Gibbons
- Agnus Dei II from Missa Brevis – Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
- When David Heard – Thomas Tomkins
- Civitas sancti tui – William Byrd
- Nigra Sum Sed Formosa – Tomás Luis de Victoria
- Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf – Johann Sebastian Bach
- Locus Iste – Anton Bruckner
- Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence – Edward Bairstow
- Soloists: Dan Hunt, Christopher Davies
- Ave Maris Stella – Edvard Grieg
- Hymn to the Virgin – Benjamin Britten
- Semichorus: Lydia Eyre, Denise Redding, Daniel Hicks, David Went
- My Spirit sang all day – Gerald Finzi
- My Love Dwelt in a Northern Land – Edward Elgar
- Faire is the Heaven – William H. Harris
- Immortal Bach – Knut Nystedt
- Effortlessly Love Flows – Aaron Jay Kernis
- Marjal aega magada “It’s Time for the Little Berry to Sleep” – Veljo Tormis
- Sleep – Eric Whitacre
- The Battle of Jericho – arr. Moses Hogan
- Abide with me – arr. Moses Hogan
- Witness – arr. Jack Halloran
- My soul’s been anchored in the Lord – arr. Moses Hogan
Effortlessly Love Flows
Saturday 3rd June 2017, 7:30pm
Chapter House, York Minster
Director: Stephen Williams
A gorgeous programme of music of love and hope.
- Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf – Johann Sebastian BACH
- Ubi Caritas – Ola Gjeilo
- Witness – arr. Jack Halloran
- Effortlessly Love Flows – Aaron Jay Kernis
- Fest- und Gedenkensprüche – Johannes Brahms
- I. Unsere Väter hofften auf Dich
- II. Wenn ein starker Gewappnetter
- III. Wo ist ein so herrlich Volk
- No man is an island – Andrew Carter
- Abide with me – arr. Moses HOGAN
- The Battle of Jericho – arr. Moses HOGAN
- In exile – Herbert Sumsion
- My soul’s been anchored in the Lord – arr. Moses HOGAN
- Elijah rock – arr. Moses HOGAN
- Singet dem Herrn ein Neues Lied – Johann Sebastian BACH
A Grand Tour of the Renaissance
Saturday 25th February 2017, 7:30pm
Chapter House, York Minster
Director: Stephen Williams
An exhilarating musical journey around Europe through 17th century choral works in the beautiful setting of York Minster’s Chapter House.
- Bel aubépin verdissant – Clément Janequin
- La déploration sure la mort de Johannes Ockeghem – Josquin des Prez
- Il bianco e dolce cigno – Jacob Arcadelt
- Heroum soboles – Orlande de Lassus
- Sing we and chant it – Thomas Morley
- Ch’io non t’ami, cor mio – Claudio Monteverdi
- Draw on, sweet night – John Wilbye
- The silver swan – Orlando Gibbons
- Woefully arrayed – William Cornysh
- If ye love me – Thomas Tallis
- Stabat Mater – Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
- Vidi speciosam – Tomás Luis de Victoria
- Lamentationes Hieremiae prophetae – Orlande de Lassus
- O clap your hands – Orlando Gibbons
- Jauchzet dem Herren alle Welt – Heinrich Schütz
Carols by Candlelight
Friday & Saturday, 16 & 17 December 2016, 7:30pm
St Michael-le-Belfrey Church, York
Director: Stephen Williams
These ever-popular atmospheric candlelit concerts capture the true essence of Christmas. For many people Christmas just isn’t Christmas until they have been to a Chapter House Choir Carols by Candlelight.
- The Choir
- O come, O come Emmanuel – arr. Andrew CARTER
- Videntes stellam – Francis POULENC
- Jesu, Thou the Virgin born – Gustav HOLST
- Soloists: Charlotte Phillips, David Penn
- The Handbell Ringers
- Of the Father’s heart begotten – arr. John HASTIE
- Away in a manger – arr. John HASTIE
- The Choir
- All my heart this night rejoices – Johann Georg EBELING
- O magnum mysterium – Morten Lauridsen
- Joseph – Phil REDDING
- The shepherd’s carol – Bob CHILCOTT
- The Handbell Ringers
- Unto us a boy is born – arr. Andrew CARTER
- Jingle bells – arr. Andrew CARTER
- The Choir
- Today the Virgin – John TAVENER
- Bethlehem Down – Peter WARLOCK
- A tender shoot – Otto Goldschmidt
- Hymne à la Vierge – Pierre Villette
- Xicochi xicochi conetzintle – Gaspar Fernandes
- The truth from above – arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams
- Ding dong! merrily on high – arr. Stephen Williams
- Have yourself a merry little Christmas – arr. Peter GRITTON
Family Christmas Concert
Saturday, 3 December 2016, 7:30pm
Nave, York Minster
Chapter House Choir, Director: Stephen Williams
Chapter House Youth Choir, Director: Charlie Gower-Smith
York Railway Institute Brass Band, Director: David Lancaster
An early Christmas treat to get the whole family in the mood for the festive season. Featuring carols, brass and handbells.
- The Chapter House Choir
- O come, O come Emmanuel – arr. Andrew CARTER
- Videntes stellam – Francis POULENC
- All my heart this night rejoices – Johann Georg EBELING
- Alleluya, a new work is come on hand – Peter WISHART
- York Railway Institute Brass Band
- Festive March – The wonder of Christmas – Peter GRAHAM
- In the bleak mid-winter – arr. Alan FERNIE
- Tenor Horn Soloist: James West
- The Handbell Ringers
- Of the Father’s heart begotten – arr. John HASTIE
- Away in a manger – arr. John HASTIE
- Chapter House Youth Choir
- Jesus Christ the apple tree – Elizabeth POSTON
- Up! Good Christen folk, and listen – harm. G.R. WOODWARD
- Away in a Manger – arr. Reginald JACQUES
- York Railway Institute Brass Band
- Christmas Eve (Sarajevo – 12/24) – arr. Roger THORNE
- Sans Day Carol – arr. David LANCASTER
- Chapter House Youth Choir
- I saw a fair maiden – Peter WARLOCK
- A New Year carol – Benjamin BRITTEN
- The Handbell Ringers
- Unto us a boy is born – arr. Andrew CARTER
- Jingle bells – arr. Andrew CARTER
- The Chapter House Choir
- Ding dong! merrily on high – arr. Stuart NICHOLSON
- Bethlehem Down – Peter WARLOCK
- Have yourself a merry little Christmas – arr. Peter GRITTON
- All
- A Christmas Fantasy – arr. Gordon LANGFORD
An Evening with The King’s Singers
Saturday, 5 November 2016, 7:30pm
Nave, York Minster
Chapter House Choir, Director: Stephen Williams
Chapter House Youth Choir, Director: Charlie Gower-Smith
Double Grammy award-winning supergroup The King’s Singers joined the Chapter House Choir and our new Chapter House Youth Choir for a concert showcasing their supreme virtuosity and immaculate vocal blend in the breathtaking setting of York Minster. Featuring a new commission by Roderick Williams interweaving bespoke vocal lines for all three choirs.
Read the press coverage here
- The King’s Singers
- Domine dominus noster – Orlandus LASSUS
- Musica dei donum – Orlandus LASSUS
- Chi chilichi – Orlandus LASSUS
- Dessus le marché d’Arras – Orlandus LASSUS
- The Chapter House Choir
- My soul, there is a country – C. Hubert. H. PARRY
- Faire is the heaven – William H. HARRIS
- Stars – Ēriks Ešenvalds
- The King’s Singers
- Quatre petites prières de Saint François d’Assise – Francis POULENC
- Le papillon et la fleur – arr. Goff RICHARDS
- Quand tu dors près de moi – arr. Gordon LANGFORD
- This marriage – Eric Whitacre
- Thou, my love, art fair – Bob Chilcott
- Chapter House Youth Choir
- The ash grove – arr. J. DOYLE
- My spirit sang all day – arr. Gerald FINZI
- Who can sail without the wind? – Ēriks Ešenvalds
- The road home – Stephen PAULUS
- The King’s Singers
- Down by the riverside – arr. Robert RICE
- Egoli – Stanley GLASSER
- Le baylère – arr. Goff RICHARDS
- Little David play on your harp – arr. Keith ROBERTS
- The King’s Singers and Chapter House Youth Choir
- The gift to be simple – arr. Bob Chilcott
- The Chapter House Choir
- The Teddy bears’ picnic – arr. Andrew Carter
- Amazing Grace – arr. Alice PARKER and Robert SHAW
- Two for the price of one – arr. Andrew Carter
- All the things you are – arr. Ward Swingle
- The King’s Singers
- Penny Lane – arr. Bob Chilcott
- That lonesome road – arr. Simon Carrington
- Chanson d’amour – arr. Paul Hart
- Alice in Wonderland – arr. Gordon Langford
- Rhythm of life – arr. Peter Knight
- The King’s Singers, The Chapter House Choir and Chapter House Youth Choir
- Everyone sang – Roderick WILLIAMS
- World première